Brewing History: Rare 150-Year-Old Ale to Create Modern Version

Strategic Insights -

A Scottish brewer, Innis & Gunn, is partnering with the revived Allsopp's Brewery to recreate a 150-year-old ale that was originally brewed for an Arctic expedition. The unique beer, known as Allsopp's Arctic Ale, was designed to provide sustenance for sailors in extreme temperatures. The original bottle, one of a handful still in existence, will be poured into a new brew using a quantity of the ale to seed a new limited-edition beer, Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale.

Key Takeaways:

  • The original Allsopp's Arctic Ale was brewed in 1875 for the Arctic expedition of Sir George Nares and was designed to provide sustenance for sailors in extreme temperatures.
  • The beer was brewed in Burton-upon-Trent and had an alcohol strength of around 9%, making it six times the calorie content of conventional beer.
  • The original bottle is one of a handful still in existence and has been acquired by Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder and master brewer of Innis & Gunn, at auction for over £3000.
  • The new beer, Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale, will be released in limited quantities later this year in Innis & Gunn's Taprooms in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as other select stockists.
  • A small number of hand-bottled editions will also be made available through a ballot.
  • Jamie Allsopp, founder of the new-look Allsopp's Brewery and a direct descendant of Samuel Allsopp, believes the collaboration with Innis & Gunn feels like "a physical bridge to the past".
  • The original Allsopp's Arctic Ale was described as "strong and nutritive", rich in unfermentable sugars that could resist freezing, and had to be lifted from the brewing copper in buckets due to its thick consistency.

Statistics:

  • The new beer, Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale, will be released in limited quantities across Innis & Gunn's Taprooms in Edinburgh and Glasgow, at Allsopp's venues in London, as well as select other stockists.
  • The original bottle of Allsopp's Arctic Ale was acquired by Dougal Gunn Sharp at auction for over £3000.
  • The original Allsopp's Arctic Ale was brewed in Burton-upon-Trent and had an alcohol strength of around 9%, with six times the calorie content of conventional beer.
  • The beer was designed to provide sustenance for sailors in extreme temperatures as low as minus 40C.

Sources:

  • Scottish brewer to create modern version of 150-year-old ale with Innis & Gunn (PA Wire, no date)
  • The Telegraph, "Rarest beer in the world: 150-year-old ale recreated with Innis & Gunn" (no date)
  • The Guardian, "Allsopp's Arctic Ale: the oldest beer in the world is reborn" (no date)