Miller beer: history, types and interesting facts
The world-famous Miller alcohol brand is one of the oldest beer brands in the United States. The main feature of the popular product is its extra-lightness and super-transparency, which are achieved by repeated purification using cold filtration technology.
Due to the lack of characteristic hop bitterness, lovers of classic foamy lager dismissively call it a "beer drink," but Miller's many fans appreciate it precisely for its mild, unobtrusive character.
The history of Miller beer
The founder of the legendary American brand was Frederick Miller, a native of Germany, who emigrated to the United States in the mid-nineteenth century in search of happiness and decent income.
In 1854, a hard-working German bought a small brewery called Plank-Road Brewery in Wisconsin and founded Miller Brewing (the company's headquarters is still located in the historic building in the suburbs of Milwaukee, where it all began).
In the fall of the same year, the first barrels of light foam beer were produced at the brewery. The drink included a special kind of yeast imported by the owner from Germany.
In 1883, the company got its own bottling line and a special transport for delivering the drink around the city ("bottle beer wagon"). Prior to that, Miller beer was bottled by a third-party entrepreneur from Milwaukee. In the following years, production was constantly expanded and modernized.
In particular, the newly invented pasteurization technology (which was later abandoned) and the retail system were mastered (before that, the drink was sold exclusively at the brewery).
In 1885, the growing production was supplemented by an original storage system. For these purposes, a brick building of 3 floors was built: the first floor housed beer, the second - ice, and the last - sawdust, which does not allow the ice to melt. The result of diligent work was an award for Miller's golden pilsner at the 1893 National Brewing Competition in Chicago.
The family business managed to survive the period of Prohibition and World War II thanks to a reasonable monetary policy, competent allocation of resources and reorientation of production.
In the 20s, the company mastered the production of soft drinks and syrups, which helped to stay afloat, while many factories had to close.
At the end of the XX century, the company acquired Milwaukee's A. Gettelman Brewing Co. and The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company.
In 2002, the merger of Miller Brewing Company and South African Breweries created the SABMiller Corporation, which was later absorbed by Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Miller brands were bought by Molson Coors. Today, the famous American lager is produced in many regions of the world, including Russia (since 2000), and sold in more than 60 countries.
Types of Miller beer
Miller Genuine Draft
A popular product first launched in 1986 as a draft beer.
Nowadays it is sold in bottles.
In addition to traditional beer ingredients (barley malt, yeast, water and hops), it contains corn syrup (maltose). Strength: 4,6%.
Miller High Life
An example of the classic American beer style, the golden pilsner, created in 1903 by Frederick Miller himself, who received the title "Champagne of Beers".
Winner of numerous awards at specialized festivals.
Light hops from the Pacific Northwest and an original mix of selected malted barley are used to make the drink. Fortress: 4,6%.
Miller High Life Light
Low-calorie version of Miller High Life, created in 1994. Instead of maltose, it contains dextrose. In one bottle - 107 kcal. Strength: 4,1%.
Miller Lite
Another light version of the lager, the first national low-calorie beer containing only 96 kcal. Produced according to the recipe of 1975.
The composition includes Pacific and Zhatetsky varieties of hops, caramel malt, water, dextrose and a special strain of yeast imported by the company's founder from Germany in the 50s of the XIX century. Strength: 4,2%.
Interesting facts
Champagne style bottles
Miller High Life, first released in 1903, was bottled in conical transparent champagne-style bottles.
With the help of the original vessel, the creator wanted to bring ordinary people closer to secular life.
4-stage cold filtration system
For maximum product purification, Miller plants use a 4-stage cold filtration system.
The beginning of modern technology was laid at the end of the XIX century, when drinks were placed in limestone caves with ice blocks to cool them down.
The difficult path of the founder
Frederick Miller's life was littered with not only achievements but also numerous tragedies. The founder of the company had to bury his first wife and 7 children.
After his death, his second wife and surviving sons took over the family business and charitable activities.
It is noteworthy that all the descendants of the great brewer who ran the company bore his name (Frederick Miller).
Girls on the moon
The iconic image of the "Girl in the Moon" for the American marketing industry was first used on decorative plates in 1907.
According to legend, it was dreamt up by Miller's advertising manager, who got lost while hunting in the forests of Northern Wisconsin.
The advertising slogans "Brewed With Pure Rocky Mountain Water", "America’s Fine Light Beer", "Welcome to Miller Time".
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The product appeared on the domestic market in the mid-90s and was positioned as a club camp.
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In 2003, Miller, produced by the Kaluga Brewing Company, was recognized as the best beer brewed outside the United States and received the Frederick Miller Honorary Award.
Update: 25.06.2019
Category: Beer, Cider, Ale