Stevens Point Introduces Point Beyond the Pale India Pale Ale

(STEVENS POINT,Wis.) – You’ll find happiness with your first taste of Point Beyond the Pale India Pale Ale, the newest entry in Stevens Point Brewery’s lineup of handcrafted year-round and seasonal specialty beers. Generously hopped with Galaxy, Simcoe and Cascade hops, Point Beyond the Pale IPA is being introduced in 6-packs of 12-ounce bottles and on draft wherever Point beers are sold.

“Hops are front and center with India pale ales, and Point Beyond the Pale IPA is sure to please even the most discerning hopheads in the craft-beer world,” said Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner. “India pale ale is arguably the most popular craft-beer style in the United States, so it is a natural addition to our selection of year-round craft beers.”

At the annual Great American Beer Festival®, the nation’s largest beer event, the American-style India Pale Ale category has attracted the most entries each year since 2001. There were more than 200 entries in 2012. In addition, a recent beer industry report noted that IPA is now the fastest growing craft beer style in America’s restaurants, bars and taverns with a 39 percent increase in overall on-premise sales last year.

Evolved from the English pale ales of the 18th and 19th centuries, India pale ales were originally brewed with higher alcohol contents and ample hops so the beer could better withstand the rigors of the long sea voyage from Britain to India.

Point Beyond the Pale IPA is a classic West Coast-style IPA heavily hopped with Galaxy, Simcoe and Cascade hops, according to Point Brewmaster Gabe Hopkins. Cascade hops are favored by craft brewers nationwide and the Simcoe variety is well-suited for brewing ales, but the Galaxy hops are the star of the show for Beyond the Pale IPA. Developed in Australia, Galaxy hops have the high alpha acid content craft brewers desire for brewing IPAs and pale ales.

“Hopheads will be delighted with Beyond the Pale IPA’s well-balanced hoppiness. It is a very aromatic beer offering strong notes of pine and citrus, and the hops remain in the forefront throughout its long finish,” Hopkins said. “And although Beyond the Pale IPA features a malt profile and body sturdy enough to support the large amount of hops, it is a perfect session India Pale Ale: smooth, drinkable and completely enjoyable.”

The two-row barley malt and crystal malts used in brewing Beyond the Pale IPA deliver its crisp, clean malt character as well as its distinctive color ­an inviting, deep golden, almost orange hue.

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their handcrafted beers. In addition to Beyond the Pale IPA, Point’s year-round handcrafted beers include flagship Point Special Lager, a premium American lager; Point 2012 Black Ale, a robust dark 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; Point Drop Dead Blonde Ale, a golden ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager.

Seasonal specialty brands include Three Kings Ale, a Kölsch-style beer available in the spring, Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall.

Point’s specialty beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series, “big beers” that represent the epitome of the brewmaster’s art, including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale, and seasonal offerings, Whole Hog Barley Wine-Style Ale, Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.

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 and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda. Point Premium Root Beer, made with pure cane sugar, natural vanilla and Wisconsin honey, was awarded a gold medal by the Beverage Testing Institute.

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