Stevens Point Releases Oktoberfest

STEVENS POINT, Wis. — For those looking for a beer with the authentic taste of Munich’s world-famous beer festival, you don’t have to go all the way to Germany to find it. Point Oktoberfest is back and ready for purchase wherever Point beers are sold.

Keeping up tradition Point Oktoberfest will continue to be sold in 6-pack bottles, 12-pack bottles, 12-pack cans & on draft; appealing to the needs of Marzen-style beer fans.

Sporting a Gold Medal from 2012 Great American Beer Festival, this increasingly popular fall favorite continues to grow in production numbers each year according to Stevens Point Brewery’s Operating Partner, Joe Martino.

“To keep customers pouring Oktoberfest for as long as possible this fall we’ve increased our production substantially,” Martino said.

“Popularity of Point Oktoberfest comes as no surprise since Oktoberfest beers continue to be one of the most popular and widely recognized seasonal beer styles.” He added

“Seasonal beers as a whole are the fastest growing segment of craft beers.” Seasonal beers are limited in quantity and availability making them more desirable and special to consumers.

Oktoberfest Lagers

Characterized by a malty flavor, full body and a deep, reddish copper color, the first Oktoberfest beers were Marzen beers, or “March” beers, brewed in the beginning of spring. These brews mature throughout the summer awaiting anxiously for the season of festivals in September and October. Marzen style beers have become so popular at fall festivals that Oktoberfest and the Marzen styles that accompany them have become one in the same. For the last 200 years this full-bodied lager continues to be a hit all over the world.

The home of the annual Oktoberfest beer festival and the Marzen style of beer are also one in the same, Munich. Munich’s first Oktoberfest in 1810 celebrated the wedding of Bavaria’s crown prince, Ludwig, to Princess Therese of Saxony.

The Munich Oktoberfest is officially celebrated for 16 to 18 days from late September through the first Sunday in October .The availability of Point Oktoberfest spans from August 1st until the end of November giving consumers plenty of time to enjoy all that this season has to offer.

Point Oktoberfest

Point Oktoberfestis brewed with sweet Vienna, 2-row Munich and Crystal malts and select Hallertauer, Tettnanger and Spalter hops that are imported from Bavaria.

“The full-bodied, slightly sweet malty beer with and the distinctive copper red color of Oktoberfest beers is accredited to the malts we use,” said Gabe Hopkins, Stevens Point Brewery brew master. “Point Oktoberfest is a well-balanced brew worthy of the most important beer festival of the year.” For the third year in a row Point will host its annual “Pointoberfest” on September 20th. This beer-tasting festival will run 4-8pm and feature a variety of Point beers as well as live-music and German food.

About

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their hand-crafted beers. In addition to Point Oktoberfest, the brewery’s seasonal beers include Point Coast Radler, a thirst-quenching mix of beer and natural citrus flavors for the summer; Point Three Kings Ale, a K├Âlsch-style ale for the spring; Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, a refreshing, award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, for the winter months.

Year-round hand-crafted beers include flagship Point Special Lager, a premium American lager; Point Onyx Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Belgian White, a Belgian-style wheat ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, an American-style pale ale; Point Drop Dead Blonde Ale, a golden ale; Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager; and Point Beyond the Pale IPA, a robust, hoppy India Pale Ale. Point also brews four year-round IPAs available only in its IPA variety 12-pack: Point Spruce Tip IPA, sweetened with Colorado blue spruce tips; Point Peach Mango IPA, a lively, fruity ale; Point White IPA, a golden brew flavored with Japanese Sorachi Ace hops; and Point One Shot IPA, a series of limited-edition brews featuring different hop varieties and malts in each batch.

The brewery’s year-round products include the Whole Hog Limited Edition “big beers:” Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale, Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale and Whole Hog Scotch Ale. Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale is a fall seasonal. Point also brews four unique and flavorful James Page specialty beers available only in convenient 12-ounce cans: A Cappella Gluten-free Pale Ale, Casper White Stout, Yhaba Dhaba Chai Tea Porter and Ould Sod Irish Red Ale.

In addition to Point Premium Root Beer, Point’s gourmet soda lineup also produces Point Premium Diet Root Beer, Point Premium Orange Cream, Point Premium Vanilla Cream and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda.

For more information about the Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, visit www.pointbeer.com or call (715) 344-9310. Tours of the brewery are available, with schedules listed on the Web site.