Scientists are hopeful that a rare 1864 bottle of Guinness could help them recreate the original recipe. Approximately 20 bottles of the 162-year-old stout were discovered in a shipwreck, five kilometres off the coast of Dover. The find has sparked an ambitious scientific project that could potentially bring a taste of the Victorian era back to life.
Discovery by Belgian Photographer
Stefan Panis, a Belgian underwater photographer with more than 40 years of experience, unexpectedly made international headlines upon finding the hidden treasure. During the expedition dive, Panis spotted the historic Guinness in darkness in the Mindora's cargo. The bottles were preserved under constant high pressure, which is regarded as the ideal condition for preservation.
The Mindora set sail from London to Vancouver on November 27, 1864, and collided with another vessel off the Dover coast a week later. The shipwreck has remained undisturbed for over 160 years, making this discovery particularly significant.
Scientific Analysis and Potential for Re-brewing
Following the tip-off, samples from the bottle were sent to KU Leuven University in Belgium for analysis by microbiologists. Panis explained that 'there is always a chance that we can recover the complete DNA, and then we can do a small re-brew of the exact beer that was found in the 1860s'.
He even reckons there's a possibility that what he unearthed is 'still drinkable', provided that seawater hasn't entered the bottles through the corks. 'If not, most likely, the beer would still be drinkable,' he added. While not a huge Guinness fan himself, he'd happily take a sip of the vintage booze if deemed safe.
Ongoing Communication with Guinness Owners
Panis has been in 'constant communication' with Diageo Ireland, owners and manufacturers of Guinness, founded in Dublin in 1759, while they gather more information. A spokesperson told The Irish Times: 'Discoveries like this provide a fascinating window into our past and help build a deeper understanding of our heritage.'
Panis contacted Guinness to inform them of his discovery but believes there could be more than the one pint he initially surfaced with down there. 'We lifted the artefact, and then on the surface, a quick rinse revealed "Guinness." Seeing the size of the case, I think it is definitely a case of 24 bottles. But there might be more cases,' he told BBC News.
The Guinness Recipe and Historical Context
As written on the Guinness website, the world's most popular stout is created using four key ingredients: roasted barley, malted barley, hops, and yeast, with water making a fifth. The brand adds: 'Every Guinness you've ever enjoyed can be traced back to this recipe. A direct descendant of our archival recipes, Guinness Extra Stout is based on a beer first brewed in 1821, when Arthur Guinness II set down precise instructions for brewing his Superior Porter.'
Brewing historian Edward Bourke also offered further backstory to the old beer, sharing with Panis that 'harsh channel storms' cut short a previous operation to blow the decks out of the Mindora with explosives to access the cargo. Therefore, the Guinness shipment has been 'untouched' for over 160 years.
Perfect Preservation Conditions
Bourke added that the discovered beer was sent in barrels to London trade agent Cameron Saunders in the autumn of 1864, when it was bottled in English glass. What's more, because the bottles were found to be upside-down, their contents will likely be 'perfect', because the trapped air bubbles created a pressurised barrier to protect them.
Taking to Instagram amid what he described as a 'whirlwind' of viral fame, the diver declared that he is already 'looking forward to the next expedition'. This discovery not only offers a potential taste of history but also provides a unique opportunity to study 19th-century brewing techniques and ingredients.
