Arctic ale from 1875 found in garage

A bottle of 1875 vintage ale packed for a British Arctic Expedition to the North Pole is to go under the hammer.

Auctioneer Aaron Dean with the bottle of 1875 Arctic Ale. Credit: the-salesroom.com

The attempt, by HMS Alert and HMS Discovery under the leadership of Vice-Admiral Sir George Nares, was unsuccessful in its bid to reach the polar pinnacle.

However the crew was able to map the coastlines of Greenland and Ellesmere Island, earning Nares the title of the first explorer to navigate through both land masses. The channel was later named Nares Strait in his honour.

As reported by the-saleroom.com, the 140-year-old bottle, brewed by Allsopps, was discovered by Trevanion and Dean auctioneer Aaron Dean in a garage in the Shropshire village of Gobowen.

“I saw a bottle which looked interesting standing in a mixed box of spirits,” he said. “However, my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw ‘Arctic Expedition 1875’ embossed on the intact seal.”

The bottle will be offered for sale on 13 June with an estimated selling price of £400-600.