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Classroom Meets Brewhouse in Innovative Collaboration Between UW-Madison and Wisconsin Brewing Company
Wednesday, January 28, 2015

    This spring semester, students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will have a new opportunity – and given its uniqueness and subject matter, there’s a good chance it will fill up in record time! The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Wisconsin Brewing Company are partnering to teach a Fermented Foods & Beverage laboratory class with real world applications.

    This groundbreaking semester-long program will combine classroom and laboratory study at the UW with on-site, hands- on brewing instruction at WBC, complete with guidance and insights from Kirby Nelson, WBC’s award-winning brewmaster and 30- year veteran of the beer industry. Through this unique partnership of industry and education, students will enjoy the dual benefits of enhancing their learning experience and putting their skills to the test, via a real-world commercial-scale brewing environment. A highlight of the course: Student groups will have the opportunity to develop their own Red Lager recipe, brew it on the Babcock Hall pilot brewery, and then have it judged by a group of industry experts. The best Red Lager will then be brewed on a commercial scale by Kirby at WBC and should be on sale this spring.

    “We’ve conducted courses in fermentation science for some time now, but the opportunity to complement our lab-based programs with actual, practical applications in the field adds a whole new dimension,” said Jim Steele, professor in the Department of Food Science in CALS. “It’s a really amazing opportunity, for both students and CALS.”

    “We are incredibly excited to collaborate with the University of Wisconsin on this new program,” said Carl Nolen, president of Wisconsin Brewing Company (WBC). “The folks at WBC have a passion for the Badger State’s rich brewing tradition. Beer is an integral part of Wisconsin’s history, woven into our fabric of life, and we want to see that heritage continue to grow and thrive. And we couldn’t imagine a better way to inspire new generations than combining our brewing experience, expertise and facilities with the exceptional minds and laboratories of the UW.”

    “It’s a win-win for students, CALS, WBC — and future generations of Wisconsin beer-drinkers.”

    Posted by Wisconsin Brewers Guild at 9:32 AM | 0 comments
Badger State Brewing Co. Wins Silver Medal at the 2015 World Beer Championships

    GREEN BAY - Jan. 22, 2015 - Badger State Brewing Co. won a Silver Medal for its Dubious Ruffian Chocolate Stout in the Flavored Stout category at the 2015 World Beer Championships on Jan. 10 in Chicago, Ill.

    The World Beer Championships are an on-going blind tasting competition throughout the year conducted by the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) of Chicago. The competition includes beers from breweries around the world including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the United States.

    The Dubious Ruffian Stout received a “highly recommended” rating of 85 out of 100 points. A full review of the beer can be found at http://www.tastings.com/scout_beer.lasso?id=209353. This marks the eighth award Badger State Brewing Co. has received since opening in late 2013.

    Posted by Wisconsin Brewers Guild at 9:22 AM | 0 comments
Winter Carnival at Door County Brewing Co.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
CAPITAL BREWERY CELEBRATES 18TH ANNUAL BOCKFEST


    CAPITAL BREWERY CELEBRATES THEIR 18TH ANNUAL BOCKFEST
    TICKETS GO ON SALE SATURDAY, JANUARY 17th

    The event that thousands of people look forward to every February to cure their cabin fever....Capital Brewery Bockfest 2015.... a one of a kind, not to be missed, winter mardi gras type event held at the Capital Brewery Bier Garden in Middleton, Wisconsin!

    Bockfest 2015 will feature Capital Brewery beer, fun, great food, costumes, live music, and the annual Running of the Blondes 1K Race. A must see if you can’t make it to the Boston Marathon. Music will be provided by Hello Weekend.

    Featured food vendors include Capital Tap Haus and Middleton BBQ. Special this year, Sassy Cow Ice Cream made with Capital Brewery limited release beers also will be available. All Bockfest information can be found at www.CapitalBrewery.com.

