EPIC Pale Ale - Best Beer in New Zealand - Supreme Champion Winner

[PHOTOS] West Coast (USA) IPA Challenge - Epic vs Hallertau

2008-06-22T16:33:00.005+12:00

Here is a photo diary of the West Coast(USA)IPA Challenge - Epic vs Hallertau.

A quick outline: two brewers make similar beers brewed in the American IPA style, 7% alc/vol, target. One uses New Zealand malt and hops, the other uses imported malt and hops. The outcome? We'll see on the 17th July at the launch at the Malthouse.

There will be a detailed blog post coming shortly outlining what we are doing and why.

Photos

Epic Pale Ale - Cuisine Magazine, June 2008

2008-06-19T20:50:00.003+12:00

Cuisine Magazine - "We Fancy Epic Pale Ale and Epic Lager" (Page 38)

Too Many Hops = Delivery Failure

2008-06-19T20:40:00.001+12:00

Your email failed to be delivered because of too many hops. 27 hops!!, sorry 25 max.

Epic Lager review from Ratebeer.com

2008-06-18T14:54:00.002+12:00

An online review of Epic Lager from the website RateBeer.com

yalnikim (616), Wellington, New Zealand

May 4, 2008
Tasted 04/05/2008. 330ml bottle from New World, Thorndon. Pours a bright yellow gold with a thinning creamy white head. Delightfully fresh, zingy herbal hop aroma has a hint of floral note. A little cornflour malt character on the nose too. Very clean. Superbly fresh! A little sweet aroma of biscuit dough malt at the bottom of the glass. The first few sips are bursting with that herbal hop flavour. Very clean malt character supporting. Medium bitterness. Stops short. Spot on carbonation and weight. Pretty good recipe, great execution (wouldn’t expect less from Epic). In then end, like an amped up Stella (a beer I do like), it feels like it needs a little less hop flavour and/or a more assertive bitterness.

http://www.ratebeer.com

Epic vs Transformers

2008-05-22T16:56:00.002+12:00

Found this blog post today from Fiction Engine

My latest discovery is Epic Lager, brewed by the Epic Brewing Company in Auckland, NZ. This is a beautiful lager with the aroma of freshly cut grass and a full bodied hop-fuelled flavour that really lasts the distance right across the tongue. As far as lager that I’ve tried goes, it’s a stunner. My only criticism is that, for those of you who are sensitive to these things (like me), the Epic Lager may bring on a touch of the sniffles. Still, it’s well worth it. I’ve also tried the Epic Pale Ale, and it’s a damn fine one as well.

Full Post [with cool Epic and Transformers PHOTO]

Epic Discovery by Lauraine Jacobs, editor Cuisine Magazine

2008-05-22T13:18:00.008+12:00

I realized the other day at the Wellington Food Show that I hadn't told the story about doing a beer tasting in Business Class on my flight to San Francisco, NZ8, 10th April 2008.

It starts out that a friend of mine, we'll call him Dave (cause that's his name), he's a pilot at Air New Zealand. He found out I was going to the US with a few other Kiwi beer guys (guys as in brewers, beer writer, and malt supplier), and said I should do a tasting on the flight. Well long story short, he made it happen after talking to several people over several months.

It was arranged that we would have Epic Pale Ale and Mac's Great White on the flight as Colin Paige, Mac's Head Brewer was coming with us (he didn't end up coming because he had to have back surgery, he's now OK).

On the day of the flight I was to check in and meet with head of catering(?) to be introduced to the cabin crew at 6.15pm, (Dave was going to be the pilot of the flight be got scheduled to fly the following night). When I got to the meeting point I was told the bad news, " the beer went on last nights flight by mistake":-( So in a last ditch effort to it happen we tried to get more beer to the airport. I rang the closest outlet to the airport but they only had three six packs left. Time was running out.

I thought Keith (my business partner) will have some stock at home and can throw it in a cab for the airport. As luck would have it when I called him he had just arrived home, and quickly loaded the car and hit the road. It's now 6.35pm and the flight leaves at 7.30pm, and they close the flight off at 7.15pm. I am now standing at the boarding gate waiting to hear the news that the beer had arrived at the airport (from Meadowbank, a 30 min drive). I get the call it has arrived but it has to be loaded in a catering cart, with dry ice, get through security and get loaded in the plane in 10 mins.

So by now I have had to board the plane and turned off my mobile. It is in the hands of the Gods of Kobol. I get introduced to the head steward and cabin crew in business class just in case the beer makes it on the plane.

