Beer flavoured ice cream aimed at male tastebuds

The product, which is flavoured with a beer called Pride of Sheffield, will go into production later this year, after being developed by Hallam University food and nutrition student Anna Lowden.

Ms Lowden, 20, came up with her creation during her gap year work placement at the city's Hope Valley Ice Cream Company, after research showed men eat less of the popular dessert than women.

Several Sheffield pubs have expressed an interest, and the farm where it is produced is already stocking samples which were made before the decision to go into large-scale production.

Miss Lowden said the ice cream contains hardly any alcohol due to the production process and added: "During my work placement I have to come up with a new flavour each month and I've been getting more inventive. The result has been really popular – it tastes like the head from a pint of Pride of Sheffield.

"It's great that we've used a local supplier – we experimented with some different beers but none were quite as successful as the Kelham Island Brewery's beer.

"It's been a big hit with my friends and Hope Valley is in talks with several pubs to stock it as a dessert this summer." Anna is working with the Derbyshire-based company on a year-long work placement before she returns to university in September.

Brewery spokesman Stuart Basford said: "It has been a pleasure to work with Anna on this project. Eventually it was our Pride of Sheffield that gave the best taste."