A Cullingworth brewery has dedicated a beer in honour of Yorkshire County Cricket captain Anthony McGrath as part of his benefit year celebrations.

Old Spot Brewery, in Station Road, has created the new tipple called Captain’s Ale, which will officially be launched at the opening of the second Ilkley Beer Festival next month.

Mr McGrath, 34, who has replaced Darren Gough as Yorkshire’s skipper, selected the ale with Julian Hargreaves, partner at the brewery.

The drink has been described as a chestnut coloured bitter at 4 per cent with a slight malty tone for taste and a pleasant bitter finish. Mr McGrath said: “It is a novel way to promote my benefit year. Old Spot has been very supportive and will brew the ale to my specification.

“Captain’s Ale will go on sale across the country and I am hoping to serve it up at a number of events I have planned for my benefit year.”

Ilkley and District Round Table hopes to raise £20,000 at the beer festival to provide facilities and equipment to encourage children and youth groups to further their sporting achievements. Mr McGrath said: “For that reason I have to get involved as I care passionately about grass-roots sport in the county and the more children we can encourage to take up sport in school and during their spare time, it will pay dividends in later life.”

Mr McGrath will pull the first pint of the bitter at the King’s Hall, Ilkley, tomorrow, to open Ilkley Beer Festival.

Tickets for the festival cost £5, which includes a commemorative festival pint glass, programme and first pint. For more information visit ilkleybeerfestival.org.uk.