Just in time for Xmas, Epic are releasing two new beers I would be happy to find under the tree. Last week I got my first try of their new Pilsner and this week they release the new Coffee and Fig Oatmeal Stout. It’s been almost a year and a half since Epic released the Thornbridge Stout and most everything since has been a Pale Ale. So I’ve been hanging out all year to try something big and non Pale Ale from Epic. It looks like Xmas is finally here.
I will be covering the Stout later in the week, so now lets talk Larger. Apparently the global hop shortage has hit Epic and the iconic Hop Zombie was the first victim. I’m sure anyone who’s had a Zombie would agree it contributed disproportionally to the shortage, and therefore was probably the first bottle against the wall when rationing kicked in.
One beer down, the Epic lads had to get something out to fill the gap. They chose to develop a big boy pilsner. The name Larger represents both their brewing philosophy and a popular misspelling of the word Lager.
The Larger is built on a clean pilsner base courtesy of a German lager yeast chosen for its subtle residual malt character. Of course the malt is also a delivery mechanism for “A huge quantity of specially-chosen hops”. The hops used are a blend of New World hops from the USA and New Zealand, selected for their German heritage, bitterness and aroma potentials.
This year was the year of higher alcohol beers and the Epic Larger fits the bill. Borrowing the name of a traditional high alcohol Stout style, this is an ‘Imperial’ Pilsner with 8.5% or roughly double the norm.
I had some preconceptions about the Pilsner. I have to admit I was expecting a lager pretending to be a Pale Ale, loaded with hops and a slight lemon rind hop character. So I made the mistake of sharing the bottle. One I would soon regret.
The Pilsner pours much like it should. Into a couple of glasses. All pale with a nice white head. Taking a sniff, I expected the hops to rush at me, swinging for my nasal passages. I didn’t get that at all, there are lemony hops but also something more subtle, yeasty and foreign, perhaps Belgian. The Epic boys talk about Chamomile and Bergamot aromas, maybe this is what I’m getting. It’s hard to tell since I’ve never sniffed a Bergamot. In fact, if it wasn’t for Wikipedia I wouldn’t know what one is.
The taste was also surprising, crisp and pilsner like on first impact. Then into a crisp citrus sting followed by a slight funky, slightly biscuity foreign aftertaste. There is more emphasis on the malt that expected and with more flavour to it. I’m used to the Epic malt falling to the back, drowned out by the screaming hops. Sure there are hops aplenty, but the malt gets a word in as well.
I noticed a slightly new hop flavour coming through this year. A cleaner crisper and sweeter citrus. I’m not sure if it’s a specific hop, a combination or just a style but the Epic Larger does it well. Epic have used the Pacifc Jade Hop, which difinietly contributes to this.
This is a very good beer. Something that dials up the characteristic pilsner monotone. It’s got more hops, great malt and more than enough alcohol. Its good to see a new string in the Epic bow. This has certainly made it onto my Xmas drinking list and I have high hopes the Stout will do as well.