The plane takes off.

10 minutes into the flight the head steward comes to the back of the plane to seat 65A (yes there are 67 rows in the AirNZ 777, I was at the back) to say to me "would you like to come forward to do the beer tasting"

Yes I would.

So I get to business class, and all the seats are the follow out bed seats, very nice. The beer is on board. But it isn't very cold so I have to break open the boxes and put the dry ice packs on the bottles direct.

I started in row one with an American guy who seems interested in beer. While I was siting talking and drinking the beers with him the woman across the partition from him said please come around here next as we are interested in seeing what you have to offer, and she handed me her business card. It was Lauraine Jacobs, editor of Cuisine magazine.

So after tasting the beers with another American guy in business class, who was not likely to visit New Zealand again for some time and even less likely to ever buy these beers, I headed back to the front of business class to meet Lauraine.

Lauraine had never heard of Epic Pale Ale before and was very intrigued and interested, first at the fact that I was doing personal tastings in business class, and secondly with a product from New Zealand she had never heard of.

So after maybe 30-40 mins of some intense questioning, and genuine enthusiasm, when the meals were coming around, I left her to her meal and set off for the next victim.

After nearly 3 hours in business class it was time to head to the back of the plane. Before that I did have to have dinner in business class as they had finished dinner down the back and turned the lights out.

So off back to row 65 with a six pack of Epic Pale Ale I went, as the boys had thought I had abandoned them, and were excited to drink something other than Export Gold or Steinlager from a can.

Before the flight came to land the cabin crew said "what should we do with the left over beer". I said share it amongst the crew, as long as Lauraine Jacobs gets some. They were all very grateful.

So that was mid April - 10 days in California, 2 days judging at the World Beer Cup, 11 breweries visits and 317 beers tasted later I returned to NZ.

As I promised, I sent Lauraine some samples of Epic Pale Ale and Epic Lager to taste, on my return.

Fast forward to this last weekend at the Wellington Food Show, guess who stops by the Epic stand? (well that was hard wasn't it.) Lauraine stopped by to say "hi", have a taste of the Epic Lager, and ask how things were going. I suggested that she have a bottle of Epic on display for her cooking presentation. (she didn't take one, I guess no harm in asking)

It can't have been more than half an hour later, she stopped by again on her way to her cooking presentation. She asked for a bottle of Epic Lager, as she said she would just put it up on display, even though she wasn't going to use it in what she was cooking. I suggested that she needed the Epic Pale Ale also.

About 20 minutes later I headed down to see Lauraine do her cooking presentation. I came in part way through and it was a full house so I had to sit toward the back at the side.

See photo - Lauraine with Epic Pale Ale and Epic Lager on stage at the Wellington Food Show. (today I can't seem to load images to blog posts, so follow the link for the pic)

Not long after I sat down she started to promote Epic and how wonderful the beers are and that you must make sure you get around to trying them while at the Food Show.

So that is it for now, but keep an eye out for a possible appearance of Epic beer in Cuisine magazine.

[maybe blog posts this long are a bit much]

Epic Wellington Visit - 15th to 18th May

2008-05-14T15:51:00.003+12:00

For all of those that live in Wellington I am coming to town to do some tastings of Epic Beer.

15th May - 'Meet the Brewer' tasting at the Malthouse, 48 Courtenay Place. 5pm to 7pm. Nothing too formal, other than taste the beers and I'll explain why they are like that and where to from here.

16th, 17th & 18th May - 'Food Show' 10am to 6pm I'll be manning the Epic Beer stand so come by for a sample. We are located in the Hawkes Bay section next to our sales agent Sileni Estates.

(I won't be on the stand from 3.30pm on Friday as I am doing a corporate tasting from 4pm)

Want to have a beer with me out side these times follow me at http://twitter.com/epicbeer

Regional Wines & Spirits Say Nice Things About Epic Lager

2008-05-07T09:33:00.002+12:00

Epic Lager 5.0%
The advent of Epic Pale Ale has been a revelation for those who crave for flavour that the vast majority of mass-produced beers fail to deliver. It was created by Luke Nicholas who, after being introduced to craft beers in California, became brewer for Steam Brewing in Auckland. His first beer under the Epic brand name was designed to pack in as much flavour as possible into each bottle. Epic Pale Ale has the equivalent of 15 hops per bottle - a mind-boggling, 3000% more than regular beers. However, for some people this is just too much hop!

