Steven's Point Brewing

[Redbird Fan]

Last weekend I tried Steven's Point Special (lager) - WOW! is this stuff bad.


"Skillfully brewed since 1857, Point Special Lager is a well-balanced, full-bodied premium beer. Highly praised for its pleasant hop aroma and smooth, hearty flavor, Point Special is made from nature's finest ingredients, including the highest grade barley, hops and pure Wisconsin water.
Introduced: 1857
Availability: Year Round
Malts: Select Brewers Grains
Hops: Yakima Hops

Suggested Pairings: Hamburgers, steaks, southwestern cuisine and anything off the BBQ."
(taken from their website)

Steven's Point Brewing (http://www.pointbeer.com/point_special.php)

Have you guys ever had this stuff?

I still have a bottle of Steven's Point Spring Bock, and frankly I'm scared to try it. The lager smelled bad, and tasted worse. It's hard to believe this brew is "an award winner."

Last weekend I picked up a 6 pack of my own mix-and-match brews; good way to go when you want to check something out (so you don't end up with a 6 pack of Schlitz wanna-be).

[b3s]

being from wisconsin i can only say that point beer is one of the few beers that makes old milwaukee taste good.

that said, their oktoberfest beers, which have about a six week run and you almost have to be married to an employee to get anymore, are not bad at all. basically covers september and october.

yeah...point beer was what we drank in college when we couldn't afford old milwaukee river...you counted out the change in the couch and pooled together, bought a case, and made ugly faces alnight long...and that was back in 1986! :)

[Bman]

back in the day-my buddy whould bring me 6 packs from WI to St.Louis-could only get it near the brewery-but I have not had one in a while-I do not remember it being bad.

I though they were bought out by Miller?

[Redbird Fan]

could be - I noticed this weekend several liquor stores had it on sale, it's like all of a sudden their beer just hit our market; 6-packs for $4.99 - (and not worth that).

[chazwicke]

Just a small reginal that has been around a long time and survived the 60s and 70s. They used to make a bock every year. Can't vouch for their beer because it has been decades since I tasted it. The metallic blue cans were kinda nice looking. I think it was Leinenkugels, another regional, that was bought by Miller. Leine's makes some decent beer and some crap. Nice brewery tour. Walters in Eau Claire was fun to visit. They had a tap in the wall over a sink and you could help your self to a brew. They bit the dust some years ago. Straub Brewery in St. Marys PA had a similar set up. A tap in the wall and a sink. You could drink all you wanted but you had to wash your own glass when you were done.

[hops99]

I toured the Stevens Point Brewery a few summers ago, on my way back from a vacation in Wisconsin's Northwoods. The tour was actually one of the most interesting I've ever been on - mainly because of the history of the place. It's also cool to realize that they survived, as someone else pointed out, through the 60's, 70's and 80's, while all of the other regionals were dropping like flies. It's especially impressive if you've ever been to Stevens Point - a nothing town in the middle of nowhere in Central Wisconsin. It's nothing short of a miracle, when you consider that their beer, in the past, was pretty awful (Wisconsin folk must be intensely loyal).

They introduced a line of "craft" beers a few years back, and their Pale Ale, believe it or not, is drinkable. Their bock, which has been around a long time, stinks, but if I'm up there in god's country, and I have a choice between a Bud and a Stevens Point brew, I'll take the Stevens Point brew every time, knowing that I'm helping the local economy. When in Rome...

[chazwicke]

I think that the NABA a Breweriania collectors organization is having their convention near there this summer. And I heartily agree, When in Rome...

[b3s]

have not tried their craft beers, but their normal beers *shudder* i'd rather drink warm goat urine with rabbit pellet garnish.

[davesarman]

I would say their Point beer is passable, their Point Light is worse yet, but their varieties of specialty beers are pretty good, especially the Pale Ale. Another thing I like about them is they have a good relationship with the community. They sponsor a beer festival with music, food, etc. The tour is great and nice people working there. My wife went to grad school in Stevens Point and it's definitely a college town! I think the bar-student ratio must be one of the highest in the country! Gotta love it!