The newest Iron Maiden beer, Trooper West Coast IPA was developed in collaboration with California's famed Lagunitas Brewing Company.

Lagunitas

It’s been a busy couple of years for Iron Maiden. One of the most enduring bands in heavy metal, Maiden is celebrating 50 years on the stage with the continuation of their extraordinary Run For Your Lives World Tour, the release of their Burning Ambition anniversary documentary, and the fact that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is finally recognizing them with induction. And now, the launch of a new addition to their popular line of beers, in partnership with Lagunitas Brewing Company.

Developed by Lagunitas’ BrewMonster Jeremy Marshall, in collaboration with Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson, Trooper West Coast IPA marries Iron Maiden’s legacy with the adventurous brewing style for which Lagunitas is well known.

Aside from being one of the greatest frontmen in the history or rock, Dickinson’s admirable career includes success as a solo artist, airline captain, screenwriter, novelist, motivational speaker and world-class fencer. His interest in brewing culminated in 2013, when a collaboration with Robinson’s brewery gave us the first Trooper, a proper English cask ale that led to a whole line of Iron Maiden beer, enjoyed by fans and beer enthusiasts worldwide.

“Working with Bruce Dickinson on the Trooper West Coast IPA was smooth and a lot of fun,” says Marshall. “Bruce has a discerning palate and is somewhat of a foodie, and my favorite thing is that he takes a sip and then pauses for an exceedingly long time, which builds a certain degree of anticipation in me, and then he hits back with a very poignant and well-thought-out analysis.”

At 6.6% ABV, the beer offers a slightly elevated strength that strikes the perfect balance between intensity and drinkability, appealing to hop enthusiasts and casual craft beer fans alike.

“Starting off we had a rough idea of the concept and knew what Lagunitas is good at, so we prepared a bunch of samples that displayed the full range of where we shine as a brand, and we let Bruce taste through them all while narrowing down to the best focal points,” says Marshall. “We wanted to show up as the A+ student, but also, since we are known for IPAs and hoppy beers, we did kind of hope to impress Bruce with our use of hops, how we can tease out textured mouthfeel and subtle aromatics that are so much like fruit, but none of that fruit is actually used in the beer. It is all from hops!”

Indeed, Lagunitas excels with heavily hopped aromatic beers as one of the best known proponents of the West Coast style. Their Trooper IPA is brewed with Krush, one of the newest hops in the industry, resulting in a beer with pungent aroma and a resinous mouthfeel, in classic West Coast style.

“We tend to pick grains and hops that we know very, very well. We even know the farmers behind them and their dogs! That way, it is a bit like making a song; we understand the instruments, the melodies, and the chords, and know beforehand that we can land a good tune. It's no secret that a lot of the regional craft brewers are good friends,” says Marshall.

“A few years ago, when Krush was an experimental hop named HBC 586, a brewer hit me up and said this hop is everything that Lagunitas likes. It's a new sound we were looking for. We tried it out and loved it. For Trooper West Coast IPA, we needed a point of differentiation, and we feel that Krush brings it.”

Trooper West Coast IPA is available at retailers including TotalWine, BevMo, Spouts, Publix, Trader Joe’s, regional chains and the better independent retailers across the country. Additionally, fans will be able to enjoy it at Eddie’s Dive Bar, Iron Maiden’s pre-show bar takeovers where fans gather to raise a glass and get properly warmed up before the concerts begin.

Lagunitas is also inviting craft beer and Maiden fans to apply for the first-ever Beer Roadie position: an all-expenses-paid, limited-time role that helps bring Trooper IPA to life on the ground at Eddie’s Dive Bar events across the U.S. Applicants must submit a 30-second video explaining what makes them the ideal candidate. Deadline to enter is before midnight on July 7th, 2026.

For Marshall, there is another important aspect of this collaboration. “Getting to see the other human side of a larger-than-life figure was a great experience in developing Trooper West Coast IPA. Learning that Bruce is quite accessible and quite humble, with a great sense of humor. He is so much more than just the lead singer of Iron Maiden and a showman. He’s a very keen entrepreneur, airline pilot, foodie, dad, gearhead, engineer, and motivational speaker — I am in awe and personally inspired by Bruce. I hope I get to work with him on lots more beers!”