James Squire has released The Wreck Survivors' Ale as the second edition drink in its historical brew series, crafted from yeast found in a 220-year-old bottle of beer.
The brewer has partnered with the Australian Wine Research Institute and Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery of Launceston to create the beer, sourcing the bottle from one of Australia's oldest merchant shipwrecks, the Sydney Cove, wrecked on Preservation Island north of Tasmania in 1797.
The Wreck Survivors' Ale is an Imperial Porter aged in rum barrels and packaged in a 750ml glass bottle.
To commemorate the launch, James Squire has launched a competition – The Great Australian Survivors' Trek – where four Australian's will retrace key sections of the 700km trek made by shipwreck survivors more than two centuries ago.
The trek will take place over seven days, starting in Ninety Mile Beach in Victoria, passing through Cape Howe, Morua, Ulladulla and Jervis Bay, and concluding in Port Jackson, Sydney.
Australians can apply for a chance to win at https://www.jamessquire.com.au/survivorstrek/ . Submissions close 12 July and the winner will be announced 22 July.
The limited edition James Squire Wreck Survivors' Ale will have 5,000 bottles released in Dan Murphy's stores across the country from 26 August.