Belgian underwater photographer Stefan Panis found the bottle while exploring the wreck of the Mindoro, which sank in the English Channel in 1864.
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According to the BBC, Panis and fellow diver Eddie Huzzey discovered the bottle last year, realising what it was after rinsing it at the surface and seeing the Guinness branding.
Panis said: “We lifted the artefact, and then on the surface a quick rinse revealed ‘Guinness’.”
He believes further bottles could remain buried around the wreck.
“Seeing the size of the case, I think it is definitely a case of 24 bottles. But there might be more cases.”
Historic sample
Samples from the bottle have been sent to microbiologists at KU Leuven University in Belgium, with researchers hoping to find out more about what the stout would have tasted like.
Panis said there was a chance researchers could recover the full DNA and use it to make a small re brew of the beer found in the 1860s.
“There is a possibility that it’s still drinkable,” Panis said. “The question is if the sea water has come into the bottles through the corks. If not, most likely the beer would still be drinkable.”
A Diageo spokesperson said: “Discoveries like this provide a fascinating window into our past and help build a deeper understanding of our heritage.”
Currently, our Guinness Archive team is liaising with the divers to gather more information and evaluate the find.
Guinness growth
The discovery comes as Guinness continues to perform strongly in the on trade.
The Morning Advertiser (MA) reported last week that Guinness had continued to gain share in UK pubs and bars, despite a fall in annual sales across Diageo.
Sales of Guinness in Great Britain rose 2.9% in the year to 30 June 2026, driven by double digit growth in pubs and bars, while global sales of the stout rose 12%.
Diageo chief executive Dave Lewis also said the business planned to double Guinness production capacity as part of a wider investment programme.
The brand has also continued to expand its hospitality presence, with Diageo opening its £73m Open Gate Brewery London in Covent Garden last year.
The 54,000sq ft visitor centre and microbrewery is expected to welcome more than 500,000 visitors a year, while Inception Group has also opened a dedicated Guinness Saloon at its new Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern nearby.
