Point Special Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Stevens Point Tab Top Overview

Produced by the historic Stevens Point Brewery in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, the Point Special Beer 12 oz tab top can represents one of the most recognized regional midwestern brewing labels. Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, maintained a devoted following in central Wisconsin, with Point Special serving as its cornerstone offering.

During the tab top era, Point Special transitioned from a localized favorite to a national collector phenomenon. A major surge in brand recognition occurred in the 1970s when syndicated Chicago newspaper columnist Mike Royko famously championed the beer in print. Royko organized blind taste panels that ranked the regional Wisconsin brew ahead of massive national brands, sparking widespread demand and prompting out-of-state travelers to seek out cans directly from Wisconsin distributors.

The can design showcases the classic Point brand identity, utilizing prominent typography and the brewery's established color scheme. For breweriana enthusiasts, this can is notable for its manufacturing evolution. Collectors have documented variations across production runs, reflecting shifts in metal compositions ranging from steel to all-aluminum bodies, as well as minor typographic revisions in brewery informational text and lid specifications.