Miller Brewing Company

{{Short description|American brewing company}} {{Use American English|date=September 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = Miller Brewing Company | logo = Miller Brewery Logo.svg | logo_upright = 0.7 | image = Miller_Brewery.png | image_size = 250px | image_caption = Miller Brewery in Milwaukee | type = Subsidiary | industry = Beverages | founded = {{sda|1855}} | founder = Frederick Miller | hq_location = 4251 West State Street<br />Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | products = Beer | parent = Molson Coors | website = {{url|www.molsoncoors.com}} }} '''Miller Brewing Company''' is an American brewery based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was founded in 1855 by Frederick Miller and was acquired by Molson Coors in 2016.<ref name="Brown">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Lisa |date=October 11, 2016 |title=A-B InBev finalizes $100B billion acquisition of SABMiller, creating world's largest beer company |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-megabrew-ab-inbev-sabmiller-merger-20161010-story.html |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago |access-date=January 29, 2017}}</ref><ref name="acq">{{cite web |url=http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/news/molson-coors-completes-acquisition-of-millercoors-and-global-miller-brand-portfolio |title=Molson Coors Completes Acquisition of Full Ownership of MillerCoors and Global Miller Brand Portfolio |date=October 11, 2016 |publisher=Molson Coors |access-date=January 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202043334/http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/news/molson-coors-completes-acquisition-of-millercoors-and-global-miller-brand-portfolio |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Molson Coors continues to operate the Miller Brewery at the site of the original Miller Brewing Company complex in Milwaukee. Miller has produced several prominent beer brands, including Miller Lite, Miller High Life, and Milwaukee's Best.

==History== thumb|Miller High Life advertisement, 1906

Miller Brewing Company was founded in Milwaukee in 1855 by Frederick Miller after his emigration from Hohenzollern, Germany, in 1854 with a unique brewer's yeast. Initially, he purchased the small Plank Road Brewery for $2,300 ($82,280 in 2024).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/our-story/our-history |title = Our History |author =  |date = 2017 |publisher = Molson Coors |access-date = January 31, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161221073727/http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/our-story/our-history |archive-date = December 21, 2016 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The brewery's location in what is now the Miller Valley provided easy access to raw materials produced on nearby farms. In 1855, Miller changed its name to Miller Brewing Company, Inc.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=887731 |title = Company Overview of Miller Brewing Company, Inc. |author =  |date = January 31, 2017 |website = Bloomberg Research |access-date = January 31, 2017 }}</ref> The enterprise remained in the family until 1966.

The company was one of six breweries affected by the 1953 Milwaukee brewery strike. In 1961, Miller purchased the smallest of the "Big Five" Milwaukee brewers, A. Gettelman Brewing Company.<ref name="A. Gettelman Brewing Company">{{Cite web|url=https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/a-gettelman-brewing-company/|title=A. Gettelman Brewing Company {{!}} Encyclopedia of Milwaukee|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-11}}.</ref> In 1966, the conglomerate W. R. Grace and Company bought Miller from Lorraine John Mulberger (Frederick Miller's granddaughter, who objected to alcohol) and her family. In 1969, Philip Morris (now Altria) bought Miller from W. R. Grace for $130 million, outbidding PepsiCo. In 1999, Miller acquired the Hamm's brand from Pabst.

In 2002, South African Breweries bought Miller from Philip Morris for $3.6 billion worth of stock and $2 billion in debt to form SABMiller, with Philip Morris retaining a 36% ownership share and 24.99% voting rights. In 2006, SABMiller purchased the Sparks and Steel Reserve brands from McKenzie River Corporation for $215 million.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.chron.com/default/article/Miller-dives-into-caffeinated-drinks-with-215-1879237.php |title = Miller dives into caffeinated drinks with $215 million deal |work = Houston Chronicle |date = July 4, 2006 |last = Fredrix |first = Emily |agency = Associated Press |access-date = February 3, 2016 }}</ref> Miller had been producing both brands prior to the purchase.<ref name=acquires>{{cite news |title = SABMiller Acquires 2 Brands |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-04-fi-sparks4-story.html |agency = Bloomberg News |date = July 4, 2006 |work = Los Angeles Times |access-date = February 4, 2016 }}</ref>

