One question I was asked recently is what do you do while you are in Yakima during hop harvest? The short answer is I visit hop farms and meet with the hop growers and select my hops for the year. This year I am visiting the following hop farms, from which I selected some of my varieties from last year's harvest. Van Horn Farms - Columbus Black Star Farms - Mosaic C&C Farms - Centennial Perrault Farms - to visit the hop breeding plot. What does a hop farm visit entail? It is a chance to meet up with the...

When people think about beer from Epic, the first thing that jumps to mind is big hoppy beers. They would be right as we not only brew with massive amounts of hops, but also visit the hop fields and know the hop farmers to get the best hops in the world. Not many brewers in New Zealand do this locally, and none visit the hop farmers on a yearly basis in the US. Here are some fun facts as to why HOPS = EPIC BEER. Epic Brewing Company used the MOST AROMA HOPS in the last 10 years, more than...

It is that time of the year again, and I am finalizing plans and counting down days to my trip to Yakima, USA. I am visiting because it is the time of the year that they harvest the hops. Yakima is where the majority of hops are grown in the USA. Every year since 2012 I have traveled to Yakima at hop harvest time, to visit hop farms, and meet hop growers, but mostly to have the opportunity (which is the ultimate privilege) to be able to select the hop I want. This will be my fifth consecutive season at...

It's that time of year again, and we're pumped to get down to Wellington to share our latest brews as well as our tried and true favourites. We'll be at the House Of Nicholas stand with our cuzzies from Hop Federation. What's pouring at Beervana? Epic Thor Imperial IPA The last and biggest addition to the Stone Hammer Trilogy. The beer has a big hop aroma that is dank, resinous and fruity from the use of Nelson Sauvin and CTZ hops. The bitterness level is lower than regular Epic beers, which is also the same in the Thunder and Stone Hammer...

TEASER ALERT... So you've probably already seen this video: Well, the fruits of this Epic Mission have come together. There are two things that Luke traditionally doesn't really like: 1. The cold 2. Brewing with wheat malt Regardless, Luke has battled the elements  & created this beer which combines these things, as well as a few wicked others to create this freaking awesome beer. Launch events: 16 TUN in Auckland: 10 August Malthouse in Wellington: 13 August Craft Hamilton: 18 August Beer Style: White IPA (Alpine Pale Ale) More about the beer: ABV: 6.5% IBU: 35 Earlier in the year there were several...