Judges award two gold medals, two silvers and a bronze to Point products

For the City Times

What’s the best fruit beer brewed in the United States?

According to the Los Angeles International Beer Competition judges, it’s Siesta Key Citrus Pale Ale, which received the gold medal in 2016 competition’s American-Style Fruit Beer category. The judges also decided America’s best Blonde Ale comes from Stevens Point, too, and crowned Point Drop Dead Blonde Ale the gold medal winner in the Golden or Blonde Ale category.

In addition, Point Special Lager won the silver medal in the American-Style Lager, Light Lager or Premium Lager judging; the brewery’s Ciderboys Peach County hard cider received the silver in the Standard Cider & Perry category; and Point Classic Amber Lager earned the bronze in the American-style Amber Lager segment.

“Winning any medal in a well-regarded beer judging like the Los Angeles International Beer Competition is quite an honor when you consider that more than 1,000 beers from across the country were entered. To receive five medals, including two golds, is especially exciting for all us at the Stevens Point Brewery and for our loyal fans, too,” said Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Managing Partner. “These awards are more proof that Stevens Point Brewery brews some of the best craft beers in America.”

Gold medal winner Point Siesta Key Citrus Pale Ale wasintroduced just a few weeks ago at retail wherever Point brands are sold. An American-style pale ale available from April through August, Siesta Key is brewed with Vic Secret hops, a new variety developed in Australia’s Victoria state, and fresh grapefruit juice from Florida. Point’s brewers dry hop the ale twice during the brewing process for an inviting hops flavor and aroma.

Drop Dead Blonde Ale is brewed with Sterling hops from the Pacific Northwest. A blend of two-row barley malts provide Drop Dead Blonde Ale with its bright golden color and smooth, slightly sweet malty taste.

It’s the second year in a row that Point Special Lager has been recognized at the Los Angeles International Beer Competition. The full-bodied pilsner-style beer won the gold in the American-style Lager, Light Lager and Premium Lager category last year. Ciderboys Peach County is a repeat winner, too. The seasonal fruitful pairing of crisp apple cider with juicy peach also won the Silver Medal in the Standard Cider and Perry category in the 2015 judging.

Point Classic Amber Lager, meanwhile, added to its awards collection with its bronze medal. Brewed with roasted caramel malts and American Tettnanger hops, Classic Amber has subtle caramel character, a reddish-amber hue and a gentle hop aroma.

The 16th annual Los Angeles International Beer Competition, held April 9 and 10 at the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona, Calif., featured more than 1,000 beers competing in 97 categories. Medal-winning beers will be featured at LA on Tap, a beer festival scheduled at the Fairplex on May 7, and during the Los Angeles County Fair in September.

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. The brewery’s year-round lineup features flagship Point Special Lager; Point Amber Classic, an American-style Amber Lager; Newly introduced Point S.P.A. (Session Pale Ale) an American Style Pale Ale; Point Onyx Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Beyond the Pale IPA, a robust, hoppy India Pale Ale; Point Smiley Blue Pils, a Czech-style Pilsner; and Point Drop Dead Blonde Ale, a 110 calorie golden ale.

The brewery’s seasonal beers include Point Apricadabra Apricot Wheat Ale for the spring; Point Coast Radler, a mix of beer and natural citrus flavors for the summer; New Siesta Key Citrus Pale Ale, also for summer; Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer; and Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a rich, dark beer available from November through February.

In addition to the year-round and seasonal craft brands Point offers four seasonal variety 12-packs, each containing three bottles of four unique beers available only in the variety packs. Available in the summer months, the Long Days variety pack features four refreshing fruit lagers: Point Lime Lager, Point Mango Lager, Point Tart Cherry Lager and Point Watermelon Mojito Lager. During the winter months, the Long Nights variety pack features Malted Milk Shake Lager, Pistachio Nut Brown Ale, Gingerbread Ale and Salted Caramel Toffee Ale. For Fall, The Harvest Craft Creations 12-pack features Point Cranberry Wheat Ale, Point Squash Ale, Point Pumpkin Peach Ale and Point Blood Orange Amber. Four unique year-round India pale ales – Point Spruce Tip IPA, Point Peach Mango IPA, Point White IPA and Point One Shot IPA are available only in the Point IPA variety 12-pack. Whole Hog Limited Edition “big beers” include year-round Whole Hog Espresso Stout and Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale.

Seasonal offerings include Whole Hog Peach Hefeweizen, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine and Whole Hog Pumpkin 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, Healani Pineapple Hefeweizen, and Bastian Black Forest Cake, a dark porter just introduced at retail.

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; Raspberry Smash, alive with the
tartness of raspberries; and Strawberry Magic, a blend of fresh strawberries and apple cider. Ciderboys also produces winter seasonal Mad Bark, made with natural cinnamon; fall seasonal Cranberry Road, a pairing of apple cider and cranberries; and seasonals Pineapple Hula, Peach County and Grand Mimosa. Pineapple Hula is made with fresh Hawaiian pineapple, Peach County combines pure peach flavor with apple cider, and Grand Mimosa is a winter cider made with succulent Florida oranges.

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 <http://www.pointbeer.com/> or call 1-800-369-4911 . Tours of the brewery are available; schedules are listed on the website.