Stevens Point Brewery boosts production of seasonal ale to meet demand

(Stevens Point, WI) – October 4, 2010 – Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale proved so popular when it was introduced last fall that Stevens Point Brewery tripled production this year to meet the growing demand.

Even so, the bold, spicy seasonal brew will only be available while supplies last. In 2009, that was not long, according to Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner.

“Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale’s introduction last fall was a big success for us. This year we wanted to make sure craft-beer consumers are able to enjoy Whole Hog Pumpkin for Halloween to Thanksgiving and beyond, so we greatly increased our production,” Martino said. “We made the right move because sales so far have been brisk. It’s fall and pumpkin-beer fans want their Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.”

Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale, available now in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles in Stevens Point Brewery’s core Midwest markets, is the first seasonal specialty beer in the brewery’s Whole Hog Limited Release Specialty Brews series, which comprise ‘big beers’ brewed specifically for craft-beer aficionados. When it comes to fall seasonal beers, pumpkin beers are a close second behind Oktoberfest lagers, Martino reported. Seasonal beers collectively continue to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. craft-beer market, he added.

Brewing Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale
Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale is brewed using real pumpkin puree and Munich, caramel and roasted malts. The pumpkin puree is added to the mash at the beginning of the brewing process. But it is the spices, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger that really define the beer’s character. The spices are carefully added at three key points during the brewing process: to the mash, to the wort just before the boil and to the finished beer after fermentation. The result is a very bold, spicy beer with a body “big” enough to handle all of the spices, according to Ken Carlson, Stevens Point Brewery Director of Brewing.

“The spices and malts complement each other while the hops balance the sweetness of the malt and pumpkin,” he said. “Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale is a great accompaniment for a hearty meal, and it is an excellent after-dinner or dessert beer. It is a very unique beer. Here at the Stevens Point Brewery, we love brewing it and we love sampling the final product.”

Point’s handcrafted specialty beers
The Whole Hog Brewmaster’s Series limited-release brews represent the epitome of the brewmaster’s art. They are handcrafted in small batches to appeal to the most discerning craftbeer aficionados and round out the Stevens Point Brewery’s specialty portfolio.

In addition to Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale, the Whole Hog beers include Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale, an India Pale Ale brewed with six varieties of hops from the Pacific Northwest; Whole Hog Imperial Pilsner, a hoppy, traditional German-style pilsner; Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, a strong English stout; and the recently introduced Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, a Belgian-style ale with a hint of raspberry flavor.

Point’s other 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, an American-style brown ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager. Seasonal specialty brands are Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall; Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, Belgian abbey-style ale available from November through February; Point Einbock, a German Maibock-style lager for the spring; and Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, a refreshing, award-winning unfiltered wheat ale.

Stevens Point Brewery also brews the James Page specialty beers, including Iron Range Amber Lager, Burly Brown Ale, Voyageur Extra Pale Ale and White Ox Wheat Ale.
In addition to award-winning beers, Stevens Point Brewery produces gourmet sodas, including Point Premium Root Beer, 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.