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Belgian underwater photographer Stefan Panis made a remarkable discovery off the coast of Dover in 2025 when he found a bottle buried within a shipwreck. Upon surfacing, a quick wash of the bottle revealed the iconic Guinness logo, identifying it as a pint of the famous stout dated from the year 1864. This means the beer inside the bottle is an astounding 162 years old. Panis, who has been diving for over four decades, described how the initial sighting piqued his interest, leading to the extraordinary find.
Panis shared his excitement about the discovery and revealed that so far, only one bottle has been recovered, though he believes many more remain submerged at the wreck site. He estimates the original case contained 24 bottles and speculates that multiple cases may still lie beneath the sand. Working with his friend Eddie Huzzey, Panis plans to return when conditions improve to retrieve additional bottles from the shipwreck.
The discovery caught the attention of scientists as well. Panis’ colleague, Pawel Truszynski, contacted a beer microbiologist at KU Leuven University in Belgium to analyze samples from the bottle. Researchers hope to examine the stout to understand the flavor and characteristics of Guinness as it was brewed in the mid-19th century. Panis mentioned the exciting possibility of reconstructing the original beer by recovering complete DNA, enabling a “small re-brew” of the historic stout. The prospect of tasting a replica of Guinness from 1864 offers a unique glimpse into brewing history.
Though it remains uncertain whether the beer inside is still drinkable, as seawater might have seeped through the corks, Panis suggested it could be. When asked if he would sample the aged stout if declared safe, he was quick to respond, “Of course.” Among locals in Belfast, curiosity about drinking a pint preserved beneath the sea for over a century was equally strong. While some embraced the idea with enthusiasm, others preferred to stick with a fresh pint from the tap. Andrew Clarke humorously remarked he would start drinking it “halfway down me” even before safety was confirmed, acknowledging the rarity of such an artifact. A spokesperson from Diageo noted the find offers “a fascinating window into our past,” and that their Guinness Archive team is currently collaborating with the divers to learn more about this exceptional discovery
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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