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An Epic Tale - Kia Ora, July 2009

If you don't get a chance to travel this month on Air New Zealand then here is the article from Kia Ora, inflight magazine

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[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.

Small brewer scores epic festival effort

When it comes to success in the art of beer making, brand recognition can mean everything, so the significance of winning a slot at a British ale festival dubbed "the world's biggest" is not lost on Kiwi brewer Luke Nicholas.

Over the next fortnight, the Poms will be sipping their way through 100,000 pints of multi-award-winning Epic Pale Ale after the 38-year-old was invited to showcase his brew at the International Real Ale Festival.

Epic's founder and head brewer has landed one of only six international taps at the annual event hosted by British pub giant JD Wetherspoon which he says could provide the company with the springboard it needs to maximise its potential.

"The Wetherspoon chain has 720 pubs and my batch will be selling in all of them overnight that's more than twice the number of outlets I can get into here," Mr Nicholas said.

"Of course, it's not just about selling the beer. It's about seeking publicity, pursuing potential avenues, exploiting brand recognition and putting Epic on the map something that's not easy back home."

Full Story

[TV3] Campbell Live - Epic Beer's hoppy brew an economic success

Across the board New Zealand companies are performing badly – shedding jobs in the process.

But not all businesses are performing badly, take Epic Beer for example – sales are up and demand is high.

The beer has been being made since 2006 and is definitely a labour of love.

The process for fermenting this malt-based is very labour-intensive but despite this things are going well – 200 percent growth in the last year.

But making beer has got more expensive, the price of hops has skyrocketed as has packaging and transport costs.

The major breweries are putting up their prices and so are Epic – the six pack is out and the four pack is in.

“The six pack was nearly at $20 which is a psychological barrier for a lot of consumers, so we decided we would keep the product affordable but make it a four pack,” says Epic Beer’s Luke Nicholas.

Things have come a long way since 1835 when New Zealand’s first commercial brewery was established – the major players now spend a fortune wooing their target audience.

Mr Nicholas cannot compete with the big-boys financially but is determined to remain independent.

He does not think the major brewers could afford him anyway.

“Probably not because I think any of the big brewers that would look for acquisition, would look at how much it would cost to make Epic and how much I have to spend on hops to get that flavour and go ‘that’s insane’.”

Full Story

See Video

Hot News - Epic Pale Ale - Kia Ora, Air New Zealand in flight magazine

Metro Magazine - March 2009 - Epic Pale Ale

An ale of Epic proportions

It's a sad fact that one of this country's most highly awarded beers of recent times, Epic Pale Ale, is available from just 250 outlets. Soon, however, that number is set to quadruple to around 1000; but it won't be Kiwis benefiting.

The next Wetherspoon's International Real Ale Festival is scheduled to begin in mid-April and the good news is a New Zealand beer will be featured. Auckland brewer Luke Nicholas has been invited to travel to England, where he will be brewing a cask-conditioned, real ale version of his multi-award-winning Epic Pale Ale.

Full Story

How Many Hops In My Beer? - Epic Pale Ale

How Many Hops In My Beer? - Epic Pale Ale from Epic Beer on Vimeo.

Epic to be brewed in England for biggest ale festival

New Zealand’s top brewer Luke Nicholas will be one of only six international celebrity brewers at the ‘World’s Largest Real Ale Festival’ in Britain later this year. Luke, head brewer at the Epic Brewing Company, has accepted an invitation to fly to Britain and make a special batch of his multi-award winning Epic Pale Ale for the International Real Ale Festival.

The two week festival is run by giant pub company JD Wetherspoons from April 15 to May 4 2009. During this time, their 700 British pubs will sell more than 2.5 million pints of real ale. Over 50 cask ales will be available during the festival but only six will be made by international brewers.

Luke says it is a huge honour and opportunity to be selected to produce 100,000 pints of his hoppy Epic Pale Ale for the festival. “It’s the first time Epic Pale Ale will be served from a traditional cask which is tremendously exciting. It is also fantastic to have the chance to brew at the historic Everard’s Brewery in Leicester. This independent brewery was established in 1849 – just nine years after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. It will be great to work surrounded by such history,” he says.

