diff --git a/Version.txt b/Version.txt
index 4dc44d71a1..67933171cd 100644
--- a/Version.txt
+++ b/Version.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ GEOS_VERSION_MINOR=12
 GEOS_VERSION_PATCH=0
 
 # OPTIONS: "", "dev", "rc1" etc.
-GEOS_PATCH_WORD=dev
+GEOS_PATCH_WORD=beta1
 
 # GEOS CAPI Versions
 #