In 1864, a bottle of Guinness was brewed under Queen Victoria; 162 years later, divers recovered it from a shipwreck, where its preserved yeast may help recreate the taste of Victorian stout

A 162-year-old Guinness bottle has been pulled from a shipwreck in the English Channel, opening a rare window into Victorian brewing. The sealed bottle came from the Mindoro, which sank in 1864 during Queen Victoria’s reign. Now, divers and researchers want to know what is inside. Could the ancient Guinness still reveal its original yeast, chemistry and flavor? The answer may change what we know about 19th-century stout.