Saturday, October 01, 2016

Brewges

If I'm being honest, I gotta admit that this election is affecting my mood, if not my mental health. I intellectually understand the rise of Trump, but I can't fathom how so many people I consider to be rational adults look at the choice before us and gleefully choose the least qualified major party candidate in modern history. I'm really at a loss, and it's making me reconsider my worldview, which is generally aligned with the whole moral arc bends towards justice thing.

So I think I need to spend more time thinking about beer. And I believe I've found a place to help me do that.

Bruges is one of the world's oldest and most historic cities. It was chartered in 1128, but civilization there dates back to at least the 9th century BC. A city that old, with so much history, has a lot to protect. And a city like Bruges, that loves beer, needs a lot of trucks to rumble around narrow, cobblestone streets to deliver suds. The combination isn't optimal for those who would preserve the West Flanders capital city, a UNSECO protected site.

Enter the geniuses at De Halve Maan brewery, who have been delivering quaffs to Bruges' citizens since 1856. As of two weeks ago, they won't be sending delivery trucks across the city, but they'll be supplying just as many establishments.

Their secret? A 3 km network of pipes that pump beer directly from their tanks to a bottling plant in close proximity to the historic district. The result, fewer truck trips, less wear and tear on centuries-old streets, and beer flowing beneath one of Europe's great little cities.


The next, obvious step, for an enterprising brewery seems obvious. Direct pipes from brewery to taps across a city. Cut out the need for delivery vehicles entirely. And make Flanders great again.

59 comments:

Danimal said...

Classless US spectators not realizing their never ending jabbing of Rory is making him angry, and not in a good way. And Pieters is a stud. He won't lose tomorrow either.

Whitney said...

Agree 100% with you, Dan. Morons fueling him.

Meanwhile, Tribe kicker has missed two FGs <35 and a PAT. Losing 7-6 in the 3rd. Come on.

Whitney said...

Dave and I went to Bruges. We love beer, too.

rob said...

i am aware of that. was hoping to trigger a follow-on post about bruges. a call and response, if you will.

Whitney said...

Dave bought lace in Brussels. You know what we say about gents like that.

Whitney said...

Wheels have come off the TribeWagon. For the game and the season.

rob said...

welp

Dave said...

beer, bridges, and hieronymous bosch. what's not to like about bruges? aside from that pesky murderous midget. whit and i also played trivia pursuit using flemish cards in the oldest pub in belgium. party time!

Mark said...

I don't believe I've ever seen a crazier last minute of football than the last minute of Tennessee-UGA. FSU-Carolina wasn't too shabby either.

Whitney said...

Dude.

Was walking towards the venue and Rhett Miller is around the corner on the phone. Nobody around him. I stopped, we exchanged nods and smiles, and I walked on.

The venue is empty. I'm embarrassed for my town. This blows.

Ready to hear the Old 97s rock... Or look at the clock.

zman said...

My children sound phlegmish lately. Something's going around.

TR said...

I have almost zero knowledge about what being "Flemish", "Prussian" or "Hessian" means.

But I can go balls deep on the cultural history of Spain and Latin America. You win some, you lose some.

TR said...

This Clemson-Louisville game has some real intensity at the start. Very excited to watch this one.

Mark said...

I custom designed a Ric Flair/Arn Anderson tshirt today that will be arriving at my house k less than a week. So I've got that going for me.

TR said...

That's pretty tremendous. That's coming from a guy who has listened to Flair's podcasts for the last year.

TR said...

I'd love to see Lamar Jackson put some zip on a long ball. He's whipping the short passes, but everything long is a Chas Pennington-esque lollipop.

Mark said...

Thanks, TR. I'm pretty proud of myself. I love Flair. Spent a lot time watching the old NWA broadcasts on TBS as a kid. TBS was basically wrestling and the Braves when I was growing up, so Ric Flair and Bob Horner were pretty significant childhood influences.

TR said...

Bob Horner and Dusty Rhodes are the same guy, right?

I was a HUGE wrestling fan as a kid. TBS' NWA coverage and ESPN's (I think?) AWA coverage were eye-opening to me. Broadened my wrestling perspective. We also would get WCCW once a week.

