Ridiculous History CLASSIC: The Great London Beer Flood of 1814
Sep 20, 2025
In 1814, a bizarre disaster struck a London neighborhood when a brewery's vat burst, unleashing a river of beer. This strange deluge left eight people dead and sent residents scrambling to drink the contaminated brew. The chaotic scene unfolded as locals reacted to the unexpected flood of porter. Curiously, an inquest deemed this tragedy an 'act of God,' leading to questions of corporate accountability. The hosts also draw parallels with other odd beverage-related catastrophes, showcasing a history filled with liquid mishaps.
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Brewery Vat Catastrophe
- A massive wooden vat at the Horseshoe Brewery failed after metal hoops slipped, releasing porter mid-fermentation.
- The bursting cask blasted through walls and sent beer flooding into the St. Giles neighborhood within minutes.
Neighborhood Washed Away
- The beer deluge smashed a 25-foot brick wall and swept people and debris through streets caked in filth.
- Survivors scrambled onto furniture while rescuers dug through rubble to find victims.
Drinking The Flooded Porter
- Locals scooped and drank the spilled porter from streets despite it being mid-fermentation and contaminated.
- One person apparently died from drinking the flood’s porter, likely from alcohol poisoning.
