FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Julie Birrenkott (715) 254-0520

Email:  julie@pointbeer.com

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  (April 17, 2012) –PointNudeBeachSummer Wheat Ale has become so popular the Stevens Point Brewery has boosted production – again.

The unfiltered ale is the Stevens Point Brewery’s ...]]> Brewery again increases production of popular wheat ale as summer approaches

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Julie Birrenkott (715) 254-0520

Email:  julie@pointbeer.com

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  (April 17, 2012) –PointNudeBeachSummer Wheat Ale has become so popular the Stevens Point Brewery has boosted production – again.

The unfiltered ale is the Stevens Point Brewery’s largest selling seasonal beer and is expected to pour on the sales again this summer, according to Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner Joe Martino. “To get ready for summer, we are taking advantage of our brewery’s increased production capacity to brew 50 percent more Nude Beach Summer Wheat than we did last year,” he said. “This is not the first time we’ve increased production to keep up with demand. We are as excited as our customers are for the arrival of summer and the return of Nude Beach Summer Wheat Ale.”

Since 2009 the Stevens Point Brewery has invested approximately $3 million in new equipment and additional warehouse space to increase capacity and improve brewing efficiency. The latest expansion now being completed adds nine new fermentation/aging tanks, two bright beer tanks and other equipment, increasing brewing capacity to more than 120,000 barrels per year. “Our increased capacity gives us the flexibility to increase production of a particular brand, when necessary, and it is again necessary for Nude Beach Summer Wheat,” Martino said.

PointNudeBeachSummer Wheat Ale quickly became the brewery’s most successful new-product introduction ever when it was rolled out in 2008. In addition to winning favor among beer drinkers, the wheat ale has won accolades from beer competition judges, most recently silver medals in the Wheat Ale category of the 2011 and 2010 World Beer Championships, sponsored by the Chicago-based Beverage Testing Institute.

PointNudeBeachSummer Wheat is a golden-colored, unfiltered wheat ale, which means the yeast is not filtered out of the beer after fermentation is complete. It’s brewed with two varieties of wheat – unmalted white wheat and malted red wheat – along with specialty barley malts, fresh hops from Washington State’s Yakima Valley and the Steven’s Point Brewery’s own ale yeast.

According to Stevens Point Brewery Brewmaster John Zappa, the unmalted wheat gives body and a distinctive wheat flavor to the beer while the red wheat imparts a slight sweetness, and the ale yeast adds a subtle citrus character. “PointNudeBeachSummer Wheat is the perfect beer for toasting the arrival of summer – crisp yet smooth, full of flavor yet very drinkable. If you’re looking for a refreshing brew on a sunny summer day, Point Nude Beach Summer Ale is the one,” Zappa said.

Point Drop Dead Blonde Ale has been available on tap since the summer ’11, and ...]]>

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  March 19, 2012 – An alluring 110-calorie ale flaunting a gorgeous golden hue, Point Drop Dead Blonde Ale will be easier to enjoy, thanks to the Stevens Point Brewery.

Point Drop Dead Blonde Ale has been available on tap since the summer ’11, and will now be available 12-ounce long-neck bottles in six-packs and 12-ounce aluminum cans in 12-packs.

“It has been widely popular on tap, and we are pleased to be able to offer it to our fans who have been asking for Drop Dead Blonde in bottles and cans,” Operating Partner Joe Martino said.  Brewing a blonde ale enhances the appeal of the Stevens Point Brewery’s entire portfolio within the craft beer market, which grew by 11% in 2010 even while the overall beer market continues to decline, Martino added.

Drop Dead Blonde Ale, which expands Stevens Point Brewery’s portfolio of ales, is brewed with Sterling hops from thePacific Northwestand a blend of two-row barley malts that impart a smoothness that embraces a lively, refreshing body.

“This is no ordinary beer,” said Stevens Point Brewmaster John Zappa. “The two-row malts provide Drop Dead Blonde Ale with its bright golden color and smooth, slightly sweet malty taste. TheSterlinghops, which have grown in popularity in recent years, deliver a pleasant, soft hop character. The result is a truly intriguing beer: charming, refreshing, fun and memorable.”

