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Miller is an American beer brand owned by brewing giant SABMiller until 2016. Following a takeover by its main competitor, the multinational corporation Anheuser-Busch Inbev, SABMiller sold its stake in MillerCoors to Molson Coors Brewing Company (Canada), which acquired all rights to the Miller brand portfolio outside the US and Puerto Rico. Beer under the brand name “Miller” is brewed at the facilities of 7 plants located in 6 states. Licensed production is organized in Canada, Turkey, Russia.
Historical reference. Miller Brewing Company was founded in 1855 by Frederick J. Miller, who moved to the USA from the German city of Hohenzollern. According to legend, in the jacket pocket of a freshly baked immigrant lay his main wealth – German brewer’s yeast. It is this strain that is still used today to produce some sorts of Miller beer. The purchase of a small Plank Road brewery in Milwaukee was a good investment. The strategically advantageous location of the brewery provided easy access to raw materials produced on neighboring farms.
After the death of the founder of the brand in 1888, his sons continued the brewing business and philanthropic activities. Since 1904, the company was the first in the United States to implement automated filling, capping and labeling of bottles. Bottled beer meant more choice for customers, increased brand awareness, which led to increased sales. In 1936, the production of canned beer began at the plant.
The company remained under the control of the Miller family until 1966, when the controlling stake in WR Grace was sold. Three years later, Miller Brewing came under the control of the Phillip Morris concern, which bought it out for $3 million. In 130, as a result of a merger with South African Breweries, the second largest brewing corporation in the world, SABMiller, was formed. In 2002, the corporation was swallowed up by its main competitor, AB InBev, in a global deal worth $2016 billion. Miller’s brand portfolio was sold to Molson Coors – having become the owner of Miller Brewing, it plans to retain the MillerCoors name and headquarters in Chicago.
Awards
Australian International Beer Awards, Балларэт:
- 2011 – 2 silver (Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Chill) medals;
- 2012 – 2 silver (Miller Chill, Miller Genuine Draft) medals;
- 2014 – Silver (Miller Genuine Draft) medal.
World Beer Cup, США:
- 2004, 2006, 2016 – the title of Champion Brewery in the category of large brewing companies;
- 1996 – Gold (Miller Lite) medal;
- 1998 – Gold (Miller Lite), 2 silver (Miller High Life Ice, Miller Genuine Draft) medals;
- 2000 – Silver (Miller High Life Light), bronze (Miller Genuine Draft Light) medals;
- 2002 – 2 gold (Miller Lite, Miller High Life), silver (Ice House) medals;
- 2004 – Silver (Miller High Life Light) medal;
- 2006 – 3 gold (Miller High Life, Miller Lite, Icehouse) and bronze (Milwaukee’s Best Ice) medals;
- 2014 – Silver (Miller Genuine Draft) medal;
- 2016 – Gold (Miller Lite) and Silver (Miller High Life) medals.
Great American Beer Festival, Денвер:
- 2000 – Silver (Miller Genuine Draft) medal;
- 2003, 2004 – Silver (Miller High Life) medal;
- 2006 – Silver (Miller High Life) and bronze (Fred Miller’s Classic Chocolate Lager) medals;
- 2009 – Silver (Miller High Life) medal;
- 2010 – Gold (Miller Lite) and bronze (Miller Genuine Draft) medals;
- 2012 – Silver (Miller Lite) medal;
- 2013 – Silver (Miller High Life) medal.
U.S. Open Beer Championship:
- 2009 – Bronze (Milwaukee’s Best Light) medal.
North American Beer Awards, Idaho Falls:
- 2010 – 2 silver (Miller High Life, Miller Lite) medals;
- 2012 – Silver (Miller Lite) medal;
- 2015 – Silver (Miller Lite) medal.
