Miller Brewing Company
| File:Miller Brewery Logo.svg | |
| File:Miller Brewery.png | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverages |
| Founded | Template:Sda |
| Founder | Frederick Miller |
| Headquarters | 4251 West State Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Products | Beer |
| Parent | Molson Coors |
| Website | www |
The Miller Brewing Company is a U.S.-based brewery located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established in 1855 by businessman Frederick Miller, the brewery became part of Molson Coors in 2016, which continues to operate the original Milwaukee brewery site.
History
After immigrating from Hohenzollern, Germany in 1854, Frederick Miller purchased the Plank Road Brewery for $2,300. Situated in Miller Valley, the site offered convenient access to essential local ingredients. The enterprise was renamed Miller Brewing Company in 1855 and remained under family control until 1966.
Growth was achieved through acquisitions such as the 1961 purchase of A. Gettelman Brewing Company. In 1966, W. R. Grace and Company, a conglomerate, acquired Miller from the founding family. Three years later, Philip Morris (now Altria Group) outbid competitors including PepsiCo to acquire Miller for $130 million.
Miller expanded its brand lineup by acquiring Hamm's from Pabst in 1999. Subsequently, in 2002, South African Breweries bought Miller from Philip Morris for $3.6 billion in stock plus $2 billion in debt, creating SABMiller; Philip Morris retained a significant shareholding.
In 2006, SABMiller diversified into caffeinated alcoholic beverages by acquiring Sparks and Steel Reserve for $215 million.
To enhance its presence in the U.S., SABMiller and Molson Coors formed the joint venture MillerCoors in 2008 to unify domestic production and distribution. SABMiller owned a 58% stake with equal voting power; internationally, both companies continued operating independently.
Exclusive control by Molson Coors
In September 2015, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced plans to acquire SABMiller for $107 billion. Regulatory requirements mandated SABMiller to divest its U.S. Miller brands by selling its interest in MillerCoors to Molson Coors. On October 11, 2016, SABMiller finalized the sale of its MillerCoors stake to Molson Coors for approximately US $12 billion. This deal granted Molson Coors full ownership of the Miller portfolio outside the United States while maintaining rights within the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Brands
Prominent brands under Miller include:
- Miller High Life: Introduced in 1903, this American-style lager is Miller’s oldest offering with an alcohol content of 4.6% abv. Nicknamed "The Champagne of Beers" due to its elevated carbonation level, it is recognized by its gold label and "Girl in the Moon" emblem. The brand was instrumental in popularizing the 7 oz pony bottle introduced in 1972.
- Miller Lite: Debuted in 1972 as one of the first successful light beers nationwide, containing 4.2% abv (4% abv in Canada).
- Miller High Life Light: Released in 1994 with an alcohol volume of 4.1%, it was discontinued in 2021 to prioritize Miller Lite but reintroduced in 2024.
- Miller Genuine Draft: Launched in 1985 initially as "Miller High Life Genuine Draft," this cold-filtered beer offers a flavor profile similar to High Life and has an alcohol content of 4.7% abv. Its market share dropped from 1.5% in 2007 to 0.7% by 2012.
- Miller 64: Formerly known as Miller Genuine Draft 64, this ultra-light beer was introduced in 2007 with a low alcohol level of 2.8% abv and only 64 calories per serving.
- Frederick Miller Classic Chocolate Lager: A seasonal brew available from October through December in select Midwestern markets, crafted using six different malts including chocolate varieties.
- Miller Sharp's: A non-alcoholic beer brand launched in 1989.
These labels constitute a vital segment of Molson Coors’ offerings, addressing various consumer preferences within the beer industry while contributing significantly to its competitive positioning and revenue generation.
Economy brands
- Milwaukee's Best: Miller's budget-friendly beer, containing 4.8% alcohol by volume.[1]
- Milwaukee's Best Light: A lighter variant with 4.1% alcohol content.[1]
- Milwaukee's Best Ice: An economical ice beer option, offering 5.9% abv.[1]
Malt liquor
- Mickey's: Malt liquor with an alcohol concentration of 5.6%.[1]
- Olde English 800: Often referred to as "OE," this malt liquor has variable alcohol levels: 5.9% in the eastern United States, 7.5% in the western regions, and 8.0% in Canada.
Discontinued
- Miller Chill: A pale lager infused with lime and salt, featuring 4.2% abv. Introduced in 2007, it was discontinued in 2013 following a decline in sales after 2008, largely due to competition from Bud Light Lime. Prior to its withdrawal, MillerCoors attempted to rebrand and adjust marketing strategies.[1]
Sponsorships
Since the 1980s, Miller has maintained a strong commitment to motorsport sponsorships, partnering with notable drivers and events to strengthen brand presence and market reach.
In the CART World Series, Miller backed drivers such as Al Unser (1984), Danny Sullivan (1985–1989, 1991), Roberto Guerrero (1990), Bobby Rahal (1992–1998), and Kenny Bräck (2003). The company also sponsored the Miller 200 race held at Mid-Ohio.
The Miller Lite brand notably sponsored the victorious car of the 1997 Indianapolis 500, driven by Arie Luyendyk, marking a significant achievement in its motorsports marketing efforts.
Within the NASCAR Cup Series, Miller supported several drivers including Bobby Allison (1983–1988), Dick Trickle (1989), Rusty Wallace (1990–2005), Kurt Busch (2006–2010), and Brad Keselowski (2011–2020). Highlights include Allison’s championship win in the 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Keselowski’s triumph in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series under Miller sponsorship. The company also lent its name to multiple prestigious NASCAR events.
In the realm of the NHRA, Miller was a sponsor of drag racer Larry Dixon for over a decade until 2007.[2]
From its inauguration in 2001 until 2020, Miller held the naming rights to Miller Park, home stadium of the Milwaukee Brewers. These rights were transferred to American Family Insurance in 2019.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
See also
External links
- Pages with reference errors
- Pages with broken file links
- Manufacturing companies based in Milwaukee
- Beer brewing companies based in Wisconsin
- American companies established in 1855
- 1855 establishments in Wisconsin
- SABMiller
- Food and drink companies established in 1855
- Molson Coors Beverage Company
- Companies based in Milwaukee
- Former Altria subsidiaries
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
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