    Tickets for this legendary event are limited. They will be available for purchase on Saturday, January 17th, 2015, at 9:00 am, and will go quick! Ticket outlets include the Capital Brewery Gift Haus, Capital Tap Haus, Steve’s Liquor locations (McKee Rd, Junction Rd. & University Ave), and Star Liquor on Willy Street. Tickets are $15 each with a limit of 4 tickets per person (cash only). New this year, a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase online beginning Monday, Jan. 19th! Please visit our website www.CapitalBrewery.com for more information. Must be 21 years of age or over to purchase tickets and/or attend event. A valid ID will be required for retail ticket purchases or pick-up. Show will go on rain, snow or shine!

    Bockfest tickets are good for entrance (11am - Noon) and ticket holders will receive a 22oz commemorative Bockfest 2015 beer drinking mug. After 12 noon Capital Brewery will allow the general public in with paid admission at the gate (cash only), subject to crowd limitations.

    Capital has again partnered with local hotels including Country Inn & Suites, Staybridge Suites, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, and Hilton Garden Inn. These hotels will offer two tickets to Bockfest 2015 included with a room rental for the weekend of February 27-29. Visit our Bockfest page on capitalbrewery.com for direct links to hotels. Go to www.VisitMiddleton.com for additional lodging and restaurant information.

    Founded on March 14, 1984, Capital brewed its first batch of beer in the spring of 1986. The company has received over 200 major awards in both domestic and international competitions in over 15 categories, and Wisconsin Amber has been available in cans since 1997. Capital was named Grand National Champion in the 2013 US Open Beer Championship, winning six medals.

    ‘Capital Brewery’, ‘Wisconsin Amber’, ‘Supper Club’, and ‘Winter Skal’ are registered trademarks of Capital Brewery Company, Incorporated. ‘Capital Blonde Doppelbock’, ‘Capital Maibock’, ‘Mutiny IPA’, ‘Ghost Ship’, ‘Capital Bockfest’, and ‘Running of the Blondes’ are trademarks of Capital Brewery Company, Incorporated.
    Contact:
    Cynd Pisani - Director of Marketing & Special Events Capital Brewery
    7734 Terrace Ave
    Middleton, WI 53562
    608.826.1081 

    Posted by Wisconsin Brewers Guild at 9:44 AM | 0 comments
POINT BOCK IS BACK!
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
    Seasonal favorite returns to Wisconsin on draft only until spring

    STEVENS POINT, Wis. (January 13, 2015) – Point Bock has returned to the Badger State for the winter of 2015.

    Eagerly anticipated by bock beer fans each January for decades, the malty seasonal brew is available now on draft only in select Wisconsin markets through March while supplies last. Click here for a list of accounts in the Stevens Point area.

    Point Bock’s origins can be traced back to 1938. Point resurrected the rich, dark amber German-style bock beer just for Wisconsin after Point Brewmaster Gabe Hopkins dusted off an old recipe from the late 1980s that he found in the brewery’s archives. A retro tap handle crowned by a vintage Point Bock logo featuring a goat’s head – "bock" means billy goat in German – supports the reintroduction of the handcrafted brew in Wisconsin bars, taverns and restaurants.

    Hopkins and his brewing team brew Point Bock using traditional German-style ingredients, including two-row and caramel barley malts and Tettnang hops imported from Bavaria. "Point Bock is a hearty brew, very malty and sweet with a big body," Hopkins said. "Smooth and easy to drink, it’s a perfect cold-weather beer that pairs well with hearty fare like roast beef."

    The Bock Beer Tradition
    Bock is a centuries-old style of German lager beer, traditionally brewed each year in winter for consumption starting in the early spring. German immigrants who flocked to the America in the mid-19th century brought with them their taste for bock beer and the knowledge to brew it, according to Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner.

    "Point Bock was a craft beer long before there was a craft beer market in the United States," Martino said. "It was an easy decision to bring Point Bock back because it’s a perfect fit for the contemporary craft-beer market, which continues to grow."

    Point Bock is also a tradition for running enthusiasts in central Wisconsin, sponsoring the first Point Bock Run in 1982. The 2015 Point Bock Run is scheduled for Saturday, March 7. The 5-mile road race, limited to the first 2,000 runners (registration is closed), starts and finished at the Point Brewery and crosses the nearby Wisconsin River twice.

