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[1] and was purchased by construction company Russell Group and beverage manufacturer Hancocks on 25 August, 2023.[2]
In October 2007, Steam Brewing Company sold[3] 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.
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 saleedit
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.[4][5][1] The closure of New Zealand's two food grade carbon dioxide plants led to a nationwide CO2 shortage and rising CO2 import costs.[6]
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.[4][5][7]
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.[1][2][8]
Awardsedit
Epic Armageddon IPA
Gold & Best in Class - 2015 Australian International Beer Awards
^ abcSmith, Cameron (25 August 2023). "Buyer found for liquidated Epic Brewing Company". The New Zealand Herald. from the original on 25 August 2023.
^ abDonaldson, Michael (25 August 2023). "Epic sold to Hancocks and a construction firm". Pursuit of Hoppiness. from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^. RealBeer.co.nz Forum. 22 October 2007. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2007.
^ abDonaldson, Michael (27 July 2023). "Epic Brewing in Liquidation". Pursuit of Hoppiness. from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^ abDonaldson, Michael (18 August 2023). "Is this the beginning of the end for craft beer in Aotearoa?". The Spinoff. from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^"'We'll be completely out of beer': Garage Project runs out of CO2 at one site". Radio New Zealand. 17 January 2023. from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^Smith, Cameron (27 July 2023). "Epic Brewing Company goes into liquidation after investment deal falls through". The New Zealand Herald. from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^Cowan, Charlotte (27 August 2023). "Epic Beer saved by two Kiwi businesses". The Shout. from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^(PDF). BrewNZ. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
^(PDF). BrewNZ. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
^. NZ Beer Awards. Archived from the original on 14 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
^"Best Beers of Australia and New Zealand 2010". RateBeer.com. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
^. Metro Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
^"The Best of New Zealand". NZ Listener. Retrieved 4 August 2007.[permanent dead link]
epic, brewing, company, brewing, company, located, Ōtāhuhu, auckland, zealand, epic, beers, contract, brewed, steam, brewing, company, their, beers, have, several, awards, zealand, australia, epic, went, into, liquidation, july, 2023, purchased, construction, . Epic Brewing Company is a brewing company located in Ōtahuhu 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 1 and was purchased by construction company Russell Group and beverage manufacturer Hancocks on 25 August 2023 2 Epic Brewing CompanyEpic Pale AleLocationŌtahuhu Auckland New ZealandOpened2006Owned byRussell Group HancocksActive beersName TypeEpic Pale Ale American Pale AleEpic Lager LagerEpic Armageddon IPA IPASeasonal beersName TypeEpic Mayhem Strong Pale AleEpic Hop Zombie IIPAEpic LARGER LagerEpic Coffee amp Fig StoutOther beersName TypePast Seasonal beersEpic Thornbridge Stout StoutEpic Porter 2007 PorterEpic Dogfish Head Portamarillo Porter Contents 1 Overview 1 1 Liquidation and sale 2 Awards 3 Accolades 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksOverview editIn October 2007 Steam Brewing Company sold 3 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 pohutukawa 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 amp Fig Imperial Oatmeal Stout at 8 abv Liquidation and sale edit 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 4 5 1 The closure of New Zealand s two food grade carbon dioxide plants led to a nationwide CO2 shortage and rising CO2 import costs 6 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 4 5 7 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 1 2 8 Awards editEpic Armageddon IPAGold amp Best in Class 2015 Australian International Beer Awards Gold amp Best in Class 2011 BrewNZ Beer Awards Gold amp Best in Class 2011 BrewNZ Beer Awards Bronze 2010 BrewNZ Beer Awards Gold amp Best in Class 2009 BrewNZ Beer Awards 9 Epic Pale AleSilver 2011 BrewNZ Beer Awards Bronze 2009 BrewNZ Beer Awards Gold amp Best in Class 2008 BrewNZ Beer Awards 10 Silver 2007 Australian International Beer Awards Supreme Champion Beer 2006 New Zealand International Beer Awards 11 Gold amp Best in Class 2006 New Zealand International Beer Awards Gold amp Best in Class 2006 BrewNZ Beer Awards Silver 2006 Australian International Beer AwardsEpic MayhemGold 2010 BrewNZ Beer Awards Silver 2007 Australian International Beer Awards Bronze 2007 BrewNZ Beer Awards Gold amp Best in Class 2006 BrewNZ Beer AwardsEpic Barrel Aged IPABronze 2011 BrewNZ Beer Awards Gold amp Best in Class 2010 BrewNZ Beer AwardsEpic PorterSilver 2007 BrewNZ Beer AwardsEpic LagerSilver 2011 BrewNZ Beer Awards Bronze 2009 BrewNZ Beer Awards Bronze 2007 BrewNZ Beer AwardsEpic Thornbridge StoutBronze 2011 BrewNZ Beer AwardsOak Barrel Aged Epic Thornbridge StoutSilver 2011 BrewNZ Beer AwardsNZ Craft Beer TV Mash UpSilver 2011 BrewNZ Beer AwardsAccolades editBest Beers of Australia and New Zealand 2010 RateBeer com 12 Best Beer 2008 Metro Magazine 13 Best Beer 2007 NZ Listener 14 See also editBarrel aged beerReferences edit a b c Smith Cameron 25 August 2023 Buyer found for liquidated Epic Brewing Company The New Zealand Herald Archived from the original on 25 August 2023 a b Donaldson Michael 25 August 2023 Epic sold to Hancocks and a construction firm Pursuit of Hoppiness Archived from the original on 15 December 2023 Retrieved 15 December 2023 RealBeer co nz Forum forum post RealBeer co nz Forum 22 October 2007 Archived from the original on 14 October 2008 Retrieved 22 October 2007 a b Donaldson Michael 27 July 2023 Epic Brewing in Liquidation Pursuit of Hoppiness Archived from the original on 27 July 2023 Retrieved 15 December 2023 a b Donaldson Michael 18 August 2023 Is this the beginning of the end for craft beer in Aotearoa The Spinoff Archived from the original on 31 October 2023 Retrieved 15 December 2023 We ll be completely out of beer Garage Project runs out of CO2 at one site Radio New Zealand 17 January 2023 Archived from the original on 20 February 2023 Retrieved 15 December 2023 Smith Cameron 27 July 2023 Epic Brewing Company goes into liquidation after investment deal falls through The New Zealand Herald Archived from the original on 31 July 2023 Retrieved 15 December 2023 Cowan Charlotte 27 August 2023 Epic Beer saved by two Kiwi businesses The Shout Archived from the original on 27 August 2023 Retrieved 15 December 2023 BrewNZ Beer Awards 2009 PDF BrewNZ Archived from the original PDF on 24 May 2010 Retrieved 31 August 2009 BrewNZ Beer Awards 2008 PDF BrewNZ Archived from the original PDF on 14 October 2008 Retrieved 25 September 2008 NZ International Beer Awards 2006 NZ Beer Awards Archived from the original on 14 October 2006 Retrieved 2006 12 07 Best Beers of Australia and New Zealand 2010 RateBeer com Retrieved 6 February 2010 Best of Auckland 2007 Metro Magazine Archived from the original on 21 July 2008 Retrieved 2007 12 01 The Best of New Zealand NZ Listener Retrieved 4 August 2007 permanent dead link External links editEpic Brewing Company36 56 56 S 174 49 15 E 36 9490 S 174 8208 E 36 9490 174 8208 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Epic Brewing Company amp oldid 1213169043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
