Turning 20 felt like something that needed to be shared properly — not with a single party in one place, but by getting out on the road and spending time with the venues and people who have supported Epic over the years.

So that’s what we did.

The Epic 20th Birthday Tour was a small, intentional on-premise tour, taking a set of anniversary beers to bars around the country, pouring them in person, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones along the way.

At its heart, the tour was about beer doing what it has always done best: bringing people together.

The Beers

Rather than making one anniversary beer, we brewed — and released — a small group of beers that reflected different sides of Epic: past, present, friendships, experiments, and a bit of good timing.

Each beer poured on the tour had a reason for being there.

• Hat Sammich — Experimental India Pale Mild
  Named after Paddington Bear and the marmalade sandwich tucked under his hat, Hat Sammich was a playful but deliberate experiment. A mild by name, but high-bittered and unapologetically flavourful — quietly challenging expectations while remaining deeply drinkable.

• JIRA Pilsner — 5.9% Japanese-inspired Epic Pilsner
  Clean, punchy, and precise. Inspired by Japanese brewing philosophy and pushed through an Epic lens, JIRA showed how far a pilsner can go while staying crisp, assertive, and refreshing.

• i of the Zombie — Collaboration with 8 Wired
  First created in 2014, this beer blended one third iStout with two thirds Hop Zombie, creating something entirely its own. For the tour, it served as a reminder of the friendships and collaborations that have shaped Epic over the years.

• Hop ZombieR
  A release made possible by circumstance. These were the only kegs held back from an export shipment to China, saved specifically for the 20th Birthday Tour. Loud, hop-forward, and unmistakably Epic.

• Epic 20 Barley Wine
  A five-year, bourbon-barrel-aged version of Epic’s 15th Birthday Barleywine. Rich, layered, and contemplative — a beer that carried time in every sip, and a fitting anchor for the tour.

Together, the beers told a story that wasn’t about trends or nostalgia, but about curiosity, relationships, and the freedom to brew what feels right.

The Venues

The tour only worked because of the venues that opened their doors and backed it. Each stop represented a place that genuinely cares about beer and the communities that form around it.

• Smiths Craft Beer House
  Home of the NZIPA Challenge and a huge supporter of Epic over many years. A destination for great beer in one of the busiest towns in the country.

• The Last Word
  Best known as the last stop of the night for a whiskey, but also a long-time supporter of craft beer and Epic. A place where conversations slow down and stories get shared.

• The Malthouse
  Where it all began. The single most important bar in the success of Epic. Pouring the 20th Birthday beers here carried real weight.

• Neck of the Woods
  Brand new and just getting started. It felt right to support a venue at the very beginning of its journey. Watch this space.

• Epic Taproom
  Home turf, and the final stop. With 20 different Epic beers on tap, it turned into an incredible day — familiar faces, old friends coming out of the woodwork, and a genuine celebration of what 20 years represents.

These venues aren’t just places to drink beer — they’re where beer culture is built, protected, and passed on.

The People

More than anything, the tour was about people.

Publicans who have supported Epic beers year after year.
Bar staff who care about what they’re pouring and why it matters.
Regulars who turned up, stayed for another round, and shared stories over a beer.

There were plenty of conversations that started with “Remember when…” — and just as many that were about what’s next.

That’s the part of beer that never changes.

Why Beer Still Matters

In a world that often feels fragmented and rushed, beer still has a quiet power.

It gets people out of their houses.
It puts them around the same table.
It creates shared moments — even between strangers.

The 20th Birthday Tour was a reminder of that.
Not a marketing exercise.
Not a nostalgia trip.
Just people, in a bar, sharing a beer and a moment.

Thank You

To the venues who hosted us.
To the staff who poured the beers.
To the people who showed up, stayed, talked, and celebrated with us.

Thank you for being part of Epic’s story over the past 20 years.

This tour meant a lot to us.

Here’s to beer, to friendship, and to the next chapter.