The most difficult part of driving north into Wisconsin is extricating one’s self from the tangle of traffic and urban sprawl west of Chicago. Once that has been successfully accomplished, the remainder of the journey is relatively painless. Oh, except for the portion around Madison north to the Dells area. This time our destination is Stevens Point, WI.
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Lake Nokomis
Northernmost Nokomis would be our first stop, and although we had gotten a very late start – 9:30am – we were cruising through Wausau a bit over four hours later. We soon eased off Route 51, heading toward Tomahawk (about 5 miles south of Nokomis, WI) and took county roads from there into Nokomis.
The view of the lake and surrounding area was vastly different from the last time I saw it, but the reasons were clear: not only had it been really dry this year, but the lake had also recently been lowered by design (Nokomis is an impoundment), since the winter season was just around the corner, and the “tourist” season was over.
The lake itself was still pretty and it was easy to imagine what the peak summer season was like with the lake full of boaters, fishermen, water skiers and swimmers. Not being at all familiar with the lake, I was glad I was unable to pull my boat along for this trip. I am not one to take chances with low water levels on an unfamiliar lake, but I will be back to check out the fishing!
Dinner at Silver Birch Supper Club
We secured an early check-in and, driving around to the back of the hotel, it was easy to see why the Lake Aire hotel (now called Centerstone Resort Lake-Aire) was a popular and busy venue during peak season. The place was nestled right up to the shores of Nokomis. It had docking facilities available and also sported a large deck that was perched above the lake. This would be a great place to enjoy one’s favorite beverage while enjoying the incredible view (The hotel faces the west end of the lake, and it was obvious the sunsets must be gorgeous).
We unpacked and decided to check out a spot for dinner, settling on the Silver Birch Supper Club on Half Moon Lake, about four miles away. A pleasant surprise awaited me: a Blue Gill Fish Fry – only offered once every three weeks – was featured! Even at 6:00, the wait was almost an hour! The place was obviously a favorite of the local populace. It was worth the wait though, as Heidi’s Poor Man’s Lobster was equally as good as my ‘gills. A good night’s rest and we would be headed south to Stevens Point in the morning.
The next morning dawned with a clear blue sky and crisp temperatures. It was 27 degrees with heavy frost, and the trip to Stevens Point was only about an hour and a half with almost no traffic. The website directions to the brewery were not as clear as I had thought. They did not lead us directly to the place, but we did find it with little difficulty, and were soon standing in the small but very crowded gift shop, waiting to sign up for the 11:00am tour.
Tour of Point Brewery in Stevens Point
We had made one small error in our preparations: we had not made tour reservations… and had not realized that this was Homecoming weekend at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point! But luck was with us. Someone had not shown up for their reserved spot on the tour and we were at the top of the waiting list, so we were added. The next available tour was not until 2:00pm!
Click here to view available tour times and contact information for Stevens Point Brewery.
Our tour guide was Anthony — aka Flip — and he was one of the best tour guides I have had. Energetic, animated, and knowledgeable, Flip spoke easily and loudly enough for all to hear (30 of us were assigned to his tour group). He guided us through the brewery, supplying us with a sufficient amount of anecdotal information that was both interesting and informative.
I realize that may sound strange to some who might feel as if all brewery tours are very much the same: “seen one… seen ’em all”! But although the beer-making process itself is pretty standard, the tour can either be a boor or it can be fun. Flip made it fun with an appropriate joke here and there and some subtle humor occasionally thrown in. It was clear that he enjoyed what he was doing.
Why Take a Brewery Tour Anyway?
The Point Brewery is a fairly small operation, employing a mere 25 people. But the product is a very good one and it’s no wonder. First, the company is the fifth oldest privately-owned brewery in the nation. Second, the brew-master has been there for at least 20 years. This certainly helps to ensure the quality and consistency found in Point Beer.
And speaking of beer, why else do folks normally take a tour of a brewery in the first place — especially on a bright and beautiful Saturday morning? Well, of course it is to sample the beer! And, the last stop on our tour was the tasting room, and taste we did! Fresh, hot popcorn was served, along with numerous samples of many of the fine Point Beer products, including the very excellent Point Root Beer, which I highly recommend!
The memorabilia that graced the walls of the tasting room and the anti-chamber just outside the door spoke volumes about earlier times – all the way back to prohibition and beyond. And of course, there is some more modern history portrayed as well, attested to by the picture of John Candy as he enjoyed some Point Beer in the well-known movie “The Great Outdoors“.
Last Call
We weren’t quite as lucky in our selection of a dining venue on Saturday night. A place called the Red Mill was recommended to us. We made a reservation for 7:15. This was the earliest we were told was available. We got there early – about 6:30 – to have a cocktail. We were surprised to find the place almost empty. No explanation was given.
Winding Down
We stayed for dinner, but I wish I hadn’t. My lake perch fish fry was definitely not the kind to which I have become accustomed while in Wisconsin. It was the only disappointment of the weekend! We skipped dessert and headed back to our hotel – a Hampton Inn in Plover (just south of Stevens Point). Here, a bag of microwave popcorn and a cold Point Beer put a nice ending to a somewhat disappointing evening. (The Red Mill Supper Club is now permanently closed.)
An early morning workout on the treadmill in the fitness room and a quick whirlpool before a complimentary hot breakfast from Hilton, both put a nice exclamation point on a wonderful excursion. I highly recommend you consider something similar. Especially during the fall when things have slowed a bit but the days are still warm, the nights brisk and the colors still wonderfully bright.
The drive home from Plover felt almost short. It was certainly not stressful! We arrived back home just in time to enjoy the remainder of a beautiful Sunday afternoon and to contemplate just how many days until ice-over.
R. Karl
