Full Breakdown
162-Year-Old Guinness Bottle Retrieved from a Dover Shipwreck
8/8/2026, 9:24:23 PM
Discovery of the Historic Stout
In 2025 Belgian underwater photographer Stefan Panis and dive partner Eddie Huzzey located an intact glass bottle in the wreck of the 19th-century barque Mindora, about 5 km off Dover. After a surface rinse, the label showed the Guinness brand and the year 1864. Panis lifted the artefact, noting it appeared to be part of a case of 24 bottles, though more may remain buried.
Background & Context
The Mindora collided with another vessel off Dover on 27 Nov 1864 after departing London for Vancouver. Survey reports from the period document the ship’s cargo, now known to include the Guinness bottles. The wreck’s cold, dark environment—approximately 4 °C and constant darkness—has helped preserve organic material.
Data & Statistics
- Date of bottling: 1864.
- Depth of find: Bottom of the sea, within the cargo hold.
- Number of bottles recovered: Reports vary—BBC cites one bottle; Irish Times and Newstalk mention up to 20 bottles and a possible case of 24.
- Preservation conditions: 4 °C, high pressure, no light.
Official Statements & Responses
Diageo said the discovery offers a “fascinating window into our past” and that its Guinness Archive team is working with the divers to gather information, focusing on heritage research rather than commercial release.
On-the-Ground Reports
Panis noted the bottle’s upside-down storage may have created a pressurised seal that limited seawater ingress. He plans to return when conditions permit, hoping to recover more bottles. The project, dubbed “Project Jurassic Beer,” aims to extract DNA and microbial signatures to reconstruct the 1864 brew.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Bottle count: BBC mentions one bottle; other outlets report up to 20 or a full case.
- Condition of the liquid: Panis suggests the stout could still be drinkable if the cork remained sealed, but scientists have not confirmed yeast viability.
- Ship identity: Lloyd’s Register Foundation could not officially confirm the wreck’s name, noting discrepancies (“Mindoro” vs. “Mindora”).
Verbatim Quotes
- “Discoveries like this provide a fascinating window into our past and help build a deeper understanding of our heritage.” — Diageo spokesperson
- “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,” — Stefan Panis
What’s Next
Samples have been sent to microbiologists at KU Leuven University for DNA analysis and potential re-brewing. Researchers will compare the genetic material with modern Guinness strains and consult the Guinness Archive for historical records. Panis intends further dives to locate additional bottles, pending sea conditions and permits. The study will determine whether the 1864 stout can be safely sampled or recreated, shedding light on 19th-century brewing practices.
