Uncorking a 150-year-old beer mystery: A brewer's bold plan!
Imagine discovering a hidden treasure, a bottle of beer crafted for an Arctic expedition over a century ago. That's exactly what happened, and now, a modern-day brewer is about to embark on a unique journey to recreate this historic brew.
The Story of Allsopp's Arctic Ale
In 1875, Sir George Nares set out on a daring expedition to reach the North Pole. To fuel his sailors' journey through temperatures as low as -40°C, Samuel Allsopp & Sons in Burton-upon-Trent created a special beer. This beer, now known as Allsopp's Arctic Ale, was a remarkable creation with an alcohol strength of around 9%.
What made this beer so extraordinary? Its unfermentable sugars gave it the ability to resist freezing, and it packed a powerful punch with six times the calorie content of regular beer. Records describe it as a dark brown, thick liquid, so dense it had to be lifted from the brewing copper with buckets.
Uncorking History
Fast forward to 2015, when this historic bottle was discovered in a garage in Gobowen, Shropshire. It sold at auction for a whopping £3,300, and the buyer, Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder of Innis & Gunn, has a plan. He wants to use this ancient ale to seed a new, limited-edition beer.
But here's where it gets controversial...
A Brewer's Dilemma
Mr. Sharp faces a dilemma. Some might argue that opening this ancient bottle is akin to tampering with history. After all, it's a unique artifact, a piece of brewing and maritime history. But Mr. Sharp believes that sharing this beer is a way to honor its legacy.
He says, "Some people might think it's madness to open it, but I think the real madness would be to leave it untouched. Beer is meant to be shared, especially on its 150th anniversary."
A Romantic Revival
Jamie Allsopp, a direct descendant of Samuel Allsopp and founder of the revived Allsopp's Brewery, agrees. He describes Allsopp's Arctic Ale as "uniquely romantic." When Mr. Sharp approached him with the idea of creating a new version, Jamie admits, "I honestly thought he was mad."
But the idea of using this ancient beer as a base for a new creation is intriguing. Jamie calls it "a kind of alchemy."
The New Adventure
The new beer, Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale, will be released later this year. A small number of hand-bottled examples will be available through a ballot, offering beer enthusiasts a chance to taste history.
So, what do you think? Is this a brilliant way to honor brewing history, or is it a risky move that could tarnish a unique artifact? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
