Beer recreated from remnants of ship wreck off Tasmanian island returns

The Sydney Cove ship was wrecked off Preservation Island in 1797, carrying more than 30,000 litres of alcohol. What has now been recreated from its remnants is a brew worth checking out.

Haydon Morgan, Head Brewer for James Squire with The Wreck Survivors Ale.

PORTER lovers just couldn’t get enough of the 6 per cent beer brewed from 220-year-old yeast last June.

The good news is that it’s back — and the flavours have been produced to reflect the taste of its time.

James Squire head brewer Haydon Morgan said the 2500 bottles of The Wreck Preservation Ale, made from the remnants of the 1797 shipwreck of the Sydney Cove off Preservation Island in Bass Strait, sold out within a day last year.

“I think there were six bottles per Dan Murphy store and I only got enough for my brewing team,” Mr Morgan said.

Five thousand bottles of the second edition, The Wreck Survivors Ale, will be up for grabs from August 26.

Drinkers can also taste the 7 per cent porter in James Squire venues until the end of September.

The drink has been developed by brewers at James Squire’s Malt Shovel Brewery in Sydney using yeast found in the shipwreck.

Brewed in partnership with the Australian Wine Research Institute and Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, the second edition will offer a more diverse flavour.

“We need a beer that’s high in alcohol, that you’d want to drink at the end of a journey.”

Mr Morgan said they aged the beer in rum barrels, giving the porter a slight undertone of rum.

“It’s perfect for Tassie this time of year,” he said.