The Stevens Point Brewery

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their handcrafted beers, including flagship Point Special Lager, which won the gold medal in the American Premium Lager category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival.

In addition to Point Drop Dead Blonde Ale, Point’s year-round specialty beers include Point 2012 Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Belgian White, a Belgian-style wheat ale; Point Burly Brown American Brown Ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager.

Point’ seasonal specialty brands include Point Three King’s Ale, a Kölsh-style ale, available from February through April, Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale, available from April through August, Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall, available from September through October, and Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, abbey-style ale available from November through February.

The brewery’s craft beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale and seasonal offerings, Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.

Gourmet soft drinks from the Stevens Point Brewery include Point Premium Root Beer, Point Premium Diet Root Beer, Point Premium Orange Cream, Point Premium Vanilla Cream and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda. Point Premium Root Beer, made with pure cane sugar, natural vanilla andWisconsinhoney, was awarded a gold medal by the Beverage Testing Institute.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

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�� ��;c)3 organization with the IRS.

Mission of the Point Bock Run

The race directors established a goal of promoting an affordable, well-managed race. Having run many races over the years, the race directors adopted the philosophy of a run for runners, managed by runners.” Learning from their racing experiences, they understood what separated the good runs from the so-so runs. Profit generation was not and is not an objective of the Point Bock Run. Any profits, however, are returned to the sport of running under the race’s mission of Supporting and promoting running and healthy lifestyles inCentral Wisconsin.” The Point Bock Run is further evidence ofStevens Point’s andPortageCounty’s reputation for being a running community. Many state and national champions have run for UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point Area Senior High, and other local high schools.Stevens Pointis proud of it’s Green Circle Trail, which features over 27 miles of running trails circling the city.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com  or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  (February 28, 2012) – The annual Point Bock Run, a five-mile run held at the Stevens Point Brewery is on tap for this Saturday starting at noon.

This year, beginning on January 1st, 2012 the Point Bock Run’s available 2,000 entries were filled ...]]>

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  (February 28, 2012) – The annual Point Bock Run, a five-mile run held at the Stevens Point Brewery is on tap for this Saturday starting at noon.

This year, beginning on January 1^st, 2012 the Point Bock Run’s available 2,000 entries were filled in five days.  On February 10^th, an additional 90 entries were filled in four minutes.  Then 10 charitable entries were available for auction on Ebay for three days. Proceeds from additional race entries and auction were donated to the Casey R. Davis Benefit Fund to assist Casey and his family with medical bills and expenses.

Casey Davis, a Stevens Point resident since 1998 and a graduate of the College of Natural Resources at UWSP in 2002, was seriously injured at work when a tree fell on him leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.  He and his wife, Carolyn, returned toStevens Pointin late December after an intense three-month rehabilitation program atCraigHospitalinDenver,CO.  The Casey R. Davis Benefit Fund has been established to assist Casey and his family with on-going medical bills and expenses.

“Our Goal is to raise $5,000 for Casey and his family” said Bill DeVita, President, PointBock Run Inc. “The Casey Davis benefit is above and beyond our typical mission.  We will still have funds available for local organizations that support and promote running and healthy lifestyles inCentral Wisconsin,” explains DeVita.

Returning Champions

This year the 2011 overall winners and course record holders will compete. “ George Carlson, the 2011 men’s winner, Ryan Meissen, the men’s course record holder, and Breeda Willis, the 2011 women’s winner and course recorder holder, will all be completing in the 2012 Point Bock Run,” said DeVita.  “The competition returning to the 2012 Bock Run will fascinating this year,” adds DeVita.

 History of the Point Bock Run

The original Point Bock Run was held on January 31, 1982, when 212 runners participated in 5K and 10K events. The run coincided with the release of seasonal Point Bock Beer. The course changed several times but in the early years, consisted of two distances, both starting atBenFranklinJunior High Schooland ending either atGoerkeParkor the Stevens Point Brewery. The run was discontinued in the early 1990′s.