On July 1, 2008, SABMiller formed MillerCoors, a joint venture with rival Molson Coors, to consolidate the production and distribution of its products in the United States, with each parent company's corporate operations and international operations to remain separate and independent of the joint venture. SABMiller owned 58% of the unit, which operated in the United States but not in Canada, where Molson Coors is strongest, but the companies had equal voting power.<ref name=venture>{{cite news |title = Coors, Miller in U.S. Venture |url = https://www.thestreet.com/story/10383471/1/coors-miller-in-us-venture.html |work = TheStreet.com |date = October 9, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=44366e58-52e1-49e9-a072-8e874c80a5f7&k=43818 |title = Molson Coors and SABMiller merge U.S. operations |access-date = February 4, 2016 |work = Financial Post |date = October 9, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100721233858/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=44366e58-52e1-49e9-a072-8e874c80a5f7&k=43818 |archive-date = July 21, 2010 }}</ref>

In September 2015, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced it had reached a full agreement to acquire SABMiller for $107 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/taranurin/2016/10/10/its-final-ab-inbev-closes-on-deal-to-buy-sabmiller/#2e5f846437d6 |title = It's Final: AB InBev Closes On Deal To Buy SABMiller |last = Nurin |first = Tara |date = October 10, 2016 |website = Forbes |access-date = January 28, 2017 }}</ref> As part of the agreement with the U.S. Justice Department, SABMiller divested itself of the Miller brands in the U.S. by selling its stake in MillerCoors to Molson Coors.<ref name="Brown"/><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.denverpost.com/2015/11/11/molson-coors-buying-rest-of-millercoors-for-12-billion/ |title = Molson Coors buying rest of MillerCoors for $12 billion |date = November 11, 2015 |work = Denver Post |access-date = October 31, 2016 }}</ref> Consequently, on October 11, 2016, SABMiller in the U.S. sold its interests in MillerCoors to Molson Coors for around US $12 billion. Molson Coors gained full ownership of the Miller brand portfolio outside the US, and retained the rights within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico).<ref name="acq"/><ref>{{cite news |first = Greg |last = Trotter |date = October 11, 2016 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-millercoors-molson-coors-1012-biz-20161011-story.html |title = With new owner, MillerCoors focuses on growth |work= Chicago Tribune |access-date = February 25, 2017 }}</ref>

==Brands== {{Main|Molson Coors brands}} thumb|upright|Miller Genuine Draft 330mL bottle

