A 150-Year-Old Bottle of Utah Alcohol May Reveal a Lost Wild-West Brew
A rare piece of Utah history was unearthed at Alta Ski Resort and its actually drinkable. Archaeologists excavating in the historic mining town of Alta, Utah, uncovered a sealed, 150-year-old bottle of alcohol — remarkably intact with its original cork still in place. It is believed to be the only full bottle of its kind ever found at an archaeological site in the state.
State archaeologists turned to High West Distillery in Park City to help analyze the mysterious find. What they discovered has surprised historians, brewers and locals alike: this isn’t just old liquor — it might represent a beverage early Utah residents actually drank in the late 19th century.
A Taste of the Past
Once the bottle was carefully uncorked and the liquid sampled, distillers and researchers noted that the contents were low in alcohol and rich in complex flavors — including fruity and oxidized notes, with hints of leather and age. Initial chemical markers suggest the base may have come from apples, pointing toward something closer to a cider-like drink rather than straight spirits.
High West’s master distiller described the experience of sampling the 150-year-old brew as unusual but not unpleasant — and certainly historically enlightening. While early speculation leaned toward it being beer, the esters now discovered have opened possibilities for it being a fermented apple beverage or another low-ABV drink popular in the frontier town long before Prohibition.
Science Meets History
Researchers plan to continue testing the liquid to better understand its composition and origins. Future analyses may include:
- Confirming alcohol by volume (ABV)
- Running sugar panels to identify residual sugars and fermentation markers
- Testing for acids like malic and lactic acid, which could confirm apple sources
- Checking for viable yeast, which could help recreate the original beverage using historic fermentation methods
If viable yeast is found, brewers might be able to recreate a drink from Alta’s mining era, offering a rare sensory connection to what residents might have enjoyed more than a century ago.
A Historic Find With Future Impact
The bottle was found amid thousands of other artifacts — bottles, pipes, spurs and even a hat — uncovered during excavation on U.S. Forest Service land used by today’s Alta Ski Resort. In a state not known for preserving its alcohol history, such a discovery offers a tangible glimpse into everyday life during Utah’s Wild West mining boom. Officials with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office have even scheduled a public viewing event, where the bottle and other artifacts from the site will be displayed and discussed, giving locals a chance to literally raise a glass to history.