For several years a group of local runners talked about the possibility of establishing a new race inStevens Point. The current race directors approached the brewery in the fall of 2002 to explore the possibility of bringing back the Bock.” The Stevens Point Brewery, under new ownership, enthusiastically supported the idea and on March 1, 2003, the Point Bock Run was born again!

In September 2009 the Point Bock Run incorporated and in the Spring of 2010 was approved as a 501(c)3 organization with the IRS.

Mission of the Point Bock Run

The race directors established a goal of promoting an affordable, well-managed race. Having run many races over the years, the race directors adopted the philosophy of a run for runners, managed by runners.” Learning from their racing experiences, they understood what separated the good runs from the so-so runs. Profit generation was not and is not an objective of the Point Bock Run. Any profits, however, are returned to the sport of running under the race’s mission of Supporting and promoting running and healthy lifestyles inCentral Wisconsin.” The Point Bock Run is further evidence ofStevens Point’s andPortageCounty’s reputation for being a running community. Many state and national champions have run for UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point Area Senior High, and other local high schools.Stevens Pointis proud of it’s Green Circle Trail, which features over 27 miles of running trails circling the city.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com  or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

The latest expansion — a $1.1 million project includes nine new fermentation tanks, two new bright beer tanks, a new ...]]>

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  February 20, 2012 – For the third time in three years, Stevens Point Brewery is expanding its production capacity to keep up with demand.

The latest expansion — a $1.1 million project includes nine new fermentation tanks, two new bright beer tanks, a new 7,000-gallon hot water tank and a centrifuge for filtering finished beer. When all of the new equipment is up and running this spring, the brewery will be able to brew 120,000 barrels of beer annually, a 20% increase.

Since 2009 the Stevens Point Brewery has invested approximately $1.5 million in new equipment and additional storage space to increase capacity and improve efficiency, according to Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner.

“Last year we added 6,600 square feet of warehouse space, five aging tanks and three fermentation tanks to bring our brewing capacity up to 100,000 barrels per year,” Martino said. “In 2010, we built a 2,700-square-foot addition to expand our keg cooler room and add four aging tanks.

“We have our loyal customers to thank for our continued success, and as our sales continue to grow, we’ll continue to expand our capacity to keep up with the demand,” Martino added. “We’ve still got plenty of room to grow and we fully intend to do so.”

New equipment installations

The two new bright beer tanks for package release beer will allow Point Brewmasters Gabe Hopkins and John Zappa and their team of Brewing Operators to brew six days per week instead of five. The 120-barrel tanks, which hold finished beer ready for the bottle and can lines, will be installed by the end of February.

The nine new fermentation tanks scheduled to be installed in late March are vertical fermentation “unitanks” and represent a first for the Stevens Point Brewery, according toHopkins. “Our new vertical tanks are twice as tall as they are wide, and they’re called unitanks because they allow us to ferment and age beer all in one vessel,” he explained. “Vertical tanks also enable improved dry hopping of our beer. Traditional fermenters are horizontal and can be used for either fermenting or aging, but not both in the same tank.”

The centrifuge, which will arrive in April, will help improve beer quality and production efficiencies. “We will be able to filter beer faster and improve the quality of our product in the package,”Hopkinssaid.

The new hot water tank will be used to heat water at the beginning of the brewing process and will be the first piece of new equipment to be installed, in mid-February.

The Stevens Point Brewery

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their handcrafted beers, including flagship Point Special Lager, which won the gold medal in the American Premium Lager category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival.

In addition to current seasonal Point Three Kings Ale, seasonal specialty brands include Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, abbey-style ale available from November through February; Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall.

Point’s year-round specialty beers include Point 2012 Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Horizon Wheat, an unfiltered wheat ale; Point Belgian White, a Belgian-style wheat ale; Point Burly Brown American Brown Ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager. The brewery’s year-round craft beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale and seasonal offerings, Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.

