Stevens Point Brewery

Our History
1857 – Frank Wahle and George Ruder establish the Stevens Point Brewery and brew the first Point Beer.
1864 – The Stevens Point Brewery provides beer to troops during the Civil War.
1920 – The Stevens Point Brewery produces near-beer products and soft drinks during Prohibition.
1930 – Wisconsin is home to more than 80 breweries, most of which go out of business after the Great Depression – but the Stevens Point Brewery continues to thrive.
1950 – Can production begins – and so the story continues.
1972 – Shibilski Family: Phil Shibilski began his career at the Stevens Point Brewery in 1933. Phil became the General Manager of the Stevens Point Brewery in 1942. In 1974 Phil became the Chairman of the Board until he passed away in 1986. In 1972 Kenneth Shibilski became assistant General Manager of the company. At the end of 1974, the Shibilski’s were able to claim a larger production while they followed the time-honored but efficient small brewery methods. Ken Shibilski became General Manager in 1986 and worked at the brewery until 1995.
1973 – Point Special is rated the #1 American beer in a taste test as reported by Mike Royko, a prominent columnist for the Chicago Daily News.
1990 – Growing consumer demand pushes the Stevens Point Brewery to sell Point Special Lager outside Wisconsin for the first time in it’s 133 history.
1992 – Stevens Point Brewery is purchased by Barton Beers, Chicago, Illinois.
1994 – The brewery expands its facilities to include the installment of new aging tanks, allowing capacity to increase more than 40%.
1997 – As the demand continues for Point Beer products, the brewery constructs a 15,000 sq. ft. warehouse facility to house finished goods and streamline the shipping process.
2002 – Stevens Point Brewery is once again Wisconsin owned — sold by Barton Beers, Chicago, Illinois.
2002 – Gourmet soda, Point Premium Root Beer is introduced.
2003 – Point Special Lager wins the Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival over Miller Genuine Draft and Budweiser — receives national recognition.
2004 – Stevens Point Brewery expands distribution throughout the Midwest.
2005 – Stevens Point Brewery introduces three new gourmet soda brands: Point Premium Vanilla Cream,Diet Root Beer, and Black Cherry Cream.
2006 – Investment totals two million dollars by new ownership in packaging and brewing equipment.
2007 – Stevens Point Brewery celebrates 150 years of brewing.
2008 – Stevens Point Brewery begins to produce seasonal brews.
2009 – Whole Hog Limited Release Beers introduced.
2010 – Stevens Point Brewery expands with a 2,700 sq. ft. addition including a new keg cooler and four new aging tanks. This increases capacity to more than 80,000 barrels. Distribution grows to 25 states.
2011 – In order to keep up with demand, the Stevens Point Brewery expands with a 6,000 sq. ft. warehouse and adds 8 more tanks. This increases capacity to nearly 100,000 barrels.
2012 – Stevens Point Brewery grows portfolio and begins producing Ciderboys Hard Ciders.
2012 – Stevens Point Brewery adds a second shift, adding 5 new jobs. Also expands with 9 new fermentation tanks and two new bright beer tanks. This increases capacity to 120,000 barrels of beer annually. 2010 – 2012 expansions total $2.1 million.
2013 – Stevens Point Brewery announces $2M expansion with the addition of a second brew kettle, 16 more unitanks,a new automated grain handling system and a new can packer. This increases capacity to 150,000 barrels of beer annually.
2014 – Stevens Point Brewery invests $1.5M in equipment and infrastructure upgrades — also installs three more unitanks, upgrades bottle filler and purchases 1,000 new kegs for the brewery’s expanding draft beer/cider business. Stevens Point Brewery creates 10 new jobs.
2015 – Stevens Point Brewery invests $1.5M more in new can filler and new tanks — also creates 3 more jobs.