Brands with the Miller name, or historically sold by Miller Brewing Company, include: *''{{visible anchor|Miller High Life}}'': An American-style lager introduced in 1903, High Life is Miller Brewing's oldest brand and is 4.6% abv.<ref name=abv/> It is noted for its high level of carbonation, like champagne, leading to its longtime slogan "The Champagne of Beers". It was one of the top premium beers in the US for many years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vinepair.com/articles/why-miller-high-life-champagne-beers/|title=The Surprisingly Legit Reasons Miller High Life Is Called the Champagne of Beers|website=Vinepair|first=Emily|last=Saladino|date=November 27, 2017|access-date=April 19, 2023}}</ref> High Life bottles feature a bright gold label and are made of a clear glass that has a tapered neck like a champagne bottle. The label includes the "Girl in the Moon" logo, which features a woman in a circus costume seated on a crescent moon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/features/heres-what-we-know-about-miller-high-life-lady|title=Here's what we know about the Miller High Life lady|first=Dave|last=Herrewig|date= November 6, 2013|access-date=June 25, 2022}}</ref> The brand helped popularize {{convert|7|U.S.floz|ml|0|abbr=on}} pony bottles, introduced in 1972.<ref name=connor>{{cite conference| title=Advertising and the Food System| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jftEAAAAYAAJ&q=pony| editor1-first=John M.| editor1-last=Connor| editor2-first=Ronald W.| editor2-last=Ward| page=309| date=6–7 November 1980| publisher=College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison}}</ref><ref name=csa>{{cite journal| title=CSA Super Markets| volume=50| year=1974| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZUpPAAAAYAAJ&q=%22miller+high+life%22+%227+oz%22| page=68| publisher=Lebhar-Friedman}}</ref> *''Miller Lite'': An American-style light lager. Introduced in 1972, it was the first light beer to see wide popularity. It is 4.2% abv (4% in Canada). *''Miller High Life Light'': Introduced in 1994, it had 4.1% abv. It was discontinued in 2021 to focus on Miller Lite, but brought back in 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/molson-coors-is-discontinuing-these-11-beers|title=Molson Coors is discontinuing these 11 beers|access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://beernet.com/molson-coors-bringing-miller-high-life-light-back-to-great-lakes/|title=Molson Coors is bringing back Miller High Life to the Great Lakes|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref> *''Miller Genuine Draft'': Nicknamed MGD, it was introduced in 1985 as "Miller High Life Genuine Draft". Developed to replicate the flavor of High Life from a non-pasteurized keg in a can or bottle, MGD is made from the same recipe as ''High Life'' but the beer is cold filtered instead of pasteurized. As of 2007 Genuine Draft had a 1.5% share of the United States market; by 2012 it had declined to 0.7% market share, representing a decline of 1.7 million barrels.<ref name=decline>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/12/09/beers-we-no-longer-drink/3915505/|title=Nine beers many Americans no longer drink |last1=Frohlich |first1=Thomas C.| last2=Sauter |first2=Michael B.|work=USA Today |date=10 December 2013 |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref> It has 4.7% abv.<ref name=abv>{{cite web |url=http://www.millercoors.com/our-beers/nutrition-facts-codes.aspx |title=Beer Nutrition Facts and Codes |access-date=2012-10-30 |work=MillerCoors}}</ref> *''Miller 64'': (Formerly ''Miller Genuine Draft 64'')<ref name=edwards>{{cite journal| url=http://www.businessinsider.com/before-and-after-miller-genuine-draft-64-has-a-new-logoand-a-new-name-2012-3| journal=Business Insider| title=Before and After: Miller Genuine Draft 64 Has A New Logo – And A New Name| date=27 March 2012| last=Edwards| first=Jim}}</ref> An "ultra light" beer with 2.8% abv, it contains {{convert|64|Cal/12USoz(mL)serve}}. Miller launched this beer in the summer of 2007 in Madison, Wisconsin. It was received favorably and testing expanded to Arizona, San Diego and Sacramento.<ref name=mgd64>{{cite press release| url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mgd-64--as-light-as-it-gets-57384077.html| title=MGD 64...As Light As It Gets| date=29 February 2008| publisher=Miller Brewing Company}}</ref> *''Frederick Miller Classic Chocolate Lager'': A seasonal lager available from October to December in Wisconsin, Chicago, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Indianapolis and northwest Indiana. It is brewed with six different malts, including chocolate and dark chocolate malts.<ref name=pilot>{{cite news| title= At pilot brewery, MillerCoors learns what new beers will fly| url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/at-pilot-brewery-millercoors-learns-what-new-beers-will-fly-b99384429z1-282447501.html| last=Daykin| first=Tom| date=12 November 2014| work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel| access-date=2016-02-04}}</ref> *''Miller Sharp's'': A non-alcoholic beer introduced in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beveragedist.com/sharps-beer/|title=Sharp's non-alcoholic beer|access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref>

===Economy brands=== *''Milwaukee's Best'': Miller's economy label. It is 4.8% abv.<ref name=abv/> *''Milwaukee's Best Light'': Light version of Milwaukee's Best. It is 4.1% abv.<ref name=abv/> *''Milwaukee's Best Ice'': Miller's economy ice beer. It is 5.9% abv.<ref name=abv/>

===Malt liquor=== *''Mickey's'': Mickey's is a malt liquor that is 5.6% abv.<ref name=abv/> *''Olde English 800'': Malt liquor also known as "OE". It is 5.9% abv in the eastern United States, 7.5% abv in most western U.S. states and 8.0% abv in Canada.

===Discontinued=== *''Miller Chill'': A chelada-style 4.2% abv<ref name=abv/> pale lager brewed with lime and salt. Introduced successfully in 2007, sales dropped in 2008 after the launch of the rival ''Bud Light Lime''.<ref name=daykin>{{cite news| url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/39780177.html| title=Miller Chill makeover squeezes in more lime flavor| work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel| date=18 February 2009| access-date=2016-02-04| last=Daykin| first=Tom}}</ref> In response, MillerCoors revamped their recipe from a 'chelada' style brew to a light beer with lime, created new packaging which included switching from a green to a clear bottle, and launched a new advertising campaign centered around the slogan "How a Light Beer with a Taste of Lime Should Taste". It was discontinued in 2013.