Gourmet soft drinks from the Stevens Point Brewery include Point Premium Root Beer, Point Premium Diet Root Beer, Point Premium Orange Cream, Point Premium Vanilla Cream and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda. Point Premium Root Beer, made with pure cane sugar, natural vanilla andWisconsinhoney, was awarded a gold medal by the Beverage Testing Institute.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

Handcrafted in the style of the popular Kölsch beers brewed inCologne,Germany, Three Kings Ale will be available from February 1 through the ...]]>

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  (February 7, 2012) – Point Three Kings Ale, a brew fit for royalty, is the Stevens Point Brewery’s new spring seasonal offering.

Handcrafted in the style of the popular Kölsch beers brewed inCologne,Germany, Three Kings Ale will be available from February 1 through the end of May in six-packs and 12-packs of 12-ounce longneck bottles, 12-pack cans and kegs where Point beers are sold.

“Enjoying a Three Kings Ale delivers a taste of spring and the promise of warm weather to come. It’s a great beer to toast the change of seasons as winter recedes and spring approaches,” said Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner.

Cologne’s Kölsch Bier tradition

Kölsch originated in the ancient Rhineland city ofCologne, or “Köln” in German, world famous for its Gothic cathedral constructed between 1248 and 1880. The Three Kings name is inspired by the Three Wise Men whose remains are enshrined in the intricately decorated, solid-gold sarcophagus behind the cathedral’s altar. For more than 500 years the city’s coat of arms has featured three golden crowns symbolizing the Three Kings.

Cologneat one time had more breweries than any other city in the world. Today it is home to a dozen or more breweries that brew the local specialty, Kölsch, meaning “ofCologne,” a delicate, pleasantly hopped top-fermented beer with a pale golden hue.

“Kölsch is to ale what pilsner is to the world of lager beers,” Martino explained. “Kölsch has a proud heritage and we are excited to add this refreshing Ale to our seasonal portfolio.”

Brewing Three Kings Ale

Like the Kölsch beers ofCologne, Three Kings Ale features a soft, mild maltiness and delicate fruity character derived from warm-fermenting the beer with authentic Kölsch ale yeast, according to Stevens Point Brewmaster John Zappa.

Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Northern Brewer hops impart a crisp but subtle hoppiness to Three Kings Ale, brewed with two-row barley,Munichmalt – and a hint of malted wheat “for character,” Zappa said. “Three Kings Ale is a delicious, well-balanced, crisp yet smooth Ale. It is a very nice session beer,” he said.

The Stevens Point Brewery

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their handcrafted beers, including flagship Point Special Lager, which won the gold medal in the American Premium Lager category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival.

In addition to Point Three Kings Ale, seasonal specialty brands include Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, abbey-style ale available from November through February; Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall.

Point’s year-round specialty beers include Point 2012 Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Horizon Wheat, an unfiltered wheat ale; Point Belgian White, a Belgian-style wheat ale; Point Burly Brown American Brown Ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager. The brewery’s year-round craft beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale and seasonal offerings, Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.

Gourmet soft drinks from the Stevens Point Brewery include Point Premium Root Beer, Point Premium Diet Root Beer, Point Premium Orange Cream, Point Premium Vanilla Cream and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda. Point Premium Root Beer, made with pure cane sugar, natural vanilla andWisconsinhoney, was awarded a gold medal by the Beverage Testing Institute.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

In the World Beer Championships, Whole Hog Barley Wine captured gold in ...]]>

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  January 24, 2011 – Stevens Point Brewery’s Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” showed their true colors winning two gold medals from a prestigious American beer competition this January.

In the World Beer Championships, Whole Hog Barley Wine captured gold in the Barley Wine category.  Whole Hog Six Hop India Pale Ale also won a gold medal in the India Pale Ale category.

“Any brewer welcomes recognition from leading beer judges in competitions like the World Beer Championships. We are thrilled with these awards,” said Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner. “These medals tell the world that we continue to achieve our goal of brewing the best hand-crafted specialty beers inAmerica.”

