When Gordon Bristol was in the process of tearing down an old house in Indian Point, Nova Scotia in the late 1970s, he was pleasantly surprized to find an ancient labelled beer bottle between the walls. It was Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale, a brand still very well known to this day in Canada. After the initial curiosity had abated, the bottle was tucked away for safe keeping.

Fast forward to June 2016, Mr Bristol decided to contact the succeeding brewery to ascertain it’s true age. Labatt Brewing Company (AB InBev) in Halifax, Nova Scotia were intrigued with the discovery as it fell on the heels of an earlier bottle found by diver Jon Crouse in Halifax harbour. Sadly the label on that bottle had long disintegrated in the salt water. It was determined by researching markings on the bottle that it was made in Britain from a period of 1870s to 1890s. It was safe to say the Mahone Bay bottle was of similar vintage.

After further consideration Mr. Bristol decided to donate the bottle to the brewery so that it could be enjoyed by all touring the Old Alexander Keith’s brewery on Lower Water Street in Halifax. A very nice gesture indeed.