Iron Maiden release own beer

British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden are releasing their own beer.

They have teamed up with family brewers Robinsons to create the signature ale 'Trooper', which shares its name with the band's 1983 single.

The beer was developed by the brewery in Stockport, England, and the group's lead singer Bruce Dickinson, who regularly tasted the beverage to ensure it was perfect.

Real-life ale lover Bruce was thrilled when he and Iron Maiden were approached to create their own beer and is really pleased with the result.

The rocker said: "I'm a lifelong fan of traditional English ale; I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when we were asked to create our own beer. I have to say that I was very nervous - Robinsons are the only people I have had to audition for in 30 years."

All bottles and draft pumps of Trooper will be adorned with the image of the band's mascot Eddie dressed in a 19th century British military outfit carrying a sabre and a Union Flag - the same image that was used on the song's single sleeve.

Bassist Steve Harris' inspiration for writing 'The Trooper' was Lord Tennyson's poem 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' about the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War and the thundering track is a highlight of Iron Maiden's live shows.

The beer will be on sale from May 2013 at www.ironmaidenbeer.com, while Iron Maiden will headline the Download Festival at Donington Park for a record fifth time this summer.