Beer competitions

The World Beer Championships, founded in 1994, is an ongoing beer competition organized by the Chicago-based Beverage Testing Institute. Open to all commercially produced beers around the world, it uses proprietary blind tasting methodology developed by the Beverage Testing Institute. Expert judges award medals based on a 100-point rating scale. The World Beer Championships panel of judges reviews a different set of beer styles every other month.

The Stevens Point Brewery

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their handcrafted beers, including flagship Point Special Lager, which won the gold medal in the American Premium Lager category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival.

Seasonal specialty brands include Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, abbey-style ale available from November through February; Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall.

Point’s year-round specialty beers include Point 2012 Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Horizon Wheat, an unfiltered wheat ale; Point Belgian White, a Belgian-style wheat ale; Point Burly Brown American Brown Ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager. The brewery’s craft beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale, and seasonal Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.

Stevens Point Brewery also brews the James Page specialty beers, including Iron Range Amber Lager, Burly Brown Ale, and Voyageur Extra Pale Ale.

Gourmet soft drinks from the Stevens Point Brewery include Point Premium Root Beer, Point Premium Diet Root Beer, Point PremiumOrangeCream, Point Premium Vanilla Cream and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda. Point Premium Root Beer, made with pure cane sugar, natural vanilla andWisconsinhoney, was awarded a gold medal by the Beverage Testing Institute.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  (December 20, 2011) – As sales of its handcrafted specialty beers continue to grow despite the weak economy, the Stevens Point Brewery has been adding jobs. Five positions have been created since the summer of 2010, when the brewery began an expansion ...]]>

STEVENS POINT,Wis.  (December 20, 2011) – As sales of its handcrafted specialty beers continue to grow despite the weak economy, the Stevens Point Brewery has been adding jobs. Five positions have been created since the summer of 2010, when the brewery began an expansion to boost production capacity by 25 percent to 100,000 barrels.

The new positions include two new Sales Managers, a Logistics Manager, a Brewery Operator and a full-time Lab Technician, according to Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner.

“For the third consecutive year, we anticipate double-digit growth in sales of our craft beers in 2011. We expanded our brewing capacity and warehouse space, and as a result we needed to expand our workforce, too,” said Martino. “The final new position was filled in November, so we are now fully staffed and fully equipped to take on 2012.”

New positions in Sales, Brewing, Distribution

The two Sales Managers were hired forMilwaukeeand Chicago, two of the Stevens Point Brewery’s largest markets. The Logistics Manager works with the brewery’s national wholesaler network, making sure the right beer is shipped on time to the right locations. The full-time Lab Technician plays a key role in the brewery’s quality efforts.

The new Brewery Operator works in the brewhouse and on the bottle and can packaging lines with several other Operators, Martino said. “Our Brewery Operators are trained to work on any piece of equipment in the brewery, so when our brewing and packaging operations are in high gear we can quickly assign people where they are needed most,” he said.

The Stevens Point Brewery

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their handcrafted beers, including flagship Point Special Lager, which won the gold medal in the American Premium Lager category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival.

Seasonal specialty brands include Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, abbey-style ale available from November through February; Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall.

Point’s year-round specialty beers include Point 2012 Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Horizon Wheat, an unfiltered wheat ale; Point Belgian White, a Belgian-style wheat ale; Point Burly Brown American Brown Ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager. The brewery’s craft beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale, and seasonal Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.

Stevens Point Brewery also brews the James Page specialty beers, including Iron Range Amber Lager, Burly Brown Ale, and Voyageur Extra Pale Ale.

Gourmet soft drinks from the Stevens Point Brewery include Point Premium Root Beer, Point Premium Diet Root Beer, Point PremiumOrangeCream, Point Premium Vanilla Cream and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda. Point Premium Root Beer, made with pure cane sugar, natural vanilla andWisconsinhoney, was awarded a gold medal by the Beverage Testing Institute.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

Gabe Hopkins, a native Oklahoman who is ...]]> STEVENS POINT,Wis.  (December 6, 2011) – A new brewmaster is on the job at the Stevens Point Brewery, which expanded its production capacity earlier this year to keep pace with continued double-digit sales growth.

