When it comes to underground pipeline transportation, the first thing people think of must be things like oil, natural gas, or even underground sewage, but do you know? Unexpectedly, underground pipelines can still transport beer!
De Halve Maan, a brewery in Bruges, Belgium, has built a 3.2 kilometer pipeline specifically for transporting beer. This brewery is currently the only brewery in the city of Bruges that still produces traditional Belgian beer and the best beer available in the Bruges was born here. Also, it is a local symbol. For Belgians, it is also their right to boast about.
Building beer pipelines may be strange, but in fact, there are reasons.
The operators of the brewery have always stuck to the old factory buildings that were more than 500 years ago. Every day, many trucks deliver delicious beer from the brewery to various places. However, the streets of Bruges are very narrow, and it is inconvenient to transport beer by truck. More importantly, the ancient Belgian still maintains its medieval style of cobblestone streets. Trucks that frequently travel between breweries and bottling plants have become a major concern for local cultural relics protection workers. In addition, the fuel burned by trucks generates carbon emissions; driving on cobbled roads will also make beer produce foam.
So Xavier Vanniste, the owner of the brewery, came up with such a "genius" idea, and he stated that pipeline transportation would not affect the taste of the beer.
This project lasted for a total of 4 years and cost 4 million euros, with 10% being raised by the city residents. This 1.8 mile (approximately 2.9 kilometers) long polyethylene underground beer transportation pipeline can complete a day's beer transportation in 15-20 minutes and the pipeline can transport 6000 liters of beer per hour.
On the opening day of the pipeline, thousands of people gathered together to hold a "beer party", and the people who participated in the money-raising were also invited. According to the agreement, anyone who contributed up to 120 euros can enjoy free beer produced by this brewery for life on their birthday.
The opening of this pipeline not only protects the local streets and environment, but also maximizes the preservation of the pure taste of beer. It has now become a very attractive tourist attraction in Belgium.
| transportation n. | 交通运输 | ★★★★★ | sewage n. | 污水 | ★★★ |
| brewery n. | 啤酒厂 | ★★★ | specifically adv. | 特意、专门地 | ★★★★★ |
| currently adv. | 当前 | ★★★★★ | available adj. | 可行的 | ★★★★ |
| boast v. | 吹嘘 | ★★★★★ | operator n. | 操作者 | ★★★ |
| deliver v. | 递送 | ★★★ | various adj. | 各种各样的 | ★★★ |
| narrow adj. | 狭窄的 | ★★★ | maintain v. | 维持 | ★★★ |
| medieval adj. | 中世纪的 | ★★★★ | major adj. | 主要的 | ★★★ |
| concern n. | 关心、担忧 | ★★★★ | relics n. | 遗物 | ★★★★★ |
| In addition | 另外 | ★★★ | generate v. | 产生 | ★★★★ |
| emission n. | 排放 | ★★★★★ | state v. | 陈述、说明 | ★★★ |
| affect v. | 影响 | ★★★★★ | last v. | 持续 | ★★★★★ |
| resident n. | 居民 | ★★★★★ | approximately adv. | 大约 | ★★★★ |
| gather v. | 聚集 | ★★★ | participate v. | 参与 | ★★★ |
| maximize v. | 最大化 | ★★★★ | preservation n. | 保护 | ★★★ |
| attractive adj. | 有吸引力的 | ★★★★★ | attraction n. | 吸引 | ★★★★★ |
