Beer giants brew up hurricane relief

America's breweries operate some of the country's most robust trucking and logistics networks, delivering millions of bottles, cans, cases, and kegs to thirsty consumers every day. In the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma in August and September, however, several breweries put their supply chain resources and capabilities to a more humanitarian use.

Beer trucks loaded with drinking water instead of alcohol have been making deliveries to storm-wracked areas as part of disaster relief efforts launched by Chicago-based MillerCoors, St. Louis-based Anheuser Busch-InBev, College Station, Texas-based Blackwater Draw Brewing Co., and Longmont, Colo.-based Oskar Blues Brewery. The brewers were not the only companies that jumped in to provide "canned aid," however. Soft-drink producer Natrona Bottling Co. of Natrona Heights, Pa., also used its facilities to produce and deliver cans of clean drinking water in cooperation with Beaver, Pa.-based Beemac Logistics LLC.

Floods and other natural disasters can damage and contaminate drinking water sources, creating a need for clean water. "Providing clean water to communities enduring a crisis will aid in recovery and hopefully give some sense of comfort to those in need," said Karina Diehl, MillerCoors' director of community affairs, in a statement.