THE last drink served on doomed liner Titanic may have been brewed in Wrexham.
Records suggest Wrexham Lager was drunk on board the tragic ship, which sank 100 years ago yesterday.
Titanic went down on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, having hit an iceberg just before midnight on April 14, 1912.
Wrexham Lager was known to ‘travel’ well and, in the early years, its popularity abroad far exceeded its take up at home.
Industrialist Robert Graesser, who bought the majority share in the fledgling brewery in 1886, secured major contracts with the Great Western Railway and the British Army.
But there were also contracts with shipping lines and it is believed the ‘Munich’ lager served on Titanic was actually made on Bradley Road.
Jonathan Gammond, of Wrexham Museum, said: “Some people say that Wrexham Lager was stocked in the bar on Titanic.
“Wrexham Lager produced a huge range of lagers under different labels and one source told me the lager on the Titanic was a 'Munich style lager' that was brewed by the Wrexham lager brewery.
“Some of the last alcohol drunk on Titanic in the classiest last chance saloon ever was probably made just up the road.”
Surviving copies of the last lunch menu from Titanic, one of which made £76,000 at auction in March, show passengers were served ‘Iced draught Munich lager beer’.
Mark Roberts, who relaunched the Wrexham Lager brand in 2011, said the Wrexham connection was a “widely held belief” in the company.
The Golden Lion, in High Street, Wrexham, serves the brew and the Titanic link is also noted on a blackboard in the bar.
Mr Roberts said: "I believe somewhere in the Wrexham Lager archives it says the White Star Line was supplied by Wrexham Lager.
"Mr Graesser travelled to America on a White Star liner in 1890 and took a barrel of Wrexham Lager with him.
“It went down very well in America and the shipping companies quickly cauight on that it was travelling so well and decided to put it on all their ships."
Mr Roberts said Wrexham Lager also supplied the Cunard Steamship Company which merged with the White Star Line in the 1930s.
The brewery continued to supply Cunard until 1980.
Mr Roberts said when Wrexham Lager was taken over by bigger companies the archives were spread out.
"Some were given to universities and museums, some were kept and locked away so that no one knows what's in them.
"It's another part of the history of the company that needs telling and shows how popular it was.”
He added: "We're brewing a similar style of beer to what was on that ship. As long as we don't go down the same way!"
FAQs
Wrexham Lager now lays claim to being the first lager imported to far off countries, including India, South Africa, the Americas and Australia. It also boasts to being the only lager available on the infamous voyage of the White Star Line's Titanic.
Did they sell Wrexham Lager on the Titanic? ›
Did you know that Wrexham Lager was served on the Titanic? Yes, that's right! This lager carries with it a piece of history, offering you not just a refreshing drink, but a taste of a bygone era.
What beers were served on the Titanic? ›
“Wrexham Lager was popular aboard ships because it travelled well and kept its flavour, and it was served aboard the White Star liners of which the Titanic was the flagship.
Does Wrexham Lager still exist? ›
Wrexham Lager is a lager brewed in Wrexham, north-east Wales, tracing its heritage to 1881. After the original brewery's closure in 2000, the brand was revived by the Roberts family in 2011 using an older recipe.
Is Wrexham Lager sold in the USA? ›
AN ICONIC Wrexham brand has seen a 'dramatic rise' in sales of its items over in the US since a popular doumentary about the city and its football club first aired.
What alcohol was found on the Titanic? ›
More than on any other ship, there were over 1,500 bottles of wine on the Titanic. In fact, oceanographers found many of these bottles still mostly intact and drinkable after nearly 100 years underwater.
What alcohol was served on the Titanic? ›
Cargo manifests from the Titanic chronicle a grand selection of spirits available aboard the ship — wine, vermouth, Champagne, Cognac, brandy, and whiskey were all on offer.
Who was the drunk Titanic survivor? ›
On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and began its tragic descent into the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Amidst the chaos and panic, one man defied the odds and emerged as an unlikely survivor: Charles Joughin, the chief baker aboard the ill-fated ship.
What was the last meal on the Titanic? ›
For their last meal, first-class passengers dined on 11 courses, including Chartreuse jelly and peaches. On April 14, 1912, the night before the RMS Titanic sank, the passengers in first class dined on a sumptuous 11-course feast. There was a parade of hors d'oeuvres, plus freshly shucked oysters.
What did first class drink on the Titanic? ›
One drink we know for sure that was served on the Titanic is Punch à la Romaine, a shaved-ice concoction popularized by famed French chef (and spiked slushie fan) Georges Auguste Escoffier. Made with rum and Champagne, it was served as a palate cleanser between courses.
Wrexham owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds buy stake in Liga MX club. Actors and Wrexham AFC owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have bought a minority stake in the Liga MX side Club Necaxa, Variety and Sportico reported on Monday.
Is bootlegger the same as Wrexham lager? ›
Karl was fully paid up to date before the making of this video. “Bootlegger is still sold in our shop and on the pumps in several bars in Wrexham. The Wrexham Lager Co is still run by the same family that Karl has always dealt with and will continue to be run by them for many years to come.”
How strong is Wrexham lager? ›
5.0% A classic German Pilsner using the original recipe dating back to 1882. Hints of honeyed malt and lemon notes from noble German hops deliver a refreshing finish.
Who owns Wrexham USA? ›
RYAN REYNOLDS and Rob McElhenney have joined the celebrity shareholders of a Mexican football club, according to reports. The popular Hollywood pair are already owners of Wrexham, buying the Welsh side in February 2021.
What is the most famous lager? ›
The top two best-selling lagers have remained the same for another year with Carling and Foster's taking the number one and two spots.
Who is the CEO of Wrexham Lager? ›
James Wright CEO Wrexham Lager.
What food did they sell on the Titanic? ›
On the evening of April 11, 1912, first-class passengers aboard the Titanic enjoyed a decadent feast. At dinner that night, they ate oysters, salmon with hollandaise sauce, beef, squab, lamb with mint sauce, roast chicken and many other upscale dishes. The ship struck an iceberg three days later.
What beer was made from the sunken ship? ›
SeaKing is a beer made by Saint James Brewery of Holbrook, Long Island. It uses yeast found in bottles salvaged from the 1886 wreck of the SS Oregon off Fire Island.
What did first-class drink on the Titanic? ›
One drink we know for sure that was served on the Titanic is Punch à la Romaine, a shaved-ice concoction popularized by famed French chef (and spiked slushie fan) Georges Auguste Escoffier. Made with rum and Champagne, it was served as a palate cleanser between courses.
How many bottles of beer were on the Titanic? ›
The Titanic was stocked with 20,000 bottles of beer and stout, 1,500 bottles of wine and 8,000 cigars for use by first-class passengers.
