Luke Nicholas is a New Zealand based beer expert. Creator of the website RealBeer.co.nz, previously head brewer of the Cock & Bull's beers, owner of Epic Brewing Company and Epic Pale Ale, international beer judge, industry commentator, founding president of SOBA, and previously vice president of the Brewers Guild of New Zealand.

First Generation Flying Brewer - Collaborative Brews

Portamarillo (NZ) August 2010 - Auckland, New Zealand - with Dogfish Head
Portamarillo (USA) June 2010 - Rehoboth, DE, USA - with Dogfish Head

Epic Thornbridge Stout February 2010 - Auckland, New Zealand
Thornbridge Epic Halcyon April 2009 - Bakewell, UK with Thornbridge Brewery

Epic Pale Ale March 2009 - Leicester, UK - Everard's Brewery - Cask Version for JD Wetherspoon International Real Ale Festival

Beer Judge:

World Beer Cup
2010 - Chicago
2008 - San Diego
2006 - Seattle

BrewNZ Beer Awards
2007 - Wellington
2006 - Wellington

New Zealand International Beer Awards
2000 - Nelson

Awards Won
2006 - Supreme Champion Beer - Epic Pale Ale, Epic Brewing Company - NZIBA
1999 - Supreme Champion Beer - Monk's Habit, Cock & Bull - NZIBA

Cock & Bull Beers - 1998 to 2007 (awards)
Epic Brewing Company Beers - 2006 to present (awards)

Beer & Brewing Timeline

more details to coming

2010 - August - Collaborative Brew with Dogfish Head, Auckland, NZ - Portamarillo - to feature on Discovery Channel series BREWED
2010 - June - Collaborative Brew with Dogfish Head in Delaware, USA - Portamarillo - to feature on Discovery Channel series BREWED
2010 - February - Collaborative Brew with Kelly Ryan of Thornbridge Brewery, UK, in Auckland, NZ - Epic Thornbridge Stout

2009 - April -  Collaborative Brew with Kelly Ryan of Thornbridge Brewery, UK, in Bakewell, UK - Thornbridge Epic Halcyon
2009 - March - Brewed a batch of Epic Pale Ale, at Everard's Brewery, Leicester, UK for the JD Wetherspoons International Real Ale Festival

2007 - October - Purchased Epic Brewing Company from my employers and went out on my own.

1999 - July - Leaving brewing to work for RealBeer.com

1998 - March - California Brew Tour
1997 - September - Became Head Brewer
1997 - January - Started as assistant brewer at Cock & Bull brewpub, East Tamaki, Auckland
1995 - Joined Stein Fillers HomeBrew Club in Long Beach, CA
1989 - First Homebrew while at Lincoln University