Ramming Speed Releasing Black Leather IPA

Punk-inspired heavy metal outfit Ramming Speed has teamed up with Charlottesville, VA’s Champion Brewing Company to launch its very own brew, the Black Leather IPA. The brew-tal beer will debut on April 18th during a free concert featuring the band, Iron Reagan, and others at the Champion Tap Room.

In addition to a new beer, the band has also finished tracking a new album. The follow-up to Prosthetic debut “Doomed to Destroy, Destined to Die” was once again recorded at Godcity Studios in Salem, Mass. with none other than Kurt Ballou (Skeletonwitch, Trap Them, Converge). A Fall 2015 release is expected.

Drummer Jonah Livingston commented: “On April 18th, the Ramming Speed ‘Black Leather IPA’ will debut at the brewery with a free outdoor show featuring our band alongside Iron Reagan, The Glorious Gone and Occultist. Working on this brew has been every beer-drinker’s dream come true and we’re stoked to finally try it at the show! The beer’s initial release will be highly limited, available at the showcase and at a number of Richmond bars, including the newly opened GWAR Bar.“

Livingston also commented on the process behind the collaboration: “We’ve spent many long drives in the van talking about what we would do if we ever had a chance to make a Speed beer. Would it be a super-shitty malt liquor? Would it be a refreshing summer brew? In mid-2014 Hunter from Champion Brewing started brainstorming with us and the most obvious answer was to go with a huge-tasting, toasty, hopped out, and brutally dark black IPA. We’ve known this dude forever and his brewery’s track record of working with bands and pushing the boundaries of craft brewing created a killer opportunity for us to work together.”

Added Champion Brewery owner Hunter Smith, “We have been really excited to work together on a collaboration with Ramming Speed. How cool to hook up with some old Boston buds who play music that I love? We haven’t made a true Black IPA as a brewery before so when they mentioned the style, I knew it would be awesome. I am already envisioning getting my ears blasted and slamming a cold, hoppy black ale like the one we’ve created.”