Epic Brewing Company Explained

Epic Brewing Company
Location:Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
Owner:Russell Group, Hancocks
Opened:2006
Seasonal Beers:
Other Beers:

Epic Brewing Company is a brewing company located in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, New Zealand. Epic beers are contract brewed at Steam Brewing Company. Their beers have won several awards in New Zealand and Australia. Epic went into liquidation on 25 July 2023 and was purchased by construction company Russell Group and beverage manufacturer Hancocks on 25 August, 2023.

Overview

In October 2007, Steam Brewing Company sold[1] the Epic Brewing Company and Epic brand to Head Brewer / General Manager, Luke Nicholas. The Epic beers will continue being brewed at Steam Brewing Company.

Epic Brewing Company started 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 series Brew Masters, where the duo concocted a beer called Portamarillo, brewed with pōhutukawa wood-smoked Tamarillo fruit.

In 2011, Kelly Ryan joined Epic and the two travelled around New Zealand, filming NZ Craft Beer TV, during which they visited 44 breweries around New Zealand. This show resulted in a collaborative recipe that they thought captured the current state of New Zealand brewing, a 6% New Zealand Pale Ale called Mash Up. Collaborating breweries were allowed input into the recipe and invited along for the brew day.

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, a Coffee & Fig Imperial Oatmeal Stout at 8% abv.

Liquidation and sale

Epic's shareholders placed Epic into liquidation on 25 July 2023 due to a number of factors. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the brewery faced falling sales and rising prices of malt, freight, packaging, excise tax, and salaries.[2] [3] [4] The closure of New Zealand's two food grade carbon dioxide plants led to a nationwide shortage and rising import costs.[5]

Epic was relying on an investor to help them with cash-flow while they worked on opening a brewery and taproom in Mount Wellington. Epic was facing inflationary pressures and a cutback in spending, while resource consent for the new venue stalled at Auckland Council. Owning a brewery would have improved margins from Epic's 2005 model of brewing under contract by freeing Epic from the need to brew in bulk, and saving money on freight and storage. The investor withdrew support and Epic was forced to abandon plans for the new brewery. The company was left with negative cashflow, no way to pay their bills, and unable to trade their way out of their financial hole.[6]

On 25 August, 2023, construction company Russell Group and beverage manufacturer Hancocks combined to buy Epic, with Epic founders Luke and Wendy Nicholas remaining with the business.[7] [8]

Awards

Epic Armageddon IPA
Epic Pale Ale
Epic Mayhem
Epic Barrel Aged IPA
Epic Porter
Epic Lager
Epic Thornbridge Stout
Oak Barrel Aged Epic Thornbridge Stout
NZ Craft Beer TV Mash Up

Accolades

Best Beers of Australia and New Zealand 2010 - RateBeer.com[12]

Best Beer 2008 - Metro Magazine[13]

Best Beer 2007 - NZ Listener[14]

See also

External links

-36.949°N 174.8208°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RealBeer.co.nz Forum (forum post) . RealBeer.co.nz Forum . 2007-10-22 . 2007-10-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081014021924/http://realbeer.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1235 . 14 October 2008 .
  2. News: Epic Brewing in Liquidation. Pursuit of Hoppiness. Donaldson. Michael. 27 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230727145514/https://hoppiness.co.nz/epic-brewing-in-liquidation. 27 July 2023. live. 15 December 2023.
  3. News: Is this the beginning of the end for craft beer in Aotearoa?. The Spinoff. Donaldson. Michael. 18 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231031210830/https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/18-08-2023/is-this-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-craft-beer-in-aotearoa. 31 October 2023. live. 15 December 2023.
  4. News: Buyer found for liquidated Epic Brewing Company. The New Zealand Herald. Smith. Cameron . 25 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230825071555/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/buyer-found-for-liquidated-epic-brewing-company/KA64EFHGKNGYZI75KZSYPOUVVQ/. 25 August 2023. live.
  5. News: 'We'll be completely out of beer': Garage Project runs out of CO2 at one site. Radio New Zealand. 17 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230220132516/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/482593/we-ll-be-completely-out-of-beer-garage-project-runs-out-of-co2-at-one-site. 20 February 2023. live. 15 December 2023.
  6. News: Epic Brewing Company goes into liquidation after investment deal falls through. The New Zealand Herald. Smith. Cameron. 27 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230731113007/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/want-to-own-a-craft-beer-brand-epic-brewing-company-goes-into-liquidation/KM3UVB2HRJF6LLZVRMTT6W2CLE/. 31 July 2023. live. 15 December 2023.
  7. News: Epic sold to Hancocks and a construction firm. Pursuit of Hoppiness. Donaldson. Michael. 25 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231215053406/https://hoppiness.substack.com/p/altitude-reach-new-heights-at-beervana. 15 December 2023. live. 15 December 2023.
  8. News: Epic Beer saved by two Kiwi businesses. The Shout. Cowan. Charlotte. 27 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230827235551/https://www.theshout.co.nz/epic-beer-saved-by-two-kiwi-businesses/. 27 August 2023. live. 15 December 2023.
  9. Web site: BrewNZ Beer Awards 2009 . BrewNZ . 2009-08-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100524164105/http://brewersguild.org.nz/brewnz-files/Awards%20Night%20Catalogue%20copy_0.pdf . 24 May 2010 .
  10. Web site: BrewNZ Beer Awards 2008 . BrewNZ . 2008-09-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081014013515/http://brewnz.co.nz/docs/2008results.pdf . 14 October 2008 .
  11. Web site: NZ International Beer Awards 2006 . NZ Beer Awards . 2006-12-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061014052006/http://www.nz-beer-awards.co.nz/2006results.htm . 14 October 2006 . dmy .
  12. Web site: Best Beers of Australia and New Zealand 2010. RateBeer.com. 2010-02-06.
  13. Web site: Best of Auckland 2007 . Metro Magazine . 2007-12-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080721233658/http://www.metrolive.co.nz/aucklandbests/Akbestsarticle/tabid/293/ArticleID/5411/Default.aspx . 21 July 2008 . dmy .
  14. Web site: The Best of New Zealand . NZ Listener . 2007-08-04 .

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