Divers find 162-year-old Guinness in shipwreck off the English coast
Century-Old Guinness Bottle Unearthed from English Waters
Ninoda.com – How far would you venture for a proper pint? If your answer involves descending to the ocean floor, fortune may be smiling upon you. There is one notable caveat, however—the beverage in question has been resting underwater for 162 years.
Belgian underwater photographer Stefan Panis stumbled upon the remarkable find while exploring a shipwreck near Dover in 2025. At first glance, he noticed something peculiar about the object, though its identity remained unclear. Upon resurfacing alongside his companion Eddie Huzzey, a simple rinse exposed the unmistakable Guinness logo. The vessel had been crafted in 1864.
"We lifted the artefact, and then on the surface a quick rinse revealed 'Guinness'," Panis recalled.
With over four decades of diving experience under his belt, Panis immediately reached out to Guinness headquarters to report his discovery. While only a single bottle has been retrieved thus far, he remains convinced numerous others lie hidden beneath the sandy seabed. He has already outlined intentions to continue salvaging operations once weather conditions permit.
"Seeing the size of the case, I think it is definitely a case of 24 bottles. But there might be more cases," Panis explained.
Following the initial find, Panis's colleague Pawel Truszynski connected with a beer-specializing microbiologist at KU Leuven University in Belgium. Researchers have received samples from the historic bottle and are working to determine how the stout might have tasted when originally brewed.
"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," Panis noted.
Should the analysis prove successful, scientists could potentially recreate the original flavor profile of Guinness as it existed in 1864. Beyond the scientific possibilities, an even more captivating scenario exists.
"There is a possibility that it's still drinkable. The question is if the sea water has come into the bottles through the corks. If not, most likely the beer would still be drinkable," Panis suggested.
Although Panis admitted he isn't particularly devoted to Guinness, he wasted no time responding when asked whether he would sample the century-and-a-half-old stout if experts confirmed it was safe.
"Of course."
For several individuals in Belfast, the opportunity to consume a pint that had spent over 160 years submerged was motivation enough to take a chance. Fraser Hill, Katie Wilkinson, and Katie White all expressed that curiosity would triumph over any reservations if presented with the recovered beverage.
"I would try it even though I don't even like Guinness," Katie White stated.
Others required minimal persuasion. Matt McCoppin declared he would sample the stout "in a heartbeat," while Natalia Nowacka acknowledged she might feel nervous but couldn't pass up the experience.
"I wouldn't know what to expect, I'd be quite scared," Natalia admitted.
Noë Vernet similarly found the prospect irresistible.
"For the sheer experience, I would try it," he said.
Not everyone shared this enthusiasm, however. Margaret Barr preferred a freshly poured pint over one retrieved from the ocean depths.
"Absolutely not," she declared. "I'm a big Guinness drinker, I'm just not a risk taker."
Andrew Clarke, meanwhile, indicated that official safety guidance wouldn't slow him down. He joked the Guinness would be "halfway down me" before experts finished their evaluation.
"I don't think it would age like a fine wine, but for the sake of mankind someone needs to drink it," he said. "Maybe put a few more down there and see what happens 200 years from now."
A Diageo representative commented on the significance of the find:
"Discoveries like this provide a fascinating window into our past and help build a deeper understanding of our heritage. Currently, our Guinness Archive team is liaising with the divers to gather more information and evaluate the find."
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