Stevens Point Brewery invests in non-alcoholic beer and opens contract capacity

Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, is one of the oldest continuously operating breweries in the United States. The Wisconsin brewery has survived wars, ownership changes, and Prohibition. In 2023, it modernized with a $2.5 million brewhouse expansion. Now, it is moving aggressively into non-alcoholic (NA) beer and NA cider while opening its doors to contract customers. From this recent press release:

“For a category growing in double digits, there is not adequate capacity to support it. We intend to change that. You need the absolute best NA beers to succeed, and now our door is open.” — Joe Martino, Operating Partner, Stevens Point Brewery

A big bet on BrewVo technology: The brewery has installed the most advanced BrewVo system in the United States, according to this release. BrewVo, developed by Sustainable Beverage Technologies in Colorado, uses a multi-stage fermentation and separation process. The method condenses beer into a dense concentrate, which can be reconstituted into either full-strength or non-alcoholic beer. Unlike arrested fermentation or engineered yeast methods, BrewVo says it process preserves flavor and aroma. Brewers can create NA beers that closely mirror their alcoholic counterparts. The process has already won multiple international awards for quality. It’s also what Deschutes Brewery uses for its award-winning NA beer. From the press release:

“We blind taste tested a BrewVo beer against its alcoholic counterpart. I thought the NA version was better. It was a shock that changed my entire perspective on what non-alcoholic beer could be.” — Mike Schraufnagel, Brewmaster, Stevens Point Brewery

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