A BREWERY has teamed up with The Blockheads to create a rock and roll ale.

Dark Star Brewing Company's Blockhead beer is a play on the brewer’s most popular ale Hophead.

It was unveiled ahead of charity concert where legendary band The Blockheads will perform at the brewery in Partridge Green on Saturday.

The popular band were formerly fronted by the late Ian Dury, who attended Chailey Heritage School as a youngster.

Dark Star's director James Cuthbertson said: "It's the first time we've ever teamed up with a band, and what a cool band to start with.

"I went to see them at the Ropetackle in Shoreham. I approached them and asked if they had ever played in a brewery, which they hadn't, and we agreed there and then that we would team up.

"They came down last week and brewed some ale with us, and the 300 tickets sold out pretty quickly, so we're very excited."

Blockheads Chaz Jankel and Derek "The Draw" Hussey helped produce the special beer to mark the event after “an extensive tasting”.

Mr Cuthbertson added: “The 4% beer is a nod to our very own Hophead, but taken to the dark side through a use of speciality malts, making it a little stronger and hopefully giving drinkers a reason to be cheerful.”

The beer will be available at the concert on August 15, which sold out just weeks after the tickets were released as well as through the Dark Star Brewery shop and selected pubs across the county.

The Argus: The Blockheads

Earlier this year the brewery, which began in the cellar of the Evening Star in Brighton, announced plans to open 20 pubs over the next five years.

Dark Star will announce the site of its third pub in Haywards Heath

Burgess Hill, Crawley, Horsham and Brighton are all being looked at as potential destinations for new pubs.