==Sponsorships== At the 1978 United States Grand Prix, 1978 Canadian Grand Prix and 1979 Long Beach Grand Prix, the McLaren Formula One team raced a special Löwenbräu livery and entered the Grands Prix as Löwenbräu Team McLaren to promote the brand in the region. At the time, Miller Brewing Company was owned by Phillip Morris (who was the title sponsor of McLaren) and had secured the license to produce Löwenbräu in its United States breweries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osten |first=Phillip van |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Back in the days when McLaren supplied the beer |url=https://f1i.com/images/281384-mclaren-rolls-blue-lowenbrau-livery.html |access-date=September 1, 2025 |website=F1i.com |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last= |date=February 20, 1978 |title=Business: Beer: Big Battles Are Brewing |url=https://time.com/archive/6881132/business-beer-big-battles-are-brewing/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803162316/https://time.com/archive/6881132/business-beer-big-battles-are-brewing/ |archive-date=August 3, 2024 |access-date=September 1, 2025 |magazine=Time |language=}}</ref>

Miller has been a large motorsport sponsor since the 1980s. In the CART World Series, the company has sponsored drivers such as Al Unser (1984), Danny Sullivan (1985–1989, 1991), Roberto Guerrero (1990), Bobby Rahal (1992–1998) and Kenny Bräck (2003). It also sponsored the Miller 200 race at Mid-Ohio.

In 1997, Miller, under its Miller Lite brand, sponsored a car in the Indy Racing League, specifically for the Indianapolis 500. The car was driven by Arie Luyendyk. This sponsorship was significant as Luyendyk won the 1997 Indianapolis 500.

In the NASCAR Cup Series, Miller has sponsored Bobby Allison from 1983 to 1988, Dick Trickle in 1989, Rusty Wallace from 1990 to 2005, Kurt Busch from 2006 to 2010, and Brad Keselowski from 2011 to 2020. Allison won the 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, and Keselowski won the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The company has sponsored the Miller High Life 500, Miller 500, Miller High Life 400, Miller 400, Miller 300, Miller 200, and Miller 150 races.

In the NHRA, Miller sponsored Larry Dixon for 11 years until 2007.<ref name=week>{{cite news |title = Miller Time ends for Prudhomme's Top Fuel dragster team |url = http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/miller-time-ends-prudhommes-top-fuel-dragster-team |work = Autoweek |date = June 11, 2006 |access-date = February 4, 2016 }}</ref>

From its opening in 2001 until the end of 2020, Miller owned the naming rights to Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers when the naming rights were bought by American Family Insurance in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Gores|first1=Paul|last2=Nelson|first2=James|last3=Barrett|first3=Rick|title=American Family Insurance to replace Miller Brewing Co. as naming rights sponsor for Brewers stadium|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2019/01/22/american-family-insurance-will-replace-miller-as-brewers-stadium-name-sponor/2644445002/|date=23 January 2019|access-date=30 November 2021|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2022, Miller, under its Miller High Life brand, has even launched a campaign for ministers–Universal Life Church<ref name="Crain's Chicago Business">{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/consumer-products/miller-high-life-creating-wedding-officiants |title=Miller High Life is turning beer lovers into wedding officiants |last=Gonzalez|first=Yadira|date=June 1, 2022|work=Crain's Chicago Business|access-date=January 4, 2026|location=Chicago}}</ref><ref name="The Independent">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/miller-high-life-dive-bar-perfume-b2660004.html |title=Miller High Life... |last=Hebert|first=Olivia|date=December 6, 2024|work=The Independent|access-date=January 4, 2026|location=Los Angeles}}</ref>

==See also== * Beer in Milwaukee * Spaghett * Windell Middlebrooks

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.millercoors.com/ Official website]

{{Molson Coors Brewing Company}} {{SABMiller}}

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Milwaukee Category:Beer brewing companies based in Wisconsin Category:American companies established in 1855 Category:1855 establishments in Wisconsin Category:SABMiller Category:Food and drink companies established in 1855 Category:Molson Coors Beverage Company Category:Companies based in Milwaukee Category:Former Altria subsidiaries