Hysteria as Epic Wins 2017 West Coast IPA Challenge.

Hysterical fans at last year's West Coast IPA Challenge.

In a surprise move Malthouse’s Colin Mallon announced this year's winner before the final results were even in.  Punters and brewers have usually had to wait until the late evening to see who will be crowned the winner but not this year. “Everyone knew Epic was going to win, so we just stopped worrying about the last round of judging and called it” Mallon told TMTB.

It’s the 5th time Epic’s Luke Nicholas has drunk from the golden gumboot in the competition’s ten year history. “I was totally shocked when I heard the winner announced, I can’t believe it” said part time DJ Nicholas.  The TAB had Epic at $1.85 to take it out and in another turn of luck Nicholas had placed a cheeky $1000 on himself to win.  “They don’t call me Lucky Luke for nothing” he smirked.

Other brewers looked confused as the winner was announced, one commenting “It’s fair that he won but they should have announced it at the right time. I’ve only had 8 pints and I can’t really deal with losing until I’ve drunk way more.”

The New Zealand Brewers guild also awarded Malthouse a special purveyors award for supplying the taps and glassware in keeping with their new awards policies.