THE pride of the Royal Navy will be raising their glasses to a Great Yarmouth brewery as they enjoy 1,440 pints of real ale with a touch of rum.

On Friday, the Royal Navy’s state-of-the art destroyer HMS Dauntless is due to tie up at Yarmouth’s outer harbour.

To celebrate the arrival of the ship and her 190 crew, Blackfriars Brewery has made 70 barrels of HMS Dauntless Ale for the sailors to enjoy.

To mark the Royal Navy’s heritage and the affiliation of HMS Dauntless to Yarmouth each pint of the drink has about half a tot of rum in.

The sailors will be able to try out the nautical-themed tipple at a reception and as they go on tours of the brewery in Main Cross Road.

And if the drink proves a hit, they may take away bottles of the ale – if any are left after their weekend visit, which has been organised by Yarmouth Borough Council.

Brewery owner Bill Russell said: “We were honoured to be asked to provide this beer for the crew of HMS Dauntless.

“We are proud to support the Royal Navy and the armed forces in general and celebrate Yarmouth’s maritime heritage.”

The labels for the ale have been provided for free by ninety9designs, which is based in the same Courtyard complex as the brewery.

HMS Dauntless, which was launched in 2007 and commissioned in June this year, will be open to the public on Sunday, October 10 from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Anyone wanting to go on board must take a shuttle bus from the Pleasure Beach to the Outer Harbour.

At 10.45am on the Sunday, the ship’s crew will be parading from the town hall to St Nicholas’ Church for a public service. The crew will also be playing in a charity match against a Gorleston Football Club XI on the Saturday afternoon for the Help for Heroes and Save the Children charities.