Russian army joins beer rescue effort

Modern Brewery Age, Jan 26, 2004

Russia has dispatched an army unit to assist in the week-long struggle to rescue 10 tons of beer trapped under Siberian ice, according to reports from the Itar-Tass news agency.

A truck carrying the beer sank when trying to cross the frozen Irtysh river, and a rescue team of six divers, 10 workers and a modified T-72 tank worked to save the load.

"The situation hasn't developed according to our ideal scenario," the deputy head of the Cherlaksky region, told the agency. Temperatures were around minus 17 Fahrenheit at the site near the Siberian city of Omsk.

Tass said the soldiers were confident they could retrieve the beer.