Part 4/7:
Henry Meux, the owner of the Horseshoe Brewery, had invested in a massive wooden vat capable of holding an astounding 18,000 barrels of porter. Tragically, on October 17, 1814, a fatal oversight occurred. The vat gave way, unleashing a tidal wave of beer that surged through the brewery and into the streets, creating a chaotic scene.
The flood claimed several lives, including a young girl, and destroyed multiple homes. The press at the time documented the aftermath with harrowing descriptions, likening the devastation to that of a fire or earthquake. However, sensationalized stories about drunken behavior immediately following the incident emerged due to the anti-Irish sentiment prevalent in that neighborhood, although no credible evidence supports these claims.