Chilean Brewery Revives a Porter That Atacama Miners Drank in the 19th Centur

This post is also available in: Español Português Français

Copiapó rediscovered one of the flavors of its mining past when the local brewery Caurhop launched Chañarcillo Bass Porter, a recreation of the beer consumed by workers at the legendary Chañarcillo mine during the peak of Atacama mining in the 19th century.

Miners of the Chañarcillo mine who drank Bass Porter beer in the 19th century — Chañarcillo miners

The project was born from an unexpected documentary discovery. Geologist and researcher Miguel Cáceres Munizaga found the travel diaries of English chemist Thornton J. Herapath while reviewing digitized British publication databases searching for records on the region’s mining past.

Herapath visited Chañarcillo in 1856 and sent his observations to Bristol, where the Bristol Mercury newspaper published them in five installments between November and December of that year, in a document that today constitutes an exceptional primary source on the daily life of the mine.

The diary that revealed what beer the miners drank

Among his records, Herapath mentions a Porter-style beer from the Bass company, which allowed identifying both that the beverage was consumed on-site and the exact brand and style that were part of its inhabitants’ habits.

It is fascinating to find records of beer consumption in the Chañarcillo mines, but even more so to know the brand and style, which we now know thanks to the diary of the English chemist who visited the mine in 1856.

The quote belongs to Cáceres, author of the discovery. Herapath’s diary does not preserve the original recipe for that Porter. His contribution was the key data that allowed the recreation to begin based on the typical characteristics of British Porters from that period.

A Porter with an Atacama seal

Based on that information, Caurhop’s master brewer, Vladimir Emilio Flores, developed an artisanal version that adds a local ingredient from northern Chile: chañar arrope (a syrup made from the chañar fruit).

In its production, we applied a cold maceration of dark malts with chañar arrope, along with a second natural fermentation in the bottle with dextrose that gives it its final character.

The result preserves the dark, roasted, and malty character of classic Porters and adds sweet and fruity notes from the chañar, a fruit deeply linked to the food and traditions of northern Chile.

The edition is limited, and its continuity will depend on public reception. Caurhop has already announced that the experience could open a complete line of beers inspired by characters and episodes from regional history.

Guía práctica para catar cerveza: Cómo apreciar correctamente todas las cervezas del mundo

Comprar en Amazon

Rescuing the everyday heritage of the mine

The initiative had the collaboration of the Fundación por el Patrimonio Histórico de Copiapó (Copiapó Historical Heritage Foundation), which highlights the value of this type of research to broaden the perspective on the regional past and incorporate workers, families, and communities that usually appear as secondary figures in traditional accounts of the mining boom.

As the Fundación por el Patrimonio Histórico de Copiapó, it is vitally important to support the rescue of everyday knowledge, such as the preparation of a traditional beverage like this Bass Porter beer, which was part of the daily life of Copiapó’s mining centers in the 19th century. Miguel Cáceres’ research has allowed us to learn about previously unknown aspects of the life of workers and inhabitants of the Chañarcillo mine, enabling us to safeguard the collective memory and community identity of our mining territory.

The statement belongs to Cristian Rivadeneira, director of the foundation. Northern Chile has been adding initiatives of this type that connect the growth of the Chilean craft beer industry with the revaluation of local history, a phenomenon already seen in other regions of the country, such as the documentary about Valdivia as the beer capital of the southern world.

Launch and next steps

The Chañarcillo Bass Porter was officially launched on August 13, 2026, at Caur Bar, the Copiapó brewery, in an open and free event for the community.

The historical rescue will have a new stage in December 2026, when the independent publisher Atacamabooks will publish Thornton J. Herapath’s diary in full, along with its Spanish translation, notes, and studies by Miguel Cáceres Munizaga, with support from the Artistic and Cultural Development Grant of the National Fund for Regional Development, 8% Item.

A British document that had been left out of regional historiography thus reconnects Atacama with one of its most important periods, this time both through archives and books as well as through a product that brings back to the table a flavor that accompanied the Chañarcillo miners over a century and a half ago.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Chañarcillo Bass Porter?

It is a limited-edition beer created by the Caurhop brewery in Copiapó, which recreates the Bass Porter style consumed by miners at the Chañarcillo mine in the 19th century, according to a historical record from 1856.

2. How was it discovered that Chañarcillo miners drank Bass Porter beer?

Geologist Miguel Cáceres Munizaga found the travel diaries of English chemist Thornton J. Herapath, published in the Bristol Mercury newspaper in 1856, where the consumption of that beer at the mine is mentioned.

3. What local ingredient distinguishes this recreation?

Chañar arrope, a traditional product from northern Chile, which master brewer Vladimir Emilio Flores incorporated into the maceration with dark malts, adding sweet and fruity notes to the roasted profile typical of a Porter.