Lagunitas and Iron Maiden Launch Trooper West Coast IPA Brewed with Krush

Lagunitas Brewing Company has teamed with Iron Maiden’s Trooper Beer to produce Trooper West Coast IPA, a national collaboration that retools the brand into a resinous, hop-forward West Coast IPA brewed with Krush hops. The beer carries a 6.6% ABV and is slated for a summer 2026 rollout at select bars and taprooms and in 6‑packs at participating retailers, with on-tour pop-up activations tied to Iron Maiden’s North American dates later in the season.

The new IPA leans heavily into hop character. Brewers and press descriptions emphasize a pungent, resinous and unmistakably West Coast profile driven by Krush, which has been called the newest "hot" hop variety making waves in the brewing world. Coverage positions the beer as a bold West Coast IPA and a modern exemplar of the style, “bursting with flavor, character, and attitude,” while retaining drinkability at its slightly elevated 6.6% strength.

Lagunitas’ promotional materials tie the collaboration to Iron Maiden’s larger cultural moment. The brew is described in campaign copy as the first American interpretation of Trooper Beer, and the brand framed the release as collectible packaging shaped by the band’s aesthetic. Lagunitas CMO Hannah Dray said, “Music drives us, and craft defines us. Together, they’ve inspired a new collectible beer shaped by Iron Maiden’s spirit of adventure and wrapped in packaging and attitude that are unmistakably Eddie, and unmistakably Lagunitas”. Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson added, “The challenge of an American beer has long been on top of my ‘To Do’ list. Lagunitas are a watchword for west coast brewing excellence, and it has been a real highlight working with them on a Trooper taste for both coasts and all states in-between!”

Promotion for the release also intersects with the band’s Run For Your Lives World Tour. Promotional copy links beer availability to Eddie’s pop-up Dive Bars at September 2026 North American tour dates and to commemorative merch drops, underscoring a blended music-and-beer activation strategy that aims to reach both concertgoers and craft drinkers. Shopmerchgame materials note an announcement dated January 29, 2026 and include Trooper brand history details such as the original May 9, 2013 launch with Robinsons Brewery and a claim that Trooper has sold over 15 million pints worldwide.

For local taprooms and homebrewers, the takeaway is practical: Krush-forward brews are arriving on shelves and taps this summer, offering a clear example of contemporary West Coast bitterness and aroma in a 6.6% package. Expect limited taproom pours and retail six-packs first, with tour pop-ups supplementing availability in September 2026. Brewers curious about Krush can use this release as a benchmark when dialing IBUs, resinous hop additions, and late-hop aroma in their own recipes. Keep an eye on Lagunitas’ channels and your favorite local stockists for precise on-shelf dates and keg placements as the summer rollout approaches.