BRIT-POP trio Dodgy will literally be toasting the new year with a specially brewed beer named after the band.

The Dodgy-inspired pale ale will be made by Crewe-based Offbeat Brewery and will be launched when the group play in the town next month.

The beverage will be named after their new album, which is due for release later in the year.

Dodgy, who hit the big time in the 90s thanks to their catchy feel-good anthems, will perform a gig at The Box on February 17.

It was more than a decade ago when the three-piece from Redditch first came to prominence, winning an army of fans with songs such as Good Enough, In A Room and Staying Out For The Summer.

But as drummer Mathew Priest explains, the band isn't content to simply churn out their old hits when they take to the stage.

To date they have written four albums and their latest, Stand Upright In A Cool Place, is due to be released later this year.

They have already played the album in its entirety when they toured around the country last year and according to Mathew, it's their "best work yet".

Recorded in a shed near the Malvern Hills, it will be out in February and has already won a following on the live circuit.

Mathew, who will be joined by bandmates Nigel Clark and Andy Miller, says the album marks a return to form for the three, who only reformed three years ago.

"We recorded the songs last year but got back together about three years ago," says the musician, speaking to The Sentinel from his home near Stonehenge.

"We had been apart for 10 years and it was great. The chemistry was there.

"Why the album has turned out so well is because there was no rush.

"Other than our really serious fans there wasn't anyone screaming out for a Dodgy record.

"We didn't have to worry about people's jobs. Back in the 90s we had 25 people on staff, what with crew and management, who were reliant on us.

"And this time we didn't have any of that.

"The main thing was when we went back into the studio we weren't bringing in any bitterness or anger from before.

"We all knew what we wanted. We did lots of acoustic gigs and before we knew where we were we started singing from the same page, and telling each other jokes and even finishing each other's sentences.

"Suddenly it worked again."

And as soon as the old friends clicked again, Mathew says the songs quickly followed.

"Nigel, who wrote the majority of the stuff, has really hit a purple patch," he continues. "We think it's the best stuff we've done. People who have heard it really like it."

Meanwhile Mathew is looking forward to sampling the limited edition Stand Upright beer, courtesy of the Offbeat Brewery.

"We're all really looking forward to playing in Crewe," says Mathew.

"I'm going to try not to drink in January so I can enjoy these dates in February and of course try the beer in Crewe."

Dodgy will be at The Box in Crewe on Friday, February 17 at 7.30pm. Their latest album is out in February. Tickets cost from £15 from 08444 77 1000.