A bottle of Guinness believed to date back to 1864 has been recovered from a shipwreck off the coast of Dover, raising hopes that scientists may be able to recreate the stout as it was brewed more than 160 years ago, BBC reported.The discovery was made last year by Belgian underwater photographer Stefan Panis, who spotted the bottle while exploring a wreck beneath the sea. At first, he did not realise what he had found.“We lifted the artefact, and then on the surface a quick rinse revealed ‘Guinness’,” Panis said.The diver, who has more than four decades of diving experience, later contacted Guinness to report the discovery.
More bottles may still be buried
Panis believes the bottle is part of a larger shipment that remains buried under sand at the wreck site.“Seeing the size of the case, I think it is definitely a case of 24 bottles,” he said.“But there might be more cases.”He plans to return to the site to recover additional bottles when diving conditions improve.
Scientists studying centuries-old stout
After the discovery, samples from the bottle were sent to a microbiologist specialising in beer at KU Leuven University in Belgium.Researchers are examining the contents to understand how Guinness was brewed in the 19th century.Panis said scientists hope to recover the beer’s DNA, which could make it possible to recreate the original recipe.“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 said.He added that there is also a possibility the stout could still be drinkable if seawater had not entered the bottle through the cork.“If not, most likely the beer would still be drinkable.”Although Panis said he is “not that big” a Guinness fan, he admitted he would still taste it if experts confirmed it was safe.“Of course.”
Guinness reviewing the discovery
A spokesperson for Diageo, the maker of Guinness, said the company is working with the divers to learn more about the find.“Discoveries like this provide a fascinating window into our past and help build a deeper understanding of our heritage,” the spokesperson said.They added that the Guinness Archive team is in contact with the divers to gather more information and assess the discovery.
