Based on yeast from a 220-year-old bottle of beer found in a shipwreck off the coast of Tasmania, the world’s oldest surviving beer is being brought back to life.
James Squire brewers worked in partnership with the Australian Wine Research Institute and Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery of Launceston to create The Wreck Survivors’ Ale.
The beer bottle containing the yeast was found within Australia’s oldest merchant shipwreck the ‘Sydney Cove’ which was wrecked in 1797 on Preservation Island north of Tasmania.
Shipwreck survivors walked 700 kilometres from Bass Strait to Sydney, but only three of the 17 made it to share the location of the shipwreck.
To commemorate the launch of ale, James Squire is looking for adventurers to honour the shipwreck’s original survivors by taking part in its Great Australian Survivors’ Trek.
The ale is crafted from yeast found in a 220-year-old bottle of beer within Australia’s oldest merchant shipwreck the ‘Sydney Cove’, which was wrecked on Preservation Island north of Tasmania in 1797.
The journey will see four people trek across Australia’s south eastern coastline through dunes, cliffs and rivers on foot, vehicle and raft.
Beginning at Ninety Mile Beach in Victoria, over seven days the trip will pass through towns such as Cape Howe, Moruya, Ulladulla and Jervis Bay leaving a commemorative James Squire plaque before concluding in Port Jackson, Sydney.
To win a spot on the trek, which includes airfares and accommodation, head to www.jamessquire.com.au/survivorstrek/ and outline your previous walking experience and why you want to make Australian history with James Squire.
Submissions close 12 July and winners announced 22 July.
The Wreck Survivors Ale is an Imperial Porter aged in rum barrels, packaged in a 750ml glass bottle, dipped in wax and placed in a box including information of the shipwreck survivors’ story. It will be available through Dan Murphy’s on 26 August.