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MidwestMicroBrews -- contact@midwestmicrobrews.com |
| MidwestMicroBrews' Midwest Beer Reviews! |
Stevens Point Brewery - Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Three Kings Ale
The newest addition to the seasonal portfolio of Wisconsin’s Steven Point Brewery is their Three
Kings Ale, a Kölsch. Available from February 1st through the end of May, it’s available in six
and 12 packs of bottles, 12-packs of bottles and on draught at bars and restaurants.
We sampled this brew on a cold Wisconsin night, and it made us yearn for the warmer days
ahead.
Being fans of the can, we sampled it this way. Three Kings Ale pours a beautiful pale gold with a
delicate white head which didn’t stick around too long. Aromas of pear, apple and cherry are
most apparent. Subtle wafts of noble hops are also present. It’s really quite lovely. Nothing
overpowering here… just as a Kölsch should smell.
The mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with an appropriate amount of carbonation to allow the
flavors of light malts, sweet fruits and just a hint of hoppy bitterness to waltz across the palate.
The finish is relatively clean with a refreshing tanginess at the tail end.
Kölsch isn’t a style that necessarily gets a whole lot of attention from a craft beer community
that tends to glorify big, bold beers but ignores the classic styles that are the foundation of the
beer world that we now know and love. That’s a real shame. Just as there is a place for a
Russian Imperial Stout or Triple IPA, there is also one for the Pilsener, the Düsseldorf Altbier,
and the Kölsch.
Kölsch is one of those styles that is the perfect sessionable (Three Kings weighs in just under 5% ABV) lawnmower beers. As Winter turns
to Spring, turn to a Kölsch. If you’re unfamiliar with the style, Point’s Three Kings Ale is a very nice place to start. Crisp, clean and very
refreshing, it’s the perfect beer for a day spent at the park, on the boat or doing nothing at all. We recommend this one wholeheartedly.
2012 Black Ale
Appearance - Dark brown and translucent, with a nice medium-tan head that left some delicate lacing. It was noted that the
appearance was similar to a Coca-Cola.
Smell - Light aromas of fig, fresh raspberries, roasted cashews and delicate smoke.
Taste - The rich roastiness is first noticed, then flavors of dark berries, chicory, dates and molasses emerge.
Feel - Lighter than what you might expect from a beer that is most related to a schwarzbier. The crisp -- but not thin -- feel on the palate
was quite nice.
Finish - Crisp and clean, leaving just a hint of sweet smoked malt to linger.
Overall Impression - Another really nice session beer from Point. If you are looking for a big hearty schwarzbier, this isn't for you.
Check out something from their Whole Hog Limited Release Series. If you want a simpler, lighter, refreshing ale that delivers all of
the taste of a schwarzbier or rauchbier but without the heaviness, you'll be happy you opened this. Another great addition from Point!
Burly Brown American Brown Ale
The always-great Stevens Point Brewery has added a new beer to their year-round lineup: Burly Brown American Brown Ale. It started
hitting store shelves and bar-taps at the beginning of the month.
A classic American Brown Ale, Burly Brown packs a bit more of a punch than an English version of a Brown Ale. It has a stronger hop
presence and a maltier backbone than its brethren across the pond.
That said, Burly Brown is not a big beer. It doesn’t overwhelm the senses. It is an American Brown: it shouldn’t. What it is, is a very
drinkable beer with a nice aroma and pleasant taste, feel, and finish. It’s a beer that you could drink all night.
The MidwestMicroBrews roundtable got together and cracked open a few bottles. Here are the specs…
Appearance - Translucent copper/brown with an auburn hue that reveals itself in direct light. The medium/thin head had decent
retention.
Smell - Aromas of roasted nuts, caramel, and fresh raisin-bread. A slight waft of hops is also present.
Taste - Very pleasant taste. Notes of caramel, toasted almonds and sweet breads. Flavors of light smoke - like a campfire - are also there.
Feel - I’m not going to say thin, but it is definitely light. Crisp on the palate. Medium carbonation.
Finish - Very clean finish with just a hint of lingering spice and hop bitterness.
Overall Impression - Point Brewery seems to have taken its inspiration for Burly Brown from another great Wisconsin American Brown
Ale: Fat Squirrel from New Glarus Brewing. Like that beer, Burly Brown is a brew suited for those of us who live in the world of craft
beer, as well as for those who are just visiting. Definitely worth trying.
St. Benedict's Winter Ale
The folks at Point Brewery kindly sent us a twelve-pack of this, their new seasonal. Well, not TOO new. St. Benedict's Winter Ale made its
debut last year around this time. It proved so popular last year that they doubled production, started selling it in 12-packs as well as 6-
packs, and expanded distribution into five new states. Last year, they sold St. Benedict's in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. This year, it can
also be found in Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
John Zappa, Point's Brewmaster, tells us, “We use traditional abbey-ale ingredients, including a highly kilned dark malt, a two-row dark
chocolate malt and even a two-row pilsener-style pale malt. Together these impart a smooth, well-balanced maltiness to this beer. St.
