A MEMBER of Inspiral Carpets has helped Blackburn brewer Daniel Thwaites create a special-edition pint for one of the region’s top jazz festivals.

Indie legend Clint Boon, who is best known as the band’s keyboard player, has teamed up with the beer company to come up with the new offering.

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The new beer will debut at the Manchester Jazz Festival which is set to be staged from July 31 to August 9.

Thwaites, the festival’s official brewer, welcomed the musician and DJ to the brewery this month to sample his first trial ale which has been developed following his initial taster session.

The name of the festival brew is being kept closely under wraps for now but Mr Boon revealed it will be an amber-coloured summer ale, brewed exclusively with Citra hops and a combination of Czech and German malts.

He said: “As a musician I can appreciate all forms of music and that includes jazz with all the fascinating aspects of its creation.

“It is such a creative process, just like brewing beer I guess. I hope that my beer will hit all the right notes.”

Alternative rock band Inspiral Carpets was formed in Oldham in 1983 and split in 1995 but reformed in 2003.

The band’s sound is based around psychedelic organs and guitars. The group is best known for hits such as This Is How It Feels.

Jazz lovers will be able to enjoy the special-edition brew throughout the festival, where it will be served in the Thwaites Festival Bar, within Thwaites Festival Square.

It will also be on general sale in selected bars and pubs in the North West throughout August, with a donation made to Mr Boon’s chosen charity, the neonatal intensive-care unit at Manchester’s St Mary’s Hospital, for every pint sold.

Thwaites’ Lee Williams said: “It is an honour to collaborate with music legend Clint Boon. He has brought the same passion and creativity he has for music to creating and brewing this beer.”

The festival is set to play host to 78 bands. It is expected to attract more than 60,000 people to the city.

Visit www.manchesterjazz.com for more details about the festival.