Top of the hops

ROCKER TOASTS 10 YEARS OF ALE THAT HAS GONE ON TO SELL 35 MILLION PINTS

- CHRIS SLATER

THE lead singer of heavy metal icons Iron Maiden has revealed how he had to 'audition' at a Greater Manchester brewery before bosses agreed to team up.

They've since created a beer which has become a worldwide hit.

The band joined roces with familyrun Robinsons brewery in Stockport in 2013 to create and launch Trooper named after the band's song of the same name. More than 35 MILLION pints in 68 countries have since been sold.

That success led to the creation of Trooper IPA and a range of eight other seasonal and limited edition beers. Iron Maiden played to thousands of adoring fans at a sell-out show at the AO Arena on Friday as part of their The Future Past Tour.

Following the show, lead singer Bruce Dickinson paid a visit to Robinsons' historic site in Stockport town centre. A hundred lucky - yet unwitting-fans from the band's official fan club had gathered for an event to mark the beer's 10th birthday.

Real ale enthusiast Bruce, 64, told the M.E.N. he was made to show brewery bosses he was serious before they agreed to enter into their now hugely successful partnership.