News/Press


Student Beer Delivery Takes Exciting University/Brewery Collaboration to the Next Educational Level
Thursday, June 11, 2015


    On May 1, UW-student-brewed #015 Inaugural Red was introduced on draught throughout the greater Madison area. The result of a landmark collaboration between the University of Wisconsin—Madison and Wisconsin Brewing Company (WBC), this endeavor gave students the opportunity to craft a recipe, source ingredients, consult with experts, create a beer and have it judged, with the students taking part in full-scale commercial brewing of the winning beer at WBC.

    Now, this incredible educational opportunity is taking the next big step forward. UW students Kara Hulce (an analytics team member for Inaugural Red) and Brian Cole (who was in the fermentation class that developed the beer) will be participating in the first deliveries of Inaugural Red in six-pack bottles to local retailers!

    “We are incredibly excited to welcome Kara and Brian along for the very first delivery of Inaugural Red,” said Carl Nolen, WBC president. “From the start, we crafted this educational experience to span the entire timeline of production and sales, from the recipe and brewing, all the way through labeling and packaging. Now that the beer is ready to go in bottled form, it’s time to take the next educational step: Understanding how Inaugural Red ends up on the shelves — literally.”
    The students will be participating in deliveries on Monday, June 15.

    “This collaboration starts with fermentation science, but it doesn’t end there,” said Jim Steele, professor in the Department of Food Science at the UW’s College of Agricultural & Life Sciences (CALS). “The educational experience transcends brewing and moves right into marketing and sales. Students from several departments here at the UW have already taken part. These retail deliveries are just another wonderful opportunity to gain insights that will be invaluable to them in the future.”
    “I always said this educational process is so fantastic, I’d love to bottle it. Well, I guess we have.” 

    Posted by Wisconsin Brewers Guild at 7:09 PM | 0 comments

Point Introduces New Czech-style Pilsner
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
    PUT A SMILE ON WITH POINT SMILEY BLUE PILS
    Point introduces new Czech-style pilsner


    STEVENS POINT, WIS. (June 2, 2015) – Craft beer lovers will be all smiles when they taste Point Smiley Blue Pils, the newest year-round brew from the Stevens Point Brewery.

    An authentic Czech-style pilsner, Smiley Blue Pils is now available for relaxation and refreshment in six-packs and 12-packs of 12 ounce longneck bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans wherever Point’s handcrafted beers are sold. Pilsner, or pils for short, is one of the world’s classic beer styles. Named for the famous Czech brewing town of Pilsen in Bohemia where the style was first brewed using bottom fermenting yeast in the mid-19th century, pilsners were the world’s first pale golden lagers. Pilsners are characterized by a fragrant hop aroma, a soft but sturdy body and a deliciously dry, hop-accented finish.

    “Pilsner is one of the most popular beer styles in the world and it makes perfect sense for Point to expand our offering with a handcrafted true pilsner beer like Smiley Blue Pils,” said Joe Martino, Point Brewery Operating Partner. “Our new Smiley Blue Pils is an excellent example of the pilsner style and Point fans will be all smiles when they taste it. We think it will quickly become a favorite.”

    Brewing Smiley Blue Pils

    Point Brewmaster Gabe Hopkins and his team of craft brewers brew Smiley Blue Pils with traditional pilsner malt and Saaz hops
    imported from the Czech Republic. The Saaz hops are a key ingredient for Czech-style pilsners, which tend to be hoppier than German-style pilsners. The Point team is generous with the Saaz hops when they brew Point Smiley Blue Pils, which is also dry hopped after fermentation to enhance its hoppiness.

    "The Saaz hops give Smiley Blue Pils a pleasant, peppery nose and a crisp dry finish,” said Hopkins. “It’s very well balanced and a satisfying, easy-to-drink session beer. It’s a great fit with the rest of our craft beers, and we are really proud of it.”

    Posted by Wisconsin Brewers Guild at 8:45 PM | 0 comments

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