Heavy metal just got a heavy pour. To mark Iron Maiden’s return to the U.S. for their 50th anniversary Run For Your Lives World Tour, California craft heavyweights Lagunitas Brewing Company have teamed with the legendary band on a new collab brew: Trooper West Coast IPA, out now nationwide.
And they’re not just dropping a beer. Lagunitas is hunting for one superfan to hit the road as the brand’s first-ever Beer Roadie — a paid, all-expenses-paid gig that runs alongside Maiden’s U.S. tour this September.
Here’s the full breakdown: the beer, the limited merch capsule, and exactly how to land the job.
What is the Lagunitas Beer Roadie contest?
The Beer Roadie is a temporary, paid ambassador role created to celebrate the Trooper West Coast IPA launch. The winner gets trained by Lagunitas brewers and beer educators on how the IPA is brewed, handled, and served — then takes that knowledge on the road to Eddie’s Dive Bar pre-show pop-up events at select stops on Iron Maiden’s Run For Your Lives Tour.
This isn’t a traditional concert road-crew gig. Lagunitas frames it as a beer-first stewardship position: the Roadie is there to make sure every pour of Trooper hits right before Bruce Dickinson and the band take the stage.
The U.S. leg of the tour kicks off in New Jersey on September 5, and the Roadie will work two Eddie’s Dive Bar takeovers — one in Harrison, NJ, and one in Los Angeles — directly alongside bar staff and fans.
For the uninitiated: Eddie’s Dive Bar takeovers are pre-show fan rituals where metalheads gather near the venue to raise a glass before Maiden wrecks the stage. Think of it as the world’s best pregame.
How to apply to be a Beer Roadie
Aspiring roadies need to upload a 30-second video to BeerRoadie.com answering one question: “What would make you the ideal candidate as the Trooper Beer Roadie?”
- Deadline: 11:59 PM on July 7, 2026
- Next step: Entries get narrowed to three finalists, who interview with the Lagunitas selection committee
- The payoff: One winner is chosen
If you’re stuck in a 9-to-5 rut — like Jimmy walking out of his office job in the official Beer Roadie promo video — this is the escape hatch.
What does the winning Beer Roadie get?
- The Petaluma experience: An all-expenses-paid trip to Lagunitas HQ just outside San Francisco for a crash course in craft brewing from Head Brewer Jeremy Marshall, who co-developed Trooper West Coast IPA with Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson.
- On the road: Official Lagunitas Trooper brand ambassador at two Eddie’s Dive Bar takeovers (Harrison, NJ + Los Angeles) this September.
- The bag: $1,000 for their time on the tour.
The exclusive Lagunitas x Iron Maiden merch capsule
No monumental crossover ships without the gear. Lagunitas dropped a limited-edition merch capsule on its site, headlined by a mash-up of Iron Maiden’s mascot Eddie and the classic Lagunitas dog logo. The lineup:
- Graphic tees — $38
- Co-branded mason jars — $6
- Custom dog collar — $28
- Plus limited pins and patches
Trooper West Coast IPA: the beer itself
Subtle has never been Iron Maiden’s thing, and the same goes for Lagunitas when it’s pouring IPAs.
Trooper West Coast IPA bridges Maiden’s legacy in music and beer with Lagunitas’ adventurous brewing style. It’s brewed with Krush — one of the newest, most talked-about hop varieties going — to land pungent, resinous, and unapologetically West Coast. Big flavor, zero compromise.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Style | West Coast IPA |
| ABV | 6.6% |
| IBU | 55 |
| Release date | June 6, 2026 (out now) |
| Created by | Jeremy Marshall (Lagunitas) x Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) |
At 6.6% ABV and 55 IBU, it hits the sweet spot between intensity and drinkability — whether you’re a hop-head or just easing into craft beer. If you’ve been following nostalgic beverages making a comeback, this collab is the boozy, hop-forward cousin of that same throwback energy — a legacy brand reintroduced for a new audience.
Where to cop: Available nationwide at Total Wine, BevMo, Sprouts, Publix, Trader Joe’s, regional chains, and better independent retailers. More info at lagunitas.com/trooper.
If your taste runs harder than hops, our breakdown of the Jack Daniel’s Tanyard Hill Rye covers another limited drop worth chasing.
Should You Cop?
If you ride for Maiden, this is a no-brainer — a West Coast IPA actually co-built with Bruce Dickinson doesn’t come around often, and the Eddie-meets-Lagunitas-dog can is a keeper on its own. Even if you’re new to craft beer, the 6.6% / 55 IBU balance makes it an easy entry into the hoppy West Coast lane. It also slots right into the broader neostalgia wave driving food and drink right now: take something with deep emotional pull and remix it for today.
And if you’ve got 30 seconds of charisma and a love for both, BeerRoadie.com is open through July 7. Grab a 6-pack, turn up the Maiden, and go shoot your shot.
