CLEVELAND, Ohio – Northeast Ohio beer drinkers have yet another option: Epic Brewing Co. will now ship to the Buckeye State.
Epic, which opened in 2010 in Salt Lake City and expanded to Denver, announced this week it has chosen Ohio as the first state for the brewery’s direct-to-consumer shipping.
The brewery bills itself as Utah’s first brewery since prohibition to brew exclusively high-alcohol content beer. In 2016, Ohio lawmakers lifted the 12% cap on alcohol in beer brewed and sold in the state. Utah’s alcohol limit is incredibly low in most outlets: 5%.
Ohioans can order Epic’s small-batch and limited releases previously unavailable in Ohio. They include multiple variants of its flagship Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout to oak-aged Sour Ales. Epic’s beers include a Stout made with raisins called Capt’n Ron, which comes in at 9.5% alcohol.
“We looked at … our distribution range where we have the most traction, and Ohio stood out,” said Gus Erickson, marketing specialist for the brewery. “They’re one of the biggest markets for us.”
Epic does have some beer sold via retail in Ohio, which is one of 22 states where the brewery distributes. But this addition of shipping distribution will offer connoisseurs a multitude of the brewery’s ales. Of the brewery’s portfolio of 160 or so beers, Erickson said, maybe 10 are below that 5% threshold. About half land in double-digit alcohol.
Online orders can be placed for 12- and 16-ounce cans and bomber bottles – 22 ounces. If all goes well with Ohio shipping, Erickson said, the brewery plans to expand direct-to-consumer orders to two or three other states by the end of the year. Customers can use the code OHIOISEPIC at checkout for 15% off their first order until Tuesday, April 19.
I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Twitter: @mbona30.
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