Info ☛ British rock
legends Iron Maiden have teamed up with Cheshire family brewers Robinsons to
create a new beer, "Trooper". Real
ale fan and history aficionado Bruce Dickinson, Maiden's vocalist, played a
major role in developing the unique flavour of the beer, entailing ongoing
visits to Robinson’s brewery in Stockport. Dickinson's on-stage Union Jack
flag-waving military character is an iconic element of the band's live concerts
and "The Trooper", written by bassist Steve Harris, is one of Maiden's
most popular songs and one of the highlights of any Maiden show. ☛Announcing the
partnership, Oliver Robinson, Managing Director of Robinsons, said: "This
collaboration - between two huge British success stories - makes for an ideal
and natural match; Bruce Dickinson loves his real ale, and Robinsons Brewery is
one of Britain’s most established and respected independent family-owned
brewers." And Bruce Dickinson
added: "I'm a lifelong fan of traditional English ale; I thought I'd died
and gone to heaven when we were asked to create our own beer. I have to say
that I was very nervous: Robinsons are the only people I have had to audition
for in 30 years. Their magic has been to create the alchemical wedding of
flavour and texture that is Trooper. I love it." Iron Maiden, who continue their Maiden
England World Tour this summer - including an historic return to the Download Festival,
Donington Park, headlining for a record fifth time - have been at the forefront
of heavy rock worldwide for more than three decades. Maiden are one of
Britain’s most influential and revered bands, with close to 90 million album
sales, more than 2,000 live performances in 58 countries and 15 studio albums
described by critics as being of "unerring quality and power",
including the most recent - The Final Frontier - which is their biggest ever
chart success attaining No.1 positions in over 28 countries including the UK. ☛ Robinsons has
been brewing award-winning beers from its Unicorn Brewery in Stockport for 175
years. Best known for its legendary ‘Old Tom’ strong ale, which was voted
‘World’s Best Beer’ by the international Beers of the World publication, it is
Robinsons’ younger ales (Dizzy Blonde and ‘build a rocket boys!’ beer; produced
in partnership with Manchester band Elbow) that have lately been causing a stir
in the beer world and introducing future ale drinking generations to Robinsons. Oliver Robinson said: "Trooper is a
premium British ale with true depth of character and flavour. For more than
thirty years, the unmistakable icon of Eddie, the band’s instantly-recognisable
mascot, has adorned every album cover, T-shirt and poster - so it is fitting
that Eddie will now adorn the cask pump clip and take centre stage on the
bottle label of Trooper. “Not only do Iron Maiden genuinely enjoy a good pint
of cask ale, but so do many of their fans - and they have an important part to
play in our customer base. This partnership works for both of us. Music and
beer are great treats for the senses in their own right, but the combination is
very powerful. Authentic collaborations such as this are invaluable not only to
our company but to the industry as a whole, because it shows that the world of
real ale is more than just manufacturing, it is liquid artistry by the people
who brew it - and for the people who drink it.” ☛Fans of both Iron Maiden and
real ale can sign up to get news and updates on Trooper Premium British Beer
from ironmaidenbeer.com, where bottles
will be available to purchase by both UK and overseas customers from May 2013.
