GOT WATER?

ALONG WITH California’s water supplies and public health, the drought in the state may have yet another victim to claim: beer. Lagunitas Brewing Company – one of California’s biggest craft breweries – told NPR recently that the drought is threatening the Russian River, where they get the water for their beer. Such sources play a key role in the brewing process – producers like Coors and Cold Spring Brewing Co. tout their use of water from the Rockies and a Minnesota natural spring, respectively. But if the drought forces Lagunitas to switch from the river to groundwater for its supplies, the heavy minerals in the latter won’t go well with the beer. “It would be like brewing with Alka-Seltzer,” Jeremy Marshall, Lagunitas’ head brewer, said.