150-Year-Old Alcohol Found in Utah May Not Be Beer After All

Lab tests suggest the mysterious bottle contained aged apple cider, not beer.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Researchers at High West Distillery in Park City, Utah, have analyzed a 150-year-old alcohol bottle discovered at an archaeological site in Alta, Utah. Initial lab results suggest the liquid inside may have been aged apple cider, not beer as originally suspected. The distillery experts detected fruity, leathery notes in the liquid and plan further testing to confirm the contents.

Why it matters

The discovery of this well-preserved 150-year-old alcohol provides a rare glimpse into the drinking habits and beverage production of the past. If confirmed as apple cider, it could offer new insights into the types of alcoholic drinks consumed in Utah's mining towns during the 19th century.

The details

The bottle was found this summer at an archaeological site in Alta, Utah, a former mining town. Experts at High West Distillery in Park City, the first legal distillery in Utah since the 1870s, analyzed the liquid inside. They detected "oxidized fruit notes" and a "fruity" and "leathery" taste, suggesting the liquid was likely aged apple cider, not beer as originally thought. Further lab testing is planned to confirm the alcohol content and identify apple-specific compounds like malic acid.

  • The bottle was discovered this summer at an archaeological site in Alta, Utah.
  • High West Distillery experts analyzed the liquid contents in recent weeks.

The players

High West Distillery

The first legal distillery in Utah since the 1870s, located in Park City, where experts analyzed the contents of the 150-year-old alcohol bottle.

Tara Lindley

Director of sensory and product development at High West Distillery, who detected "oxidized fruit notes" in the liquid.

Isaac Winter

Head of distilling at High West Distillery, who described the liquid as "fruity" with "a little bit of leather" and "quite a bit of age on it."

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What they’re saying

“There's a little bit of leather. There's quite a bit of age on it.”

— Isaac Winter, Head of Distilling (FOX 13)

“We saw a couple of esters [organic compounds] that would suggest the base was apples.”

— Isaac Winter, Head of Distilling (FOX 13)

What’s next

The High West Distillery team plans to send samples to third-party labs for further testing, including attempts to confirm the alcohol by volume and identify apple-specific compounds like malic acid. They also hope to recreate the liquid to better understand its composition and flavor profile.

The takeaway

This rare discovery of a well-preserved 150-year-old alcohol provides a fascinating window into the drinking habits and beverage production of the past. If confirmed as aged apple cider, it could offer new insights into the types of alcoholic drinks consumed in Utah's 19th century mining towns, challenging assumptions about the prevalence of beer at the time.