Visitors to this year's Cromer Carnival will have a chance to sit back and relax with a glass of a specially-brewed beer celebrating the 50th anniversary of the hugely popular annual event.

North Norfolk News: Cromer Pilsner Lager, which has been specially brewed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the town's carnival.Picture: KAREN BETHELLCromer Pilsner Lager, which has been specially brewed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the town's carnival.Picture: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Created by Redwell Brewing Co, of Norwich, Cromer Pilsner Lager, which will be launched at a celebration being held at seafront cafe North Sea Coffee tomorrow, July 20, comes in a can emblazoned with a painting by Cromer artist Samuel Thomas.

Entitled Summer of 69, the artwork, which features iconic Cromer sights including the pier and church, is also included on the front cover of this year's carnival programme.

The light-bodied, Czech-style brew, which goes on sale this week, was the idea of carnival committee member Luke Evans, who has organised the event's beer festival and, new for this year, a gin evening.

Mr Evans worked on the design with Redwell managing director Ben Hopkins, who has also agreed to sponsor the beer festival.

"I think the lager is absolutely fantastic, it's everything I imagined and more," Mr Evans said. "Redwell have taken it to a whole new level and everyone who sees it wants to try it."

The carnival, which kicks off August 5 with two weeks of children's events, will this year be without the traditional display by the Red Arrows, who are on a promotional tour of the USA.

However, organisers are promising some of the best arena and aerial attractions from the past 50 years, including medieval jousting with the Devil's Horsemen, freestyle motocross action with the Bolddog Lings FMX team and spectacular displays by the RAF Falcons parachute team and the Blades aerobatic team on carnival day, August 21.

Carnival chairman Tony Shipp, who is writing a history of the event which is due to be published shortly, said the carnival, which has raised more than £150,000 for local good causes in the past half a century, relied on the support of local businesses, individuals and organisations.

Thanking Cromer Voluntary Entertainments Organisation members, who have run the event since it was re-introduced in 1969, he said:

"We would not exist without our volunteers and it is down to all who have supported us and helped in any small way, especially those who have served on the carnival committee over the past 50 years."

For more information about Cromer Carnival, visit www.cromercarnival.co.uk