It will come as no surprise to many people that most lifeboat men enjoy a good pint of beer when off duty.

So, as expected, members of the Wells RNLI crew jumped at the chance to select a winning ale to raise money for their appeal to buy a new lifeboat.

The Real Ale Shop at Branthill Farm, near Wells, organised a competition among Norfolk brewers to brew a beer especially for the Shannon Lifeboat Appeal.

Entries came in from The Why Not Brewery in Norwich, Elmtree Beers in Snetterton, Panther Brewery in Reepham and Wagtail Brewery from Old Buckenham.

Teddy Maufe, owner of The Real Ale Shop, said: 'Beer and maritime are synonymous with Norfolk and lifeboat men and ale fit well together, so I saw this as a fun way to raise money for a really great cause.

'Norfolk has some great micro brewers, all of the beer was made from the maris otter barley and north Norfolk is known throughout the world as the Champagne region for maris otter.

'It was all malted at the Crisp Mailings in Great Ryburgh so this whole competition really is Norfolk, Norfolk, Norfolk.'

After a rigorous judging session an entry from Wagtail Brewery was selected as the winner.

It will be available, as the Shannon Ale, from The Real Ale Shop and on the website http://www.therealaleshop.co.uk/ from the middle of November and £1 from each bottle sold will go to the Shannon Appeal.

The Wells RNLI aim to raise £250,000 for a new Shannon-class lifeboat by the end of next year. More than £56,000 has been raised so far.

For more on the appeal go to www.wellslifeboat.org

Are you doing something for the Shannon Appeal? Email adam.lazzari@archant.co.uk