Press Release:

(Stevens Point, WI) – Point Three Kings Ale, a brew fit for royalty, is the Stevens Point Brewery‘s new spring seasonal offering.

Handcrafted in the style of the popular Kölsch beers brewed in Cologne, Germany, Three Kings Ale will be available from February 1 through the end of May in six-packs and 12-packs of 12-ounce longneck bottles, 12-pack cans and kegs where Point beers are sold.

“Enjoying a Three Kings Ale delivers a taste of spring and the promise of warm weather to come. It’s a great beer to toast the change of seasons as winter recedes and spring approaches,” said Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner.

Cologne’s Kölsch Bier tradition
Kölsch originated in the ancient Rhineland city of Cologne, or “Köln” in German, world famous for its Gothic cathedral constructed between 1248 and 1880. The Three Kings name is inspired by the Three Wise Men whose remains are enshrined in the intricately decorated, solid-gold sarcophagus behind the cathedral’s altar. For more than 500 years the city’s coat of arms has featured three golden crowns symbolizing the Three Kings.

Cologne at one time had more breweries than any other city in the world. Today it is home to a dozen or more breweries that brew the local specialty, Kölsch, meaning “of Cologne,” a delicate, pleasantly hopped top-fermented beer with a pale golden hue.
“Kölsch is to ale what pilsner is to the world of lager beers,” Martino explained. “Kölsch has a proud heritage and we are excited to add this refreshing Ale to our seasonal portfolio.”

Brewing Three Kings Ale
Like the Kölsch beers of Cologne, Three Kings Ale features a soft, mild maltiness and delicate fruity character derived from warm-fermenting the beer with authentic Kölsch ale yeast, according to Stevens Point Brewmaster John Zappa.

Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Northern Brewer hops impart a crisp but subtle hoppiness to Three Kings Ale, brewed with two-row barley, Munich malt – and a hint of malted wheat “for character,” Zappa said. “Three Kings Ale is a delicious, well-balanced, crisp yet smooth Ale. It is a very nice session beer,” he said.

The Stevens Point Brewery
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, including flagship Point Special Lager, which won the gold medal in the American Premium Lager category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival.

In addition to Point Three Kings Ale, seasonal specialty brands include Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, abbey-style ale available from November through February; Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall.

Point’s 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; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager. The brewery’s year-round craft beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale and seasonal offerings, Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale 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.