Well, not really beers. Tanks for making beer. And not really 16. Twelve giant tanks were delivered via the Erie Canal for a short truck ride to the Genesee Brewery. The biggest news to hit the canal since...uuhhh... Believe me, it's really big news!
Each of the tanks is 60 feet high and at least 20 feet in diameter, though they were probably manufactured to metric tolerances. The reason they had to be floated in was that they were manufactured in China, but maybe that's OK, because now with the tanks here in Rochester, NY, we're gonna be manufacturing a lot of beer, dadgummit!
Amazing that it is cheaper to create something that big and move it half way around the world instead of building closer to the usage site.
Each of the tanks is 60 feet high and at least 20 feet in diameter, though they were probably manufactured to metric tolerances. The reason they had to be floated in was that they were manufactured in China, but maybe that's OK, because now with the tanks here in Rochester, NY, we're gonna be manufacturing a lot of beer, dadgummit!
Amazing that it is cheaper to create something that big and move it half way around the world instead of building closer to the usage site.
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| Not a good vantage from the canal path, or from the abandoned railroad bridge where I took this shot. I hate walking on those railroad ties where you can see the long drop between them. How long has this bridge been abandoned, and how long does it take for ties to rot? |
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| They've hidden pretty well. A tug boat was used to move the tanks along the waterway. Seems like 12 Horses would have been more appropriate. |
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| A little better view of the barge from another bridge on the opposite side, but the CMT OTTER oughta' get outa' the way so we can see. |
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| Here is the rest of the crowd watching the event. I caught up with them later and the woman said, "I thought half the town would be here." Free beer samples might have made a difference. |
For those of you who turn your noses up at the thought of sipping Genny Beer, I suggest you visit the Genesee Brew House on Cataract Street, next to the brewery. Many pilot batch options to choose from, and even if you don't wish to imbibe, the vista of the falls where Sam Patch met his end is worth the visit. Food ain't bad either!
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| The impressive crane doing the lifting. Would be great fun to have one of these. |
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| High and dry, awaiting land transportation. These oversized containers came all the way from Albany on the canal, even on the stretch that is actually a river. Yes, it was truly "Drums Along the Mohawk." |
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| I'll have to calculate if one tank would hold a lifetime supply of beer. I was very disappointed in this packaging. I really expected a nice Genny Beer can simulation. |
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| More like this. Don't you agree? |
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| Here's one with the packaging material removed. Hmmm.... Maybe the "tanks" are really rejects from Kim Jong-un's missile program. Maybe THAT's how they came so cheap. |
That's about it. If I get really ambitious on Thursday morning, I'll head back to see the last two tanks in the air. Not likely. Regardless, I'm pleased to have seen this small bit of Erie Canal history.
Tanks for the memories!
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Here are a few shots from my friend Tom who caught the transport in progress:
As Tom said, it was pretty amazing how the tug operator negotiated the double barge around a turn in the canal.