Now, Luke has made an 'entry-level' brew for the Epic brand - Epic Lager. With ‘only’ the equivalent of six hops per bottle, the recipe for Epic Lager includes a blend of Bavarian and Moravian Pilsner malts, and two aromatic, but low bitterness American ‘Noble’ hop varieties to tone down the powerful flavour. Luke reckons: "If you are (an Epic) pale ale drinker it probably won't have the hop hit you are used to, but you will now have a beer to share with your friends that are scared of hops and flavour." Our beer expert Geoff Griggs says: “Despite the reduction in hops, Epic lager is still an aromatic and flavoursome brew and it certainly gets a big thumbs-up from me.” (330 ml)

This can be found on the front page of the Regional Wines & Spirits website

Drinking Social - Epic Pale Ale

2008-05-05T13:34:00.001+12:00

Comments made about Epic Pale Ale on the Drinking Social website

- a hoppy punch in the face with a cunningly moreish finish

- A hop fueled dynamite beer that is refreshing, balanced and quite possibly my favorite beer of all time. I may now die.

Full Story

Epic - Superhero of the NZ Beer Market

2008-05-02T12:00:00.001+12:00

Or how about Epic Beer? Grenville Main, managing director of DNA, the design company behind the brand, describes it as ‘the ultimate niche beer’.

"You could call it passion or insanity to build a beer this strong," he says, "but we see it as designing a solution to a market that needed a superhero."

Full Story

Back from Judging at the World Beer Cup

2008-04-25T07:28:00.003+12:00

I'm now back from judging at the World Beer Cup in San Diego. Over the next week or so, I'll be uploading a trip report and photos from my time there.

If you didn't follow my Twitter feed while I was away you can go back and have a look at all the beers I tried while on tour.

Paul Mercurio's Recipe - Epic Scrambled Eggs

2008-03-29T22:26:00.000+13:00

BEER SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH SMOKED FISH AND GOATS CHEESE TOAST

4 Free range eggs
Fresh Dill
Cream
2 Epic Beer (Epic is a NZ brand, comes in six packs)
Vine-ripened cherry tomatoes
Salt and cracked pepper
NZ Smoked Trout, in strips
Sourdough bread, good quality to slice thinly
New Zealand Goats Cheese, good quality spreadable

Full Story

[PHOTO] Epic Lager

2008-03-28T08:46:00.000+13:00

Brewing social alcohol

2008-03-22T22:13:00.000+13:00

You can’t get much more social than a nice cold one on a Friday afternoon. Brewer and closet geek Luke Nicholas brews Epic Pale Ale and markets it using, among other things, blogging, Facebook and micro-blogging platform, Twitter. Here’s how he keeps up.

Full Story

Epic Lager for Easter

2008-03-20T14:10:00.003+13:00

After some long delays this week in getting the newly bottled Epic Lager out of the brewery and on the trucks, it should be turning up at the following locations in time for Easter (fingers crossed)

ON TAP:
Hallertau
The Malthouse

IN BOTTLE (yes it is a green bottle)
New World Victoria Park - (they already sold out once last weekend)
Liquorland Mt Eden
Liquorland Albany
Don Johnson's Wines & Spirits
New World Devonport
AZ Liquor (next to NOSH, GI)
Herne Bay Cellars
Alberton Fine Foods
New World Te Rapa
New World Hillcrest
New World Warkworth
Kowhai Liquor Centre
Blend Winestore (previously Wine on Jervois)
La Barrique (Mt Eden & Remuera)
New World Eastridge

More stores will follow next week. Sorry but I don't think the deliveries will happen in time for Wellington stores. Epic Lager only arrived into Wellington overnight and probably won't make it for delivers today, but you never know.

Need a map to find an Epic Beer?

[BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT] Epic Lager

2008-03-14T19:45:00.002+13:00

This morning at 8.40am Friday 14th March 2008, Epic Lager was born. A hoppy lager in a 330ml green twist top bottle.

Early delivers were made to Mt Eden Liquorland, and New World Victoria Park. More stock will roll out next week, including Wellington.

Epic Lager is available on tap now at Hallertau and the Malthouse.

Another on tap addition was made by Galbraith's Alehouse with Epic Pale Ale now serving on tap.

[PHOTOS] Epic with fresh hops

2008-03-04T20:41:00.000+13:00

Harvested some of my homegrown hops, and took a few photos yesterday. Thought you might enjoy.

Cheers
Luke Nicholas

Wellington Bloggers Meet-up February 2008 3

2008-02-28T20:53:00.001+13:00

Wellington Bloggers Meet-up February 2008 3
Originally uploaded by Miramar Mike

Bit of Epic love for and from the Wellington Bloggers at Mighty Mighty.

