Beer-loving metalheads, rejoice! Iron Maiden and Robinsons Brewery are teaming up to unleash Hallowed, a Belgian-style ale set to hit shelves in October. Clocking in at six percent ABV, the limited-edition brew, which will be available for four months only, comes in a 330 ml bottle adorned with artwork of the legendary band's mascot, Eddie, who's dressed like a monk (a nod to Belgium's long history of monastic breweries.) A list of participating vendors will be revealed "in due course," according to Robinson's website.
Hallowed is the latest in a string of collaborations between the legendary band and the British beer purveyors: It arrives in the wake of the Trooper — which has sold 15 million bottles over the past four years — the Trooper 666, and the Red N' Black. According to Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, the beer's Belgian yeast sets it apart from the rest of the band's previous concoctions. "I'm a big fan of Belgian beers, so I jumped at the chance to brew my own," he says. "While I get very excited about experimenting with new formulas and ingredients, the thing about Belgian beer is that it's as much a way of life as it is a drink."
Robinsons' head brewer, Martyn Weeks, says Hallowed drinkers are in for a treat. "Belgian yeast yields a very distinct taste and presentation," he explains. "You can sniff out a Belgian beer simply from its aromas: fruity, spicy and earthy. Belgian yeasts withstand higher alcohol levels, they attenuate well and create an array of phenolics and esters…put simply, this means more flavor."
Iron Maiden are currently wrapping up their world tour behind 2015's album The Book of Souls. Eddie's keeping busy, too: He's set to appear in a new Iron Maiden comic book, to be published in this month's issue of sci-fi/fantasy magazine Heavy Metal.
