Like a plotline from "The Dukovs of Druskininkai"
this story dates from December so it's not terribly fresh, but that doesn't make it any less amusing:
Lithuania Discovers Belarussian Liquor Pipeline
Lithuanian border guards have unearthed a three-kilometer pipeline for smuggling in moonshine liquor from neighboring Belarus, Reuters reported on Friday.
The thin plastic pipeline, buried a few centimeter underground, ran under several roads, along a riverbed and ended next to the home of a Lithuanian citizen.
There was no news of any arrests, the agency reported.
It was the fourth such pipeline discovered in the last two years but by far the longest. Moonshine vodka from Belarus is sold on the black market in Lithuania, undercutting prices of legitimate alcohol that have risen sharply since the Baltic nation joined the European Union in May.
in other alcohol-related news, the recently completed merger between Molson and Coors wipes out yet another beverage choice. too bad, because i have always enjoyed a good hockey beer. anyone know any other good, readily available Canadian beers? i keep waiting for McAuslan to break into the US market, but no such luck so far.
Comments
Maybe a market research company that looks into the buying habits of Belarussian liquor smugglers would be fun.
As for the Canadian beer question, I'm hazy as to if Coors bought Molson or vice versa. If our northern neighbors swallowed up those Colorado fascists I'll keep drinking my favorite summer time lager, if not I'm switching to Moosehead.
If only Alexander Keith's was available here. Whenever I'm in our neigbor Nova Scotia I live on this and rappie pie, to the exclusion of all other foodstuffs.
Posted by: WisdomWeasel | April 25, 2005 09:46 AM
it was a merger, so neither officially "bought" the other. in fact, the new company is called "Molson Coors" and the fascist Pete Coors is still prominently involved. do with that information what you will.
Posted by: jamie | April 25, 2005 11:07 AM
Bugger it. There goes the cheapest 12 pack of decent beer ($8.99) for parties and cookouts. Moosehead (and its odd, armpit aftertaste) it is.
Posted by: WisdomWeasel | April 25, 2005 11:46 AM
if you can find it, Labatt Blue is okay for its price. the Coors association is unfortunate, but I'm not sure it's enough to keep me from drinking Molson Canadian, tho if I ever see John Elway or Dan Patrick shilling for it, it's all over.
Posted by: matt | April 25, 2005 12:12 PM
Maybe it's the rugged journey from Toronto to Maine, but Labbatt's Bleu always seems to taste of soap.
Posted by: WisdomWeasel | April 25, 2005 12:21 PM
Dammit. I love hockey beer. This merger also prohibits me from having a sentimental Black Label, that staple of the early post-collegiate years.
Posted by: David | April 25, 2005 05:21 PM
I am also a fan of Labatt Blue. They have it at Bonnie's, so next time you have a hankering for both Canadian beer and wings, fries and/or a burger, call me up and I'll join you there.
Posted by: jim | April 27, 2005 09:36 PM
Did somebody say Bellorussians and moonshine? Two of my favorite things!
Posted by: Claire | May 3, 2005 02:48 PM