MALT AND METAL
Iron Maiden’s Trooper beer to be sold at concert
Iron Maiden is known for its hard-hitting heavy metal, and New Mexico fans get to enjoy the Albuquerque show with the band’s own beer.
Named after one of Iron Maiden’s most popular songs, Trooper beer will be available for purchase at the band’s show on Tuesday, June 27, at Isleta Amphitheater. It also can be found on draft at O’Niell’s Heights, Rock and Brews and Anodyne, as well as packaged at Jubilation Wine, Spirits and Beer; Quarters Discount Liquors on Yale; Kelly Liquors on San Mateo; and Stone Face Package Liquors in Albuquerque. The beer is made by Robinsons Brewery of Stockport, England.
“It’s broadly in the extra-special bitter style,” said Lanny Hoff, senior vice president and manager of brands for Artisanal Imports Inc. “It’s (Robinsons) a pretty traditional British brewery, and they make really excellent British beers. … Stylistically, it’s a beer that is malty. It’s pretty dry. They like to say that it’s the kind of beer that has a hoppiness, to it but by American standards it’s still on the malty side.”
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is known for his many interests outside the band, including flying. He also has a passion for beer and brewing, according to Hoff.
“(Dickinson) has always been interested in the brewing process, so they had this idea to collaborate with a British brewery, and he actually talked to a number of them, and Robinsons was the one that he liked,” Hoff said. “It was just a familyowned brewery that’s been in the same place and in the same family for generations. They make really good, exceptionally good British ales, and that’s his drink. That’s what he likes, so he actually sat down with the brewer and came up with the recipe. He said, I want a beer that’s like this, like this, like this. They did a bunch of tastings. Bruce has got a good palate, and they came up with a recipe that they could live with, and that was Trooper — that’s how it started.”
In addition to Trooper, Iron Maiden had two limited beer releases last year. One was called The Red and the Black, named after a song from “The Book of Souls” album, and another was called 666. A new Iron Maiden beer is in the works.
“We haven’t gotten the word out yet, because we’re still finalizing the details, but there’s another one coming out in October called Hallowed, which is a new style of beer,” Hoff said. “They’re actually doing a non-British style of beer. They’re doing kind of a Belgian golden ale style that will be bottle only, no draft, and that will be out in October.”