
170-Year-Old Shipwreck Beers Reveal 19th-Century Brewing Secrets
Two beers recovered from a 170-year-old shipwreck off the Åland Islands were chemically analyzed. One resembled a light lager, the other a hoppier ale; both had low alcohol content (~2.8–3.2%), high sodium from seawater, and acidic pH. Despite long underwater exposure and oxidation of sulfur compounds, enough original ingredients remained to infer how 19th-century brewers produced beer, suggesting a simpler, less refined brewing process. One bottle cracked during recovery, but divers reportedly tasted beer inside.










