The Great London Beer Flood of 1814

Imagine a 15-foot wave of beer crashing through your neighborhood.

That’s exactly what happened in London on October 17, 1814.

A giant vat at the Meux & Company Brewery burst, releasing over 320,000 gallons of porter.

The force shattered other vats, unleashing a flood that tore through streets and homes in the St.

Giles area.

The flood hit suddenly.

Walls collapsed, people were trapped, and entire buildings were destroyed.

Eight people died, including a mother and daughter crushed in their home.

The beer even flooded a nearby wake, mixing tragedy with surreal horror.

Locals tried to rescue victims, but the sticky, waist-deep porter made movement nearly impossible.

Incredibly, no one was held legally responsible.

The courts ruled it an 'Act of God.' The brewery was nearly bankrupted by lawsuits and repairs, but

Parliament allowed them to reclaim the beer tax, saving the business.

Meanwhile, some Londoners reportedly scooped up beer in pots and pans, turning disaster into a bizarre street party.

The London Beer Flood remains one of history’s strangest disasters.

It’s a reminder that even something as beloved as beer can become deadly under the right—or wrong—circumstances.

Today, it’s a quirky footnote in London’s past, but in 1814, it was a very real, very sticky

catastrophe that left a lasting mark on the city.