Iron Maiden and Lagunitas Bring Eddie's Dive Bar to America for 50th Anniversary Tour
Iron Maiden's fall North American tour, featuring Megadeth and Anthrax at select stops, marks the band's 50th anniversary with songs from their first nine albums. The metal legends have partnered with Lagunitas on a limited-edition Trooper West Coast IPA, brewed with new Krush hops for a spicy tropical flavor. Ahead of each show, the free Eddie's Dive Bar fan meetups will debut in the U.S., offering concertgoers and non-ticket holders a place to gather and celebrate.
The Trooper West Coast IPA represents a significant stylistic shift for the Trooper beer line, which previously focused on British-style ales. Lagunitas Brewmonster Jeremy Marshall selected Krush hops specifically for their dual profile of spice and tropical fruit, with subtle cannabis undertones. Dickinson's hands-on involvement included a lengthy backstage tasting session following his Aftershock Festival performance, where he evaluated multiple samples with detailed commentary on mouthfeel and finish.
Eddie's Dive Bar gatherings have been a tradition on Iron Maiden's international tours for years, but this fall marks their first American appearances. The meetups are deliberately inclusive, welcoming both ticketholders and those unable to attend concerts. Lagunitas acknowledges the partnership's significance, noting that unlike previous collaborations where they held the larger profile, Iron Maiden's global stature places them in a humbled position.
This partnership could strengthen the cultural bridge between heavy metal fandom and craft beer culture, potentially introducing younger concertgoers to independent brewing while giving Lagunitas access to Iron Maiden's devoted multi-generational audience. The free dive bar events may also reshape how touring bands engage local communities, offering non-ticket holders a participatory experience that could boost grassroots fan loyalty and create new social gathering traditions around major tours.