162-Year-Old Guinness Bottle Retrieved from Dover Shipwreck
A Belgian diver uncovered a Guinness bottle from 1864 in a wreck off Dover, and scientists are analyzing its contents.
Belgian diver Stefan Panis discovered a 162-year-old Guinness bottle in a shipwreck off the English coast near Dover during a 2025 dive. After a quick rinse revealed the iconic branding, Panis contacted Guinness, and the bottle, dated 1864, was recovered along with the possibility of more cases at the site. Samples have been forwarded to a microbiologist at KU Leuven University, who aims to extract DNA and assess whether the beer remains drinkable or can be rebrewed to match its original flavor.
The find has sparked interest among Belfast locals, many of whom would try the historic stout despite safety concerns. Diageo’s representative said the discovery offers a unique glimpse into the brand’s past and that the Guinness Archive team is working with the divers to gather further details.
Why it matters
The bottle could reveal historic brewing methods and offers a rare glimpse into 19th-century beverage culture.
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