Epic Brewing Company is a brewing company located in Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand. Epic beers are brewed under contract with Steam Brewing Company. Their beers have won several awards in New Zealand and Australia.
In October 2007, Steam Brewing Company sold the Epic Brewing Company and the Epic brand to head brewer/general manager Luke Nicholas. Epic beers will continue to be brewed at Steam Brewing Company.
Epic Brewing Company began exporting to Australia in May 2009, to the United States and Sweden in 2010, and to Belgium and Italy in 2011.
Nicholas was invited by Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewery to brew a beer with him for the Discovery Channel’s Masters of Brewing series, where the duo made a beer called Portamarillo, brewed with Tamarillo fruit smoked on hohutukawa wood.
In 2011, Kelly Ryan joined Epic and they traveled around New Zealand filming NZ Craft Beer TV, during which they visited 44 breweries across New Zealand. This show led to the creation of a collaborative recipe that they believe reflects the current state of New Zealand brewing, a 6% New Zealand pale ale called Mash Up. The collaborating breweries were allowed to contribute to the recipe and invited to a brew day.
The year 2011 also saw the release of Epic Hop Zombie, an 8.5% Double IPA, Epic LARGER, an 8.5% Imperial Pilsner and the first beer in their new Epicurean series, Coffee & Fig Imperial Oatmeal Stout 8% abv.