Gabe Hopkins, a native Oklahoman who is a veteran of regional breweries inWisconsinandPennsylvania, joins long-time Brewmaster John Zappa to brew Stevens Point Brewery’s portfolio of handcrafted specialty beers.

“We expanded our production capacity to keep up with increasing demand and it was only a matter of time before we needed to bring in some brewing reinforcements,” said Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner. “We are thrilled to add someone like Gabe, with his experience, talents and creativity, to our brewing team. Point beer lovers everywhere will reap the benefits.”

About Gabe Hopkins

Originally fromStillwater,Okla., Gabe earned a degree in biochemistry fromNorthwesternOklahomaStateUniversity. During his brewing career he has brewed everything from American-style “macro-beer” lagers to high-end craft ales and lagers.

“My brewing philosophy is very simple and straight-forward: I want to brew the best, most drinkable craft beers possible and continue to grow Point’s brands,” Gabe said. “Brewing high-quality, drinkable craft beers are what the Point Brewery does best and I am excited to become part of the team.  Satisfying Point’s loyal customers and recruiting new craft drinkers from the world of macro-beers is what it’s all about.”

What is Gabe’s favorite Point beer? “I enjoy them all, but I would have to say Cascade Pale Ale is my favorite,” he said. “It is a hoppy, very well-balanced beer with an excellent clean finish. It is delicious.”

Gabe’s brewing talents have been put to good use as the Stevens Point Brewery continues to grow. Point Oktoberfest, for example, has proved so popular that production was increased by 70 percent this year. A new 12-pack can package for the fall seasonal was also introduced. To meet the ever-increasing demand for Point Oktoberfest and its other year-round and seasonal craft beers, the brewery expanded its production capacity by 25 percent to 100,000 barrels, adding more warehouse space, new aging tanks and new fermenting tanks.

The Stevens Point Brewery

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their handcrafted beers, including flagship Point Special Lager, which won the gold medal in the American Premium Lager category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival.

Seasonal specialty brands include Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, abbey-style ale available from November through February; Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall.

Point’s year-round specialty beers include Point 2012 Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Horizon Wheat, an unfiltered wheat ale; Point Belgian White, a Belgian-style wheat ale; Point Burly Brown American Brown Ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager. The brewery’s craft beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale, and seasonal Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.

Stevens Point Brewery also brews the James Page specialty beers, including Iron Range Amber Lager, Burly Brown Ale, and Voyageur Extra Pale Ale.

Gourmet soft drinks from the Stevens Point Brewery include Point Premium Root Beer, Point Premium Diet Root Beer, Point PremiumOrangeCream, Point Premium Vanilla Cream and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda. Point Premium Root Beer, made with pure cane sugar, natural vanilla andWisconsinhoney, was awarded a gold medal by the Beverage Testing Institute.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, visit www.pointbeer.com or call 1-800-369-4911. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the web site.

Click Here For Official Rules.

Look for specially marked packages of Point ...]]> Register to become a qualifier to win a 7-Day Carnival Cruise from Point Special Beer and WGLX Radio.  This all inclusive Carnival Cruise departs 1/21/12 with destination stops in Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk.

Look for specially marked packages of Point Special Lager 24 pack cans, 24 pack bottles and Point Craft 12 pack bottles with mail-in registration forms attached, at participating Central Wisconsin stores.

Or stop in and visit participating taverns – CLICK HERE and register for your chance to become a final qualifier in the 2011 Point Beer Brews Cruise Giveaway. Please ask your friendly server for more details!

All final qualifiers will be contacted by letter via post office, or phoned by one participating tavern during the last week of September, 2011.

Finals for the Point Beer Brews Cruise will be on October 20th at the Holiday Inn inStevens Point.

No purchase necessary.  Simply send a 3×5 card with Name, Address, Phone, and Birth Date to:  Point Beer Brews Cruise Giveaway,5201 Coye Drive,Stevens Point,WI 54481.  Entries must be postmarked by October 10th, 2011.

You MUST BE 21 to enter and win, and you may only qualify once per person for the duration of this contest.