Iron Maiden beer a big bar hit

Veteran heavy metal outfit Iron Maiden are toasting the success of their beer after learning over 3.5 million pints have been sold.

Trooper Ale, the best-selling brew, launched a year ago and the band has achieved success without marketing the beer.

Robinsons brewery bosses, who helped Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson create the beer, unveiled Trooper at the Publican's Beer Innovation Summit last year.

The beer makers have since been approached by Motorhead's management with a view to crafting a signature beer for Lemmy's band - but they declined the offer.