It was news that would've sent a chill down the spines of Australia's beer drinkers — and not only if they'd just cracked open a cold one.

Key points: Brewers will lose revenue from the closure of pubs and bars

Brewers will lose revenue from the closure of pubs and bars Dave Padden from Akasha Brewing says he would likely only have stock for about a week if production was forced to shut

Dave Padden from Akasha Brewing says he would likely only have stock for about a week if production was forced to shut Bottle shops remain open for now but long lines formed on Sunday

On Sunday, as Victoria and New South Wales flagged shutdowns of non-essential services, Australia's biggest brewers warned the country could run out of beer within weeks.

"Unfortunately, you can't turn major breweries off and then quickly turn them back on," Carlton & United Breweries chief executive Peter Filipovic said in a statement.

"If breweries are included in a widespread shutdown, we may not be able to get beer to the market for some months after re-opening."

Despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirming that bottle shops will remain open for now, social media posts showed long lines at bottle shops.

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Small brewers operate on 'just-in-time' basis

Smaller breweries including Akasha Brewing, in Sydney's inner west, are closely following the government announcements to gauge what they means for business.

Akasha's founder and chief brewer Dave Padden told the ABC it was business as usual for now.

"We had full production going this morning, the canning line was running," he said.

But if production was to be suspended due to a further escalation of the lockdowns, it would be bad news for craft-beer drinkers.

"If production had to stop this morning we'd probably have enough to last us — assuming the bottle shops are open — probably another week and that's it," Mr Padden said.

Akasha operates on a 'just-in-time' basis, not holding large stocks of beer, preferring to deliver it fresh.

"If we didn't have production, we wouldn't be selling beer for very long."

Mr Padden estimates that selling packaged beer to bottle shops accounts for about 70 per cent of Akasha's business, so while those stores remain open, they'll keep brewing and keep their 15 staff on.

Last week, he launched a local delivery service using an existing fleet of vans.

"We do our own wholesale deliveries in Sydney, so it's really just piggybacking on that existing capability."

'Nothing is coming out to us directly'

Another small Sydney brewer, Yulli's Brews, has already had to cut its causal staff numbers since social-distancing restrictions came into place last week.

Co-founder James Harvey said 40 to 50 per cent of Yulli's weekly revenue came from food and drinks sold at the brewery, which also hosted regular live music.

Breweries such as Yulli's Brews will need to rely on packaged beer sales under the current lockdown. ( Instagram: Yulli's Brews )

That part of the business is now shut except for takeaways, as are the pubs and bars that have Yulli's beers on taps.

Yesterday, when Gladys Berejiklian flagged a shutdown of non-essential services, hours before the Prime Minister clarified the restrictions, Mr Harvey said he wasn't quite sure whose message to follow.

"Nothing is coming out to us directly… it's hard to be sure what you're communicating [to staff and customers]," he said.

Over the past week, Yulli's has set up a delivery service and is taking phone orders, and they will continue supplying bottle shops with their packaged beers.

The production cycle will be adjusted and the tanks will lay dormant for longer periods.

Major players say play by social-distancing rules

Lion, the company behind Toohey's, Hahn, and Little Creatures, among others, is working with its hospitality customers that have been forced to close.

"Lion will take back [full] unused kegs at no cost or charge and offer customers a credit," Lion Australia managing director James Brindley said in a statement.

And as the Government urges Australians to take social distancing seriously and not replace a drink at the pub with a gathering at home, Lion said it would do its part, while continuing to supply bottle shops.

"We will be working closely with our retail customers as the situation evolves to ensure the hundreds of thousands of beer-drinkers around Australia are informed as to their responsibilities when it comes to social distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19," Lion said.

Rival Carlton & United Breweries (CUB), which brews Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught and Crown Lager, echoed the sentiment.

"In the coming days and weeks, if you are enjoying a beer CUB asks that you please do so in accordance with the rules and advice of governments and their Chief Medical Officers."

As Scott Morrison has already foreshadowed "far more draconian" measures to come, it remains an uncertain time for many industries, brewing included.

"We're lucky in a sense, we have another operation to somewhat stay afloat," Mr Harvey said, referring to Yulli's packaged beer business.

At Akasha, Mr Padden said revenue would drop despite production continuing for as long as possible.

"It'd be silly to think otherwise — 30 per cent of our business is gone and it remains to be seen how long our other customers like bottle shops will remain open."

While beer taps are turned off and kegs are being returned, the beer-making will continue until Australia's brewers, big and small, are instructed otherwise.