Bengaluru's craft beer industry is facing a production crunch as the LPG supply disruption triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz ripples through commercial and industrial sectors across India.

With boilers at many microbreweries running on LPG, owners say they could be forced to scale back output during the peak summer drinking season unless supplies are restored soon.

Bengaluru is home to more than 80 microbreweries, and most require between five and 15 LPG cylinders daily to sustain operations, according to the Times of India.

"We have enough stock of LPG to last until Sunday," said Mukesh Tolani, co-founder of Toit Brewpub, adding that his team is exploring a shift from LPG to diesel and installing electric grills and induction plates to conserve gas.

Prasanna Kumar, co-founder of Bengaluru Brewing Company, warned that beer stocks may last only another 15 days if supplies do not improve.

"The gas boiler generates steam and heat required to process the malt. Switching to firewood or electric boilers on short notice is expensive and time-consuming," he told the Times of India.

Some brewpubs are also trimming their food menus, cutting high-heat dishes like deep-fried items and Asian cuisine in favour of simpler preparations.

The squeeze extends beyond beer. Huli, a craft rum distillery near Mysuru, shut down operations earlier this week after both its public and private LPG suppliers said they had been instructed to refill only domestic canisters.

The shortage stems from the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 90 percent of India's LPG imports transit. India imports about 60 percent of its total LPG consumption, leaving it acutely vulnerable to the supply shock.

In response, the government on March 8 directed refineries to maximize LPG production, boosting domestic output by about 25 to 28 percent, according to an official inter-ministerial briefing.

The petroleum ministry has prioritized household consumers, extending the minimum gap between domestic cylinder bookings from 21 to 25 days in urban areas to curb panic buying and hoarding. For rural and remote consumers, the booking interval was further raised to 45 days.

On March 12, the oil ministry announced that oil marketing companies would begin releasing 20 percent of average monthly commercial LPG requirements in coordination with state governments.

A three-member committee of executives from Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum, and Bharat Petroleum is reviewing allocations to restaurants, hotels, and other commercial users. The environment ministry has also temporarily permitted the use of biomass, coal, and kerosene by the hospitality sector for one month.

For Bengaluru's brewers, the relief may not come fast enough. "Gas is the primary fuel for running the boiler during the brewing process," Kumar said. "It can affect the purity and flavour of the beer."