Cheers
Luke

Epic at the New Zealand Beer Festival 2008

2008-02-25T11:12:00.000+13:00

Pale ale with epic flavours

2008-02-24T21:09:00.002+13:00

Epic Brewing is owned by Luke Nicholas, who was the brewer at Steam Brewing that supplied the Cock and Bull pubs in Auckland. He has been an active member of the New Zealand brewing industry for over a decade.

He set up the brewers' newsletter, sparging, which led to Realbeer. co.nz. He developed the award-winning Monks Habit, which is packed with hops and has been winning awards for many a year. He also created Epic pale ale for Steam Brewing Co.

He liked the beer so much he bought the company. He wants to take the beer to the world. At the moment it is only available at The Beer Emporium in Merivale, but watch for it in the near future in your local good liquor outlet.

Epic Pale Ale has also done well at recent beer awards and I think it is set to become a bit of an iconic New Zealand beer.

Full Story

[Knowing Carl Hadler's style of writing I think Epic Pale Ale got off pretty light, and pretty positive. At least he didn't have a cold sore, which he describes vividly in half the article, and then gets his friend to write the review cause he can't taste the beer.]

EPIC ARRIVES IN THE SOUTH ISLAND

2008-02-21T08:57:00.002+13:00

Well the first delivery 'hasn't touched the sides'.

Kegs gone to the following:

Twisted Hop - 6 Poplar St, Lichfield Lanes, ChCh
Pomeroys - 292 Kilmore St, ChCh
Zymergy - 90 Armagh St, ChCh
Eureka - 116 Albany St, Dunedin

Bottles to the following:

Deli de Luxe - 6 Papanui Rd, ChCh
Restaurant Schwass - 190 Ferry Rd, ChCh
Zymergy - as above
Twisted Hop - as above
Riverstone Kitchen - 1431 State Highway 1, Oamaru

Plus top up deliveries to Beer Emporium & London St
and shortly on the menu at Cook'n With Gas, 23 Worcester Blvd, ChCh

Link for websites and placement on the Epic Beer Map to follow shortly

Cheers
Luke Nicholas

The very best beers of 2008 - by Neil Miller

2008-02-04T14:09:00.000+13:00

As is becoming traditional in this column, I have compiled a list of my favorite New Zealand beers of 2007. There is no pretension these are necessarily the "best", they are simply the beers I enjoyed the most last year.

1. Epic Pale Ale – full of flavor with reservoirs of drinkability, my beer of the year.

3. Epic Mayhem – strong, punchy, aromatic, this is hophead heaven

Full Story

EPIC LAGER ... COMING SOON

2008-01-31T20:13:00.001+13:00

Yes there have been rumblings about the new Epic Lager, so I thought I would put some facts out there to satisfy the thirst for more information.

The new Epic Lager has just finished fermenting, and is now on cooling in the tank.

We are looking at a keg release date of the 23rd February, with it's official unveiling at the New Zealand Beer Festival in Ellerslie, Auckland.

Release in bottles is still dependent on the smooth arrival of all the packaging, which is still to be confirmed. But it won't be too long after the 23rd.

A bit about it - malt used is German Pilsner malt, US grown aroma hops. It has the equivalent of 6 hops per bottle (so not as big as the Pale Ale with 15 hops per bottle) but noticeable and worthy of the name Epic Lager. 5.0% alc/vol

So as you would expect I'm very excited about getting it into the bottle and out to the world.

If you are a Pale Ale drinker it probably won't have the hop hit you are use to, but you will now have a beer to share with your friends that are scared of hops and flavour. You can call it a stepping stone, it is about the middle between "mainstream premium lagers" and Epic Pale Ale.

Cheers
Luke Nicholas

Startup Handbook: How to identify and deal with the slow masses, knowledgeable skeptics, and savvy dreamers.

2008-01-27T20:49:00.000+13:00

When you start a new company your job as founder is, in large part, to help people understand the vision. To help them explain why the idea you have, which on the face might seem somewhere between impossible and crazy, is--in fact--completely logical and obtainable. If you're like me you've found that different folks respond differently to your idea at different points in the life cycle of your company.

Full Story

[PHOTOS] Blues, Brews & BBQ's 2008

2008-01-14T13:49:00.000+13:00

After a huge day in the sun on Thursday at Blues, Brews & BBQ's , Mount Maunganui, I have now uploaded the photos of the day.

PHOTOS