    Where to find Point Bock draft Point Bock is available primarily in Stevens Point Brewery’s core markets in central Wisconsin, with some distribution in the Milwaukee and Madison metro areas.

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

    Posted by D.L.Schiller at 3:25 PM | 0 comments
Froth Newsletter: Winter 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
Point Brewery New Year's Resolution: Keep On Growing
Thursday, January 8, 2015
    Leading craft brewer makes it a point to add jobs, expand again in 2015

    STEVENS POINT, Wis. January 7, 2015 – Following another year of solid growth in 2014, in 2015 the Stevens Point Brewery will create more new jobs and invest $1.5 million in brewery renovations and upgrades to improve quality and help production keep up with consumer demand.

    The improvements include a new can filler, new brewing and quality control equipment such as a 300-barrel bright beer tank used for conditioning beer, and renovations to the brewery's popular gift shop. The brewery also plans to hire two more salespeople and another quality control technician, according to Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner.

    "We enjoyed another successful year in 2014 as our production volume was up double digits, with particularly strong sales of our Ciderboys hard ciders," Martino reported. "Investing in our people and infrastructure to ensure our production capacity keeps up with consumer demand is a key ingredient in our recipe for continued growth. We are looking forward to another exciting year for our brewery"

    Work on the gift shop renovation as well as improvements in other areas of the brewery will begin in January. The projects will conclude in May with the installation and startup of the new can filler just in time for summer, the beer industry's peak season for sales. The can filler will greatly expand Point's can-packaging capabilities, especially for 16-ounce cans, which represent one of the hottest packaging trends in the craft beer market. The brewery's current 16-ounce can packages include Point Special Lager's popular "Big Charlie" 16-ounce can and the summer seasonal, Nude Beach 16-ounce can.

    "We expect more and more craft beer lovers to embrace can packages and we want to be able to offer the widest possible range of packaging choices for our loyal fans," Martino said. "The new can filler is the right piece of new equipment at the right time."

    This year marks the sixth consecutive year of major expansions at the Point Brewery. Between 2010 and 2014 the brewery invested more than $7 million, including $1.5 million last year for electrical and cooling systems upgrades, bottle filler upgrades and more new unitanks for fermenting and aging beer. And 2015 is the second year in a row the brewery has created jobs: last year it added 10 new positions, including six in its busy packaging department.

    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 its 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. The brewery's year-round lineup features 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 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 the IPA variety 12-pack: Point Spruce Tip IPA, Point Peach Mango IPA, Point White IPA and Point One Shot IPA.

    Year-round products also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition "big beers:" Whole Hog Espresso Stout, Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale and Whole Hog Scotch Ale. Whole Hog seasonal portfolio includes Whole Hog Barley Wine, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.

    The brewery's seasonal products include Point St. Benedict's Winter Ale, a rich, dark beer available from November through February; Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall; Point Coast Radler, a thirst-quenching mix of beer and natural citrus flavors for the summer; and Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, a refreshing, award-winning unfiltered wheat ale.

    Point also brews four unique James Page specialty beers sold 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.

    Point's Ciderboys Cider Co. hard ciders blend unexpected fresh fruit flavors with apple cider. Ciderboys' year-round products are First Press, a traditional hard cider; Strawberry Magic, a blend of fresh strawberries and apple cider. Ciderboys seasonal portfolio includes Raspberry Smash, alive with the tartness of raspberries; Peach County, which combines pure peach flavor with apple; Pineapple Hula, made with fresh Hawaiian pineapple; Cranberry Road, a pairing of apple cider and cranberries; Grand Mimosa, which unites the tart crispness of ruby red apples with the fresh sweetness of succulent oranges; and Mad Bark, made with natural cinnamon for the winter.

    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, Point Kitty Cocktail and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda.

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

    Posted by D.L.Schiller at 1:58 PM | 0 comments

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