Windsor and Eton Brewery to launch Magna Carta beer

A brewery in Windsor has come up with a new beer to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta.

The momentous event that happened in nearby Runnymede in 1215 inspired the four partners who run Windsor and Eton Brewery on the Vansittart Estate, Windsor, to come up with something special.

They organised a competition inviting amateur brewers to come up with a recipe.

There were at least 12 entries and the winner was an enthusiast called Manmohan Birdi.

His recipe consists of seven per cent barley wine and two genuine medieval ingredients - a herb called yarrow and ground ivy, which used to replace hops. Liquorice is also included.

Willie Calvert, one of the brewery's partners, said: "We are expecting this to be a really important beer for us. We have already had requests to supply the British embassy in the US.

"The barley wine ingredient will be truly royal with barley straight from the royal farm."

The beer will be available in limited preview amounts later this year, before being made more widely available after Christmas in time for the big anniversary.