Beers Of London Series
22. Windsor & Eton Brewery - Canberra 4.0%

Those of you familiar with the Greater London area will have spotted that Windsor and Eton Brewery aren't technically a London brewery, however they are included here as they are members of the London Brewers Alliance and they're included in the Craft Beer London app. If it's good enough for them, then it's good enough for me. They are also the furthest brewery in this series from where I live in Essex, 41.76 miles apparently which really isn't that far at all and just goes to show how many breweries have sprung up in what is a relatively small area.
Opened in April 2010 with the aim of making Windsor as famous for brewing as when Burge's Brewery closed it's doors for the last time in 1931, bringing to end a 300 year old tradition of brewing in the town. Building a brewery from scratch in just seven weeks their ambition is to 'make great traditional cask ales and have great fum on the way'.
Canberra was the third of the beers brewed by Windsor and Eton to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. Inspired by ingredients from the Commonwealth, Canberra is brewed with Galaxy hops from Australia, Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand and a little Canadian Maple syrup. Canberra, as well being the capital city of Australia, was the name of the plane that flew the footage of the Coronation to be shown in Canada in 1953, hence the connection. Incidentally, I first encountered this beer in Ales & Tales in Twickenham after the England - South Africa match last year and tonight's beer I got from Ales By Mail, who were able to provide me with this today as I wanted to showcase another great 'London' brewery. Similar names but opposite sides of the Capital, both very friendly and linked by a love of good beer.
It pours the colour of maple syrup, a glowing reddish brown with the thinnest of off-white heads, but it's the aroma that's truly captivating. Sharp prickly pineapple, fresh grapefruit, passion fruit, lime zest and peeled pine bark shavings leap up the nose, it smells vibrant and alive. Fizzing and bursting with flavour on the tongue, it's just as if a big peppery caramel, pineapple, grapefruit and maple water-bomb has exploded in the mouth, throwing juicy pine sap droplets in random directions all over the place. This is a seriously juicy beer, with a finish makes the mouth water with all the gorgeous tropical fruitiness dripping and drying on the tongue.
I really had forgotten what a fabulous beer this was, but after tonight's reacquaitance then I think I may well be buying an awful lot more.