162-Year-Old Guinness Beer Found in UK Shipwreck; Researchers Eye Potential Re-brew
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A 162-year-old bottle of Guinness beer was discovered in a shipwreck off the coast of Dover, England.
- The intact bottle, dated 1864, was found by a Belgian underwater photographer.
- Researchers are analyzing the beer's contents to determine if it can be re-brewed or is still drinkable.
A remarkable discovery has been made off the coast of Dover, England, where a 162-year-old bottle of Guinness beer was found preserved in a shipwreck. The intact bottle, bearing the Guinness label and the year 1864, was uncovered by Belgian underwater photographer Stefan Panis during an exploration of the wreck last year.
Panis discovered the bottle within what he believes was originally a 24-bottle case, suggesting that other similar bottles might still be present in the vicinity. The find has generated significant interest, prompting researchers at KU Leuven University in Belgium to examine the beer's contents. Their investigation aims to ascertain whether the 19th-century brew can be replicated or if it remains potable after more than a century submerged.
Guinness and the year 1864 were written on it.
Should the researchers successfully recover intact DNA from the ancient beer, there is a possibility of re-brewing a small batch, offering a taste of history. Panis himself has expressed a willingness to sample the beer if experts deem it safe to consume. Guinness's parent company, Diageo, acknowledged the discovery, viewing it as an opportunity to delve into the brand's heritage and understand its historical legacy more deeply.
Looking into the past and understanding the brand's heritage more deeply.
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.