Beverage companies are being hit hard by a national aluminum can shortage — and that's not the only reason why the beer scene in the U.S. may soon be impacted by shortages of popular brands, Eat This, Not That reported. In a blow to stateside beer enthusiasts, Shelton Brothers, a company considered to be one of America's most influential beer importers, announced that it will be permanently shutting down. The importer of European beer is being "forced into liquidation" amid insurmountable debt and will likely have all of its assets seized by Berkshire Bank. The Massachusetts-based company, which was founded by three brothers in 1996, imported beers from more than 150 of the world's best breweries. Its portfolio includes distinguished Belgian beer brands, plus hundreds of other reputable names across the globe. The company was also a distribution partner of American breweries, cideries and meaderies. This is devastating news for American craft beer drinkers, who have relied on Shelton Brothers to introduce them to some of the best beers Europe has to offer, as well as South America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The company's authority on the beer scene was undeniable. Its annual event known as "The Festival" was routinely attended by some of the biggest breweries and beer connoisseurs in the world.
