[BREWERY] Epic Pale Ale - Changes and Updates

Just some quick feedback for those that have asked, yes the current batch of Epic Pale Ale is slightly different. It was kegged and bottled on the 5th & 6th of May, with kegs now on tap and bottles arriving on shelves over the next couple of weeks.

You can find the code on the shoulder of the 330ml bottles
BB 06.05.10 (BB=Best Before)
B0379 xx.xx (B=batch number)(xx.xx=time)

It seems firstly that we have used some coloured malt that is out of spec and is lighter in colour than what we expected. This has resulted in the colour being lighter.

Secondly we are now using current season US Cascade hops at 7.6% alpha. Prior batches to this had had a blend of current and previous seasons hops (US Cascade 6% alpha).

The double whammy effect of the lighter crystal malts not only means the colour is lighter but the malt sweetness is slightly lower, but also the hop character is greater being fresher and greener from being 100% current season.

Over all there is a noticeable difference but it isn't significantly different.

Ahh, the joys of using agricultural crops which change from season to season.

FUTURE CHANGES
Over the coming batches I will be trialling using English Maris Otter malt (a variety of malt) in varying percentages. The reason for this trial is that the beer I brewed in the UK at Everards Brewery in Leicester for the JD Wetherspoons Real Ale Festival we used Maris Otter.

Reason for this was it was their standard base malt and they had a silo full of it. So we gave it a go and it turned out fantastic, and the extra malt flavour really seemed to improve the beer.

Hop off - by Aaron Watson, Capital Times

Epic Armageddon (6.66%) has a more resinous aroma with hints of red grapefruit. It fills the mouth with weighty complexity at first, then its herby bitterness emerges – and lingers with extreme prejudice.

This is 90-plus IBU, a beer so strongly flavoured it completely changes your palate, making it very difficult to go back to the brew you usually drink.

The question in the New Zealand market is: will anybody drink such bitter ale? Colin Mallon at The Malthouse reckons his customers will, and has taken as many kegs as he can get his hands on.

Full Story

New Epic Beer Available Thursday 17th July

This Thursday will see the official launch of the new limited release Epic Armageddon IPA at the Malthouse on Wellington from 5.30pm

Only 1000 litres of insane hop joy have been created. The rumour has started that Epic Armageddon IPA is "the sole reason there is a global hop shortage". This may well be true since many hops were sacrificed in the making of this beer.

If you would like a taste of Armageddon please join me at the Malthouse on Thursday evening.

Can't make Thursday I will be back for a repeat performance on Friday from 5.30pm for International Brewers Day

Epic Armageddon will be on tap from 24th July at Hallertau BrewBar and eventually Galbraith's Alehouse. (with the possibility of Regional Wines FYO)

(special thanks and recognition to Steve Plowman at Hallertau for the use of the brewery, and encouragement to add more hops (like I needed that), Neil Miller for the stroke of brilliance in the naming of Armageddon, the guys at Steam for back up support of yeast, and kegs, and anything else I may have forgot, Mike Shadow for the tap badge (still to be finished) and poster, Colin at the Malthouse for thinking that he can sell the whole batch, I'm sure with a few pints himself and a little help from Mr Miller, who I hear will be camping out the whole time, while Armageddon is on tap).

Want the behind the scenes story, follow the Photo Essay on Flickr.com

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

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 Wellington Visit - 15th to 18th May

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

[BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT] Epic Lager

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.