Benedict’s Winter Ale is top-fermented with a special Belgian ale yeast, and we cellar-condition it at the brewery. The end result is a dark
reddish-brown ale rich in flavor accented by hints of dark chocolate.”
Appearance - Translucent, ruby to crimson in color, very effervescent giving off a solid off-white head which clings well and holds on
throughout.
Smell - Unexpectedly fruity like a Belgian-style dubbel. Aromas of raisins, fig, nutmeg, clove and yeast. Almost like the smell of a
Christmas fruitcake.
Taste - Subtle sweetness, even a bit tart. Tastes of spice, sweet chocolate, cranberry, and light malts. Only a bit of hop bitterness to it.
Feel - Very light bodied, almost thin. The mixture of malts that Zappa uses definitely allow for a respectable amount of taste without
being overwhelming in feel. Different from what we expected, but pleasantly so.
Finish - Continual carbonation continued throughout, keeping it crisp on the finish, with just a hint of toasted malt remaining.
Overall Impression - Unlike many bold winter-style ales, St. Benedict is aiming to be a session beer, or a beginner's winter ale. It has a
warmth (about 6% ABV we'd guess since it isn't labeled) lower than most. The smell is milder. The taste is weaker. The feel is thinner.
The finish is crisper. While others are a thick down-filled blanket, St. Benedict is a flannel sheet. It may not satisfy the palate of fans of
beers that are big and bold, but for most St. Benedict is a nice guest to have over on a cold winter night.
Notes from the Newbie - by Patrick
"I've been away Lloyd, but now I'm back!"
After a temporary lapse and a return to vodka, a brief period of detoxification, and far too many sleepless nights, it was time once again to
dust off the sampling glasses and get back to good old fashion crafted brews. And how refreshing it is!
On this particular night, the team from MidwestMicrobrews sat down to focus all of our efforts on one brew in particular: Point's St.
Benedict's Winter Ale. The beer had a nice reddish color to it and was a bit effervescent (you'll notice I no longer say "bubbly"). It had a
strong aroma that, due to a limited vocabulary, I can only describe as "layered." Different aspects of it reached me differently... certain
aromas filled my nose while others kicked the back of the throat.
Whenever possible, I make every effort to sample a beer BEFORE knowing the name or reading the label. Knowing too much in advance
can cause me to intentionally seek out certain aspects, and I like to get a fair representation prior to getting information. That said, upon
initial tasting my first reaction was "I could see drinking this on a cold night, sitting by the fire..." Boy was my face red when I learned the
name of the brew. So Point succeeded, in my opinion, in getting the TASTE it wanted.
My only complaint with this beer is that, much like the lead singer of Nickelback can't decide if he is a tough man trying to be sensitive or
a wuss trying to be a bad-ass, this beer seems to be unsure if it wants to be light or heavy. It's stuck between the two. It was much thinner
than I would expect a winter ale to be, and I found that to be rather unfortunate. I like my winter ales like I like my women: heavy.
Having said that, however, if you are a light beer drinker trying to get into something a little bolder, this could be the stepping stone you
need.
Slainte!
Pat
Three Kings Ale
The newest addition to the seasonal portfolio of Wisconsin’s Steven Point Brewery is their Three
Kings Ale, a Kölsch. Available from February 1st through the end of May, it’s available in six
and 12 packs of bottles, 12-packs of bottles and on draught at bars and restaurants.
We sampled this brew on a cold Wisconsin night, and it made us yearn for the warmer days
ahead.
Being fans of the can, we sampled it this way. Three Kings Ale pours a beautiful pale gold with a
delicate white head which didn’t stick around too long. Aromas of pear, apple and cherry are
most apparent. Subtle wafts of noble hops are also present. It’s really quite lovely. Nothing
overpowering here… just as a Kölsch should smell.
The mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with an appropriate amount of carbonation to allow the
flavors of light malts, sweet fruits and just a hint of hoppy bitterness to waltz across the palate.
The finish is relatively clean with a refreshing tanginess at the tail end.
Kölsch isn’t a style that necessarily gets a whole lot of attention from a craft beer community
that tends to glorify big, bold beers but ignores the classic styles that are the foundation of the
beer world that we now know and love. That’s a real shame. Just as there is a place for a
Russian Imperial Stout or Triple IPA, there is also one for the Pilsener, the Düsseldorf Altbier,
and the Kölsch.
