Meghan Markle and Prince Harry inspired beer hits Windsor pub ahead of royal wedding

IT was only a matter of time. A brewer in Windsor has created a beer in honour of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and it sounds royally delicious.

Bottles of the new Harry & Meghan's Windsor Knot ale, a limited edition craft beer brewed to mark the royal wedding.

WINDSOR locals have given a big thumbs-up to a new beer brewed in honour of the upcoming wedding between Britain’s Prince Harry and American actor Meghan Markle.

The local Windsor and Eton Brewery has developed a new beer called the Windsor Knot in honour of the May 19 wedding, using barley grown from the royal estates at Windsor, and hops from the west coast of America.

“It’s the perfect marriage of ingredients,’’ said Will Calvert, one of the four directors of the Windsor and Eton Brewery.

“It’s a classic English pale ale with a modern twist.’’

News Corp got some locals down the road at the historic George pub to give the Windsor Knot a taste test.

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Meghan plus Harry equals perf beer flavoured combo. Picture: Owen Humphreys/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Wonder if the soon-to-be newlyweds will be serving up this bad boy at the reception. Picture: AFP/Daniel Leal-Olivas

Rob Foster, from neighbouring town Datchet, said he “quite liked it.’’

“It’s really refreshing, easy to drink,’’ he said.

His mate Carl Dawson, from Windsor, agreed, saying the beer, which is similar to one brewed by the same brewery for Prince William and Catherine’s wedding in 2011, was “nice and refreshing’’.

Wayne Clements, also of Windsor, had already discovered the beer, and given some to his

workmates at nearby Heathrow Airport.

“I also took some down to my dad on the south coast,’’ he said.

Windsor and Eton, adjoining medieval towns at the base of Windsor Castle, used to be famous for brewing, but the tradition died out and the town was left without a beer-maker.

Bottles of the new Harry & Meghan's Windsor Knot ale, a limited edition craft beer brewed to mark the royal wedding. Picture: AFP/Daniel Leal-Olivas

The George pub in Windsor serves the Windsor knot beer. Picture: Ella Pellegrini/ News Corp Australia

Windsor and Eton Brewery opened eight years ago, and have opened up the front of their

brewery to allow beer-drinkers to enjoy a pint and see the brewery in operation.

They were recently awarded a royal warrant, meaning they are official beer suppliers to the Queen.

Every two weeks, they use horses to deliver beer to the pubs around Windsor.

“It’s quite an inefficient way to deliver beer, but it’s a nice way’’ Mr Calvert said, adding that locals and tourists loved seeing the horses — British draught horses called Roger, Major and Tommy — around town.

“Our job is to restore the tradition of brewing in Windsor.’’

The brewery sells about two million pints a year around London and the Thames Valley.

They buy their barley from the royal estates at Windsor and return the spent grains — a by-product of beer-making — to the royal farm as cattle feed.

Rob Foster and son Riley, 10 months, of Datchet, Carl Dawson of Windsor and Wayne Clements, of Windsor, give the Windsor Knot the taste test at the George pub. Picture: Ella Pellegrini/ News Corp Australia

As well as American hops, they buy the flowers from Australia and New Zealand.

Windsor Castle is the private home of Queen Elizabeth, 92, and her husband Prince Philip, 96, and Prince Harry and Prince William went to school at Eton, a short walk across the river from the castle.

“Harry is a popular prince and Meghan brings the US, she brings her TV star background. It’s big,’’ said Mr Calvert of the wedding, which will be held at St George’s Chapel inside the castle grounds.

Originally published as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry inspired beer hits Windsor pub ahead of royal wedding