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Reviving a Brewing Legend: Innis & Gunn's New Arctic Ale

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder and master brewer of Edinburgh-based Innis & Gunn, has announced plans to create a modern version of the historic Allsopp's Arctic Ale, a 150-year-old beer originally brewed for an Arctic expedition. Sharp acquired a rare bottle of the original ale at auction over a decade ago and plans to use it to seed a new limited-edition beer, Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale, following the original Allsopp's recipe. This bold venture aims to recreate a piece of brewing and maritime history, with the new beer set to be released in limited quantities later this year.

Key Takeaways:

  • The original Allsopp's Arctic Ale was brewed in Burton-upon-Trent for British explorers venturing into the frozen north in the 1870s.
  • The ale was designed to provide sustenance for sailors enduring temperatures as low as minus 40C, with an alcohol strength of around 9% and six times the calorie content of conventional beer.
  • The original ale was described as "strong and nutritive", rich in unfermentable sugars that could resist freezing, and was brewed at Samuel Allsopp & Sons in Burton-upon-Trent.
  • The collaboration between Innis & Gunn and Allsopp's Brewery feels like "a physical bridge to the past" according to Jamie Allsopp, founder of the new-look Allsopp's Brewery.
  • The new beer, Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale, will be released in limited quantities in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and select stockists, with a small number of hand-bottled editions available through a ballot.
  • The project aims to recreate a piece of brewing and maritime history, with the original bottle being one of a handful still in existence.

Statistics:

  • The original Allsopp's Arctic Ale has an alcohol strength of around 9%.
  • The ale has six times the calorie content of conventional beer.
  • The original ale was brewed at Samuel Allsopp & Sons in Burton-upon-Trent.
  • The collaboration between Innis & Gunn and Allsopp's Brewery involves recreating the original recipe using a rare bottle of the original ale.
  • The new beer, Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale, will be released in limited quantities.

Sources:

  • Source 1: Elaine Livingstone/PA Wire
  • Source 2: The Brewery of the Year revealed at 2025 Beer Awards
  • Source 3: Scotland's Brewery of the Year revealed at 2025 Beer Awards
  • Source 4: New owner's 'bold vision' for brewing giant's former Scottish forest

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