Epic Beer — Restaurant in Maungakiekie-Tāmaki

Unfortunately, this establishment is only a couple of streets away from me and easy walking distance. Which means, my family don't see much of me on Thursdays-Sundays and wonder why all of their gifts are reminiscent of products from the work OfficeMax catalogue (good money saving tip!).

I have had the fortune of seeing this fine establishment grow and grow over the years. What started out as a basic, trial pop-up, in-between lockdowns, has evolved into a mainstay of the community. There is a real sense of family that can be found there. You'll often see Luke and Wendy (Mr. and Mrs. Epic) there behind the bar or talking to patrons. The rest of the crew always do well to make you feel welcome and are always up for a bit of banter.

The place itself is a hidden gem. Tucked away off the busy Neilson Street, you have to venture down an unsuspecting alley to find it. Once there, it opens up into a wide open space (it is a warehouse/storage facility, after all) with plentiful seating to accommodate large groups of people. There are arcade machines (including some on free play!) for the kids (including the adult kids) to play on. And now, there is also a freshly installed outdoor seating area, with sun shade, for those warm afternoons.

Finally, I can’t leave a review without reviewing the key feature(s): the beer and pizza. You wouldn’t be going here unless you weren’t a fan of fresh, great tasting beer (well, they do serve wine, some spirits and non-alcoholic drinks also). Luke and the team have constantly rotating taps of freshly brewed Epic beer. Including some barrels that are reserved only for the tap room and cannot be bought elsewhere. Have a fond memory of an Epic beer you tried previously? They also have a well stocked fridge of many of the classics and limited run brews. And as for the pizza: we can’t get enough of those either. If I have anyone local asking for recommendations for a good pizza place around Onehunga, I always send them here. Good for dine in or takeaway, all of the pizzas are delicious and are freshly made.

So, don’t let the inconspicuous entry from Neilson street fool you. Head down that alley, see your weekend disappear as you make your way through their rotating taps...

Late review from a visit last Friday (23rd June). It's been way too long since I was last here.

I arrived around 3, just before the after work crowd started rolling in. Was made welcome by Luke, Wendy and Paddy (and the rest of the team) and quickly got into the new IPA (Snakes) that was on tap. Numbers steadily increased and included workers from the area, families, people celebrating a birthday, people collecting riggers to take home and a few dogs. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, the music is solid and not too loud. The beer is outstanding. I sampled a few more taps through the evening and a couple of cans from the well stocked fridge, before ordering a pizza. My "Epic Loves Bacon" pizza arrived and I ate the whole thing by myself. Easily the best pizza I've had. Fresh ingredients and a great thin base. I finished the night with the latest release (tap room only) of the excellent Captain Springs Imperial stout and then grabbed some take out to take home with me.

Meet some new people, caught up with some old friends and had a great time. I'd been to about a dozen bars and venues in Auckland over the past couple of days, some of them I rate really highly. The Epic taproom was easily my favorite.

If I lived in Auckland, I'd make this place my local. In lieu of that I should get here more often and if you are reading this I recommend you...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Epic Tap Room Review

"If Gandalf brewed beer, it would be served here. Epic Tap Room is basically Middle-earth’s best-kept secret (minus the orcs). The beer? It's like they bottled the essence of a perfect Kiwi summer—crisp, refreshing, and just enough punch to make you think you might actually be able to win at pub trivia.

Pizza? Oh, they’ve got that covered too! Thin crust with toppings that’ll make you question if you’re at a pub or accidentally stumbled into an artisanal pizzeria. You could argue it’s more ‘epic’ than the beer. But let’s not start a debate that could go until last call.

The vibe? A mix of craft-beer aficionados, locals who’ve claimed ‘their spot’ at the bar, and first-timers wondering how they’ve lived without it for so long. Plus, they play tunes that make waiting for your next round feel like a party.

One warning: come for ‘just a beer,’ and suddenly it's three hours later, you’re deep into philosophical discussions about hops, and you’ve signed up for a pizza-eating challenge with someone named Dave who you just met.

In conclusion: Epic beer, epic pizza, epic hangout spot. You’ll leave feeling like the hero in your own pub...