The beer will be brewed at Everard’s in mid-March before going on tap in April. Luke says he was invited because his signature Pale Ale is a world-class beer.

“Since launching in May 2006, Epic Pale Ale has won major beer awards and critical acclaim. Most New Zealander’s are only just beginning to discover the flavours I like to pack into my beer. It’s still quite unknown here but is gaining an international reputation as a ‘must-try’ New Zealand beer. International judges and experts that have tried it, hold it in high regard. Maybe brewing for the biggest festival in Britain will create a little profile and help Kiwis realise what they have on their doorstep!”

Luke has amassed a history of top awards for his beers over the last decade including the unique distinction of brewing the Supreme Champion Beer of New Zealand a record three times. He is raring to unleash his beer on unsuspecting British palates. “Another Kiwi brewery sent the Brits a pub. Epic is sending them the brewer. They won’t know what hit them!” Luke laughs.

Epic Brewing Company – www.epicbeer.com
Everard's Brewery - www.everards.co.uk
JD Wetherspoons – www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Epic Beer 2008 Top 10

2008 was an Epic year for @epicbeer

1. Epic Armageddon IPA & the West Coast IPA Challenge(alot of dry hopping)

2. World Beer Cup, San Diego (Luke was a judge)

3. California Trip - 10 days, 12 Breweries, 317 beers

4. BrewNZ - Epic Pale Ale wins - Best in Class & Gold (more awards)

5. Launched Epic Lager (gateway?)

6. Launched the new 500ml bottle (lower price for a taste of the good stuff)

7. Epic arrives in the South Island (why does it cost so much to get it there?)

8. Voted Best Beer at the Great Christchurch Beer Festival (these people have good taste)

9. Twitter passed the 500 followers mark (get it as it happens)

10. Facebook passed the 500 friends mark (become a friend today)

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thanks to everyone that supported Epic Beer in 2008, and contributed to spreading the word about good beer. 2009 is sure to be even more EPIC ;-)

Keep drinking the good stuff

Cheers
Luke Nicholas

[BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT] 500ml Epic Pale Ale

Epic Pale Ale just got bigger.

Now available in 500ml bottle.

Like a baby lamb the new Epic 500ml bottle arrives for Spring

[PHOTOS] A few pics of the new 500ml Big Bottle of Epic Pale Ale

[VIDEO] First of the 500ml Epic Pale Ale bottles coming off the line.

Believe the hype

I’M loving Epic Pale Ale at the moment.

The label claims to be "Making the world a better place with beer", and for once the advertising hype is true.

This beer is all good. It’s got a lovely aroma, not strong, of dust and old citrus rind with all the sweetness removed.

In the mouth there is a huge grapefruit character and bucket loads of hop power. Resin comes through as well, along with the grassy flavour you get from sucking on a grass stem on a summer’s day.

The Supreme Champion in the 2006 NZ International Beer Awards, Epic is just bigger than the average beer, more fruit in a curiously dry way because the fruit is citrus.

It’s too strong for delicate food, but a great match for flavoursome, salty meats and stews. I’m going to try this Auckland thriller with everything.

Full Article - Capital Times by Aaron Watson

Epic Pale Ale on a Google Map

To answer our number one question - "so where can I buy some Epic Pale Ale" I have created an online map, using the newly released Google Maps tool. And it's a bunch easier to use than our previous map.

So here it is. MAP!

It is only up to date for the greater Auckland region but by the weekend I hope to get the rest of the country up to date with Epic outlets.

This will make it easier to find your closest Epic Pale Ale retailer.

Cheers
Luke

Epic Winner - Ponsonby News Draw - Feb 2007

Here is John Shepherd, recent winner of a case of Epic Pale Ale from the Feb 2007 Ponsonby News draw.

Keep an eye out for the next competition, to win a case of Epic Pale Ale.



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