(Stevens Point, WI) – Inspired by the mystery
of the ancient Mayan “Long Count”
round calendar, Stevens Point Brewery’s
brewmasters have created 2012 Black Ale, a dark,
robust brew to satisfy beer lovers’ tastes
any day of the year.
2012 Black Ale will be introduced at retail on
March 1, 2010 – or 12.19.17.2.14, according
to the Long Count calendar method. It will be
available year-round in 6-packs of 12-ounce longneck
bottles and kegs wherever Point beers are sold.
Inspiration comes in many forms, according to
Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Managing Partner,
in this case from the public fascination –
and apprehension – associated with the Mayan
calendar, which ends abruptly in 2012 after more
than 5,000 years.
“Some doomsayers think it will bring the
end of time; others say the world will experience
a new beginning,” Martino said. “One
thing we do know is 2012 Black Ale will intrigue
ale lovers as much as the Mayan calendar intrigues
archaeologists, astronomers and doomsday prophets.
It’s the right beer to enjoy as we contemplate
what may happen after December 21, 2012.”
Brewing 2012 Black Ale
2012 Black Ale’s ingredients include pale,
Munich and roasted malts, Cluster and Cascade
hops from the Pacific Northwest and Saaz hops
from the Czech Republic, said Ken Carlson, Steven’s
Point Brewery’s Director of Brewing.
In addition to the Mayan calendar mystery, 2012
Black Ale is inspired by traditional German “schwarzbier,”
or black beer, according to Carlson. “German-style
schwarzbiers typically are lagers, but we saw
this beer is an opportunity to be more creative,”
he said. “We brewed our interpretation of
black beer as an ale, which means more hops as
well as fruity notes that come from using an ale
yeast. The use of roasted malts adds a slightly
burnt character to the beer.”
The Mayan “Long Count” Calendar
The ancient Mayans, whose civilization reached
its height between A.D. 250 and 900, were early
scholars of mathematics and astronomy who studied
the movements of the moon, stars and planets in
the black tropical night skies. They devised several
complex and accurate calendars, including the
so-called “Long Count” circular calendar.
The Long Count calendar spans 5,125 years, beginning
on what the Maya saw as the dawn of a period of
creation: August 11, 3114 B.C., long before their
civilization established itself in the jungles
and mountains of Mexico and Central America. The
Maya designated that date as Day Zero, or 13.0.0.0.0.The
calendar ends inexplicably on A.D. December 21,
2012, the Winter Solstice, prompting various doomsday
predictions. Maya experts, however, say it simply
means the start of another long Mayan calendar
cycle and period of creation, starting with the
day 13.0.0.0.0 once again for the first time in
more than 5,000 years.
Regardless of what happens following the Winter
Solstice in 2012, one thing is certain: 2012 Black
Ale is available year round now so you can enjoy
it any time.
