World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
A 1978 beer keg emerges from ice in Italy's South Tyrol
A beer keg lost in the 1970s has been found beneath the Sasso Nero refuge in South Tyrol, northern Italy.
Harpf, a drinks company with more than 140 years in business, said its employee Daniel discovered it at about 3,000 metres in the Zillertal Alps.
The keg fell into a crevasse during a helicopter delivery and remained missing for nearly 50 years.
The keg was marked as dating from 1978, and Daniel brought it down using a trolley.
Harpf said ice and cold temperatures had kept the contents in good condition.
A small group opened and tasted the beer, which the company said was still drinkable.
The find is a rare piece of the company's history, but the account cautioned against treating it as a reason to drink beverages kept for years in unknown conditions.
A beer keg dated 1978 was found beneath the Sasso Nero refuge in South Tyrol, at about 3,000 metres.
The keg had fallen into a crevasse during a helicopter delivery in the 1970s and remained missing for decades.
Daniel, a Harpf employee, recovered it and brought it down using a trolley.
Harpf said the keg was opened and tasted by a small group of beer enthusiasts and curious visitors.
The company said the beer was still drinkable, though one report cautioned that the episode was not an invitation to consume drinks stored for years in unknown conditions.
- Who
- Daniel, a Harpf employee, found and recovered the keg. A small group of enthusiasts and curious visitors tasted the beer.
- What
- A keg of beer dated 1978 emerged from the ice and was recovered. Harpf said the beer was still drinkable.
- When
- It was found in 2026. The keg had been lost in the 1970s.
- Where
- Beneath the Sasso Nero refuge, at about 3,000 metres, in South Tyrol's Zillertal Alps.
- Why
- It fell into a crevasse during a helicopter delivery and remained missing. The articles do not state why it emerged.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The keg fell into a crevasse during a helicopter delivery.
Daniel found the keg beneath the Sasso Nero refuge and brought it down using a trolley.
A small group tasted the beer, which Harpf said was still drinkable.
- Keg date
- 1978
- Discovery location
- Beneath the Sasso Nero refuge, South Tyrol
- Altitude
- About 3,000 metres
- Finder
- Daniel, a Harpf employee
- Recovery method
- A trolley
- Company history
- Harpf has operated for more than 140 years
3 sources
Birra 'd'annata' sul Sasso Nero: ritrovato un fusto di mezzo secolo fa
Caldo, si sciolgono i ghiacciai e riemerge un fusto di birra dopo 50 anni: «L'abbiamo bevuta, è ancora buona»
"Una scoperta sensazionale, era caduto in un crepaccio e da allora era rimasto disperso. Quando l'abbiamo assaggiata non ci potevamo credere": un fusto di birra emerge dai ghiacci dopo 50 anni ed è ancora bevibile
What people are saying
A small group of beer enthusiasts and curious visitors tapped and tasted the 1978 keg at Harpf. And, in fact, despite the time that had passed, the beer was still drinkable.
Years ago, during the helicopter delivery, the keg fell into a crevasse and had been missing ever since.