The Four Horsemen/Dusty/Luger era was the shit.

zman said...

The Night Of has Knish AND Omar?!?

Mark said...

Yes. Absolutely the same guy. I too loved wrestling as a kid. And the Four Horsemen/Dusty/Luger era raised me.

zman said...

AND Lord Jamar?!?

Marls said...

From MN we are happy bout Mets wins and the US performance today.

Lee Westwood = Bernhard Langer

Mark said...

Zman- can you make a blog post of your real time thoughts while watching The Night Of?

zman said...

I'm three episodes in but so far those are my primary reactions.

The reply is a kick in the ass from a leg and a boot.

Marls said...

Shlara has herself a game.

Mark said...

Lamar Jackson is a bad man. And is now officially my #1 Florida recruit that got away. Passing both CJ Spiller and Sammy Watkins.

Mark said...

Damn. Nice return. I'm jealous of Shlara now.

zman said...

Baldwin is a better Trump than Trump.

zman said...

Michter's rye gets it done by the way.

zman said...

And when I say Baldwin I mean Alec not Scooter

TR said...

Very jealous of Shlara. I demoted the game to DVR at halftime while I chugged thru Premier League highlights. Was fun to catch up in 2nd half.

Jackson's arm, when he lets it rip, is impressive. He has been impressive in 2nd half.

TR said...

Zman - why aren't we getting shitfaced together?

zman said...

Because you don't love me anymore? I'm watching Clemson Louisville too. We still on for Isbell/Ritter?

zman said...

Margot Robie though. Cot dam.

TR said...

Let's talk on that show. I'll be goatating.

zman said...

House of Pain will always be relevant.

zman said...

I'll drive. We are going. Tiara can come if you're too busy.

zman said...

This game by the way.

TR said...

Oh Quick, you went down like a chump. Gotta have more awareness.

TR said...

"Clemson has to go to BC on Friday."

Hahahahahaha.

Looking for Shlara to be lighting a couch on fire soon.

Mark said...

Quick just cashed out. Shameful in a game like that.

I have no reference for Zman'a Margot Robbie reference but I endorse it.

zman said...

Jack Daniels' new ad agency deserves a pat on the back.

Mark said...

I'm not Oregon fan other than being a fan of innovative offensive football but I'm bummed to see the program crater like this post Chip Kelly.

Mark said...

Currently losing 45-20 to Washington State:

Mark said...

44-20. My bad.

zman said...

SNL is in full "out of my tits" mode. Set your DVRs accordingly.

rob said...

yeah, the first hour of snl was bonkers. in a good way.

rob said...

does it make me a bad american if i'm okay with mcilroy beating reed?

Shlara said...

Clempson fans are wild about their futbawl
I don't know how they do this all season--it's exhausting

Mark said...

Years of practice, Shlara. A number of schools in the south have fan bases that operate in a similar fashion. Lives are, in many ways, built around fall Saturdays.

My sister (FSU grad) and I were talking about how we're both too old to do it anymore. She used to go to nearly every FSU home game and I would always hit 3-5 Gator home games long after leaving Gainesville. I'm down to two (max) at this point. I'm too old, busy and lazy at this point. My couch and huge TV are also too convenient.

Danimal said...

Yes Rob. Yes.
I'm watching in my garage. It makes me feel like I'm being somewhat productive. Go Jags!

Whitney said...

If Washington loses to the Browns, they get automatically relegated, right? CFL? USFL? XFL?

Whitney said...

Josh Norman was just penalized for, according to the referee, "shooting a bow and arrow." Alrighty.

Mark said...

Julio Jones is pretty good, I guess.

Danimal said...

Patrick Reed....HA-yooooge!

mayhugh said...

The wives of the Ryder Cup players may come off of an assembly line.

Danimal said...

I'd work on that assembly line.

Dave said...

julio jones lost my fantasy game last week, and won it this week. hero and the goat.

zman said...

So far my Bills preseason forecast is 0-4 in terms of predicting games but I'm 100% accurate on the overall record. Which means I'm still an idiot.