Bruges Beer Pipeline Froths to Life

It seems fitting that the world's first beer pipeline would be built the beer-reverent country of Belgium.

Bruges' De Halve Maan, which has been operating in the city center since 1564, built the pipeline to transport beer to its bottling facility two miles away. The goal was to preserve both the original brewery, and the historic buildings which led to the city being deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site. The pipeline eliminates the need for tankers, which struggled to navigate the city's narrow streets, and caused concern for business owners.

Adding to the all-around succesful nature of the venture, the majority of the 4 million euro budget was crowdfunded. The highest level of donation, 7,500 euros, allows for the patron to receive a bottle of Brugse Zot each day for life, and eighteen glasses.