Kölsch is one of those styles that is the perfect sessionable (Three Kings weighs in just under 5% ABV) lawnmower beers. As Winter turns
to Spring, turn to a Kölsch. If you’re unfamiliar with the style, Point’s Three Kings Ale is a very nice place to start. Crisp, clean and very
refreshing, it’s the perfect beer for a day spent at the park, on the boat or doing nothing at all. We recommend this one wholeheartedly.
2012 Black Ale
Appearance - Dark brown and translucent, with a nice medium-tan head that left some delicate lacing. It was noted that the
appearance was similar to a Coca-Cola.
Smell - Light aromas of fig, fresh raspberries, roasted cashews and delicate smoke.
Taste - The rich roastiness is first noticed, then flavors of dark berries, chicory, dates and molasses emerge.
Feel - Lighter than what you might expect from a beer that is most related to a schwarzbier. The crisp -- but not thin -- feel on the palate
was quite nice.
Finish - Crisp and clean, leaving just a hint of sweet smoked malt to linger.
Overall Impression - Another really nice session beer from Point. If you are looking for a big hearty schwarzbier, this isn't for you.
Check out something from their Whole Hog Limited Release Series. If you want a simpler, lighter, refreshing ale that delivers all of
the taste of a schwarzbier or rauchbier but without the heaviness, you'll be happy you opened this. Another great addition from Point!
Burly Brown American Brown Ale
The always-great Stevens Point Brewery has added a new beer to their year-round lineup: Burly Brown American Brown Ale. It started
hitting store shelves and bar-taps at the beginning of the month.
A classic American Brown Ale, Burly Brown packs a bit more of a punch than an English version of a Brown Ale. It has a stronger hop
presence and a maltier backbone than its brethren across the pond.
That said, Burly Brown is not a big beer. It doesn’t overwhelm the senses. It is an American Brown: it shouldn’t. What it is, is a very
drinkable beer with a nice aroma and pleasant taste, feel, and finish. It’s a beer that you could drink all night.
The MidwestMicroBrews roundtable got together and cracked open a few bottles. Here are the specs…
Appearance - Translucent copper/brown with an auburn hue that reveals itself in direct light. The medium/thin head had decent
retention.
Smell - Aromas of roasted nuts, caramel, and fresh raisin-bread. A slight waft of hops is also present.
Taste - Very pleasant taste. Notes of caramel, toasted almonds and sweet breads. Flavors of light smoke - like a campfire - are also there.
Feel - I’m not going to say thin, but it is definitely light. Crisp on the palate. Medium carbonation.
Finish - Very clean finish with just a hint of lingering spice and hop bitterness.
Overall Impression - Point Brewery seems to have taken its inspiration for Burly Brown from another great Wisconsin American Brown
Ale: Fat Squirrel from New Glarus Brewing. Like that beer, Burly Brown is a brew suited for those of us who live in the world of craft
beer, as well as for those who are just visiting. Definitely worth trying.
St. Benedict's Winter Ale
The folks at Point Brewery kindly sent us a twelve-pack of this, their new seasonal. Well, not TOO new. St. Benedict's Winter Ale made its
debut last year around this time. It proved so popular last year that they doubled production, started selling it in 12-packs as well as 6-
packs, and expanded distribution into five new states. Last year, they sold St. Benedict's in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. This year, it can
also be found in Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
John Zappa, Point's Brewmaster, tells us, “We use traditional abbey-ale ingredients, including a highly kilned dark malt, a two-row dark
chocolate malt and even a two-row pilsener-style pale malt. Together these impart a smooth, well-balanced maltiness to this beer. St.
Benedict’s Winter Ale is top-fermented with a special Belgian ale yeast, and we cellar-condition it at the brewery. The end result is a dark
reddish-brown ale rich in flavor accented by hints of dark chocolate.”
Appearance - Translucent, ruby to crimson in color, very effervescent giving off a solid off-white head which clings well and holds on
throughout.
Smell - Unexpectedly fruity like a Belgian-style dubbel. Aromas of raisins, fig, nutmeg, clove and yeast. Almost like the smell of a
Christmas fruitcake.
Taste - Subtle sweetness, even a bit tart. Tastes of spice, sweet chocolate, cranberry, and light malts. Only a bit of hop bitterness to it.
Feel - Very light bodied, almost thin. The mixture of malts that Zappa uses definitely allow for a respectable amount of taste without
being overwhelming in feel. Different from what we expected, but pleasantly so.
Finish - Continual carbonation continued throughout, keeping it crisp on the finish, with just a hint of toasted malt remaining.
Overall Impression - Unlike many bold winter-style ales, St. Benedict is aiming to be a session beer, or a beginner's winter ale. It has a
warmth (about 6% ABV we'd guess since it isn't labeled) lower than most. The smell is milder. The taste is weaker. The feel is thinner.
The finish is crisper. While others are a thick down-filled blanket, St. Benedict is a flannel sheet. It may not satisfy the palate of fans of
beers that are big and bold, but for most St. Benedict is a nice guest to have over on a cold winter night.
Notes from the Newbie - by Patrick
"I've been away Lloyd, but now I'm back!"
After a temporary lapse and a return to vodka, a brief period of detoxification, and far too many sleepless nights, it was time once again to
dust off the sampling glasses and get back to good old fashion crafted brews. And how refreshing it is!
On this particular night, the team from MidwestMicrobrews sat down to focus all of our efforts on one brew in particular: Point's St.
Benedict's Winter Ale. The beer had a nice reddish color to it and was a bit effervescent (you'll notice I no longer say "bubbly"). It had a
strong aroma that, due to a limited vocabulary, I can only describe as "layered." Different aspects of it reached me differently... certain
aromas filled my nose while others kicked the back of the throat.
Whenever possible, I make every effort to sample a beer BEFORE knowing the name or reading the label. Knowing too much in advance
can cause me to intentionally seek out certain aspects, and I like to get a fair representation prior to getting information. That said, upon
initial tasting my first reaction was "I could see drinking this on a cold night, sitting by the fire..." Boy was my face red when I learned the
name of the brew. So Point succeeded, in my opinion, in getting the TASTE it wanted.
My only complaint with this beer is that, much like the lead singer of Nickelback can't decide if he is a tough man trying to be sensitive or
a wuss trying to be a bad-ass, this beer seems to be unsure if it wants to be light or heavy. It's stuck between the two. It was much thinner
than I would expect a winter ale to be, and I found that to be rather unfortunate. I like my winter ales like I like my women: heavy.
Having said that, however, if you are a light beer drinker trying to get into something a little bolder, this could be the stepping stone you
need.
Slainte!
Pat
Read more MidwestMicroBrews Reviews... Arbor Brewing Company - Ann Arbor, Michigan Capital Brewery - Middleton, Wisconsin Central Waters Brewing Company - Amherst, Wisconsin Copper Canyon Brewery - Southfield, Michigan Detroit Beer Company - Detroit, Michigan Firestone Walker Brewing Company - Paso Robales, California Goose Island Brewing Company - Chicago, Illinois Grumpy Troll Brewpub - Mount Horeb, Wisconsin Herkimer Pub & Brewery - Minneapolis, Minnesota Onion Pub & Brewery - Lake Barrington, Illinois Round Barn Brewery - Baroda, Michigan Shmaltz Brewing Company - Brooklyn, New York Short's Brewing Company - Bellaire, Michigan Sprecher Brewing Company - Glendale, Wisconsin Stevens Point Brewery - Stevens Point, Wisconsin Stone Cellar Brewpub - Appleton, Wisconsin Summit Brewing Company - St. Paul, Minnesota Sun King Brewing Company - Indianapolis, Indiana Titletown Brewing Company - Green Bay, Wisconsin Upland Brewing Company - Bloomington, Indiana |
Nude Beach Summer Wheat
As we move into the summer, it's time for many of us to put the stouts and barleywines of winter
into the cellar and start cracking into the summer seasonals.
One of the most ubiquitous around the Midwest is Nude Beach Summer Ale from Wisconsin's
Stevens Point Brewery.
It pours from the bottle hazy gold with a thin crisp white head of foam that quickly subsides.
Aromas of grass, fresh-cut wheat, coriander, warm bread and mild hops are noticed. Tastes of
sweet malts, freshly baked bread and grassy hops emerge on the palate. Fresh and herbal with a
thin mouthfeel & high level of carbonation, it leaves a sweet tang on the finish.
Well-balanced and very refreshing, Nude Beach -- like most beers of this style -- doesn't offer
much in the way of complexity. For a summer wheat ale, it's fine. There are better examples out
there, Point's offering isn't anything to be ashamed of... and at 6-8 dollars for a six-pack in most
places, it's a fine choice for a picnic, baseball game or as an after-workout quaffer.
As we move into the summer, it's time for many of us to put the stouts and barleywines of winter
into the cellar and start cracking into the summer seasonals.
One of the most ubiquitous around the Midwest is Nude Beach Summer Ale from Wisconsin's
Stevens Point Brewery.
It pours from the bottle hazy gold with a thin crisp white head of foam that quickly subsides.
Aromas of grass, fresh-cut wheat, coriander, warm bread and mild hops are noticed. Tastes of
sweet malts, freshly baked bread and grassy hops emerge on the palate. Fresh and herbal with a
thin mouthfeel & high level of carbonation, it leaves a sweet tang on the finish.
Well-balanced and very refreshing, Nude Beach -- like most beers of this style -- doesn't offer
much in the way of complexity. For a summer wheat ale, it's fine. There are better examples out
there, Point's offering isn't anything to be ashamed of... and at 6-8 dollars for a six-pack in most
places, it's a fine choice for a picnic, baseball game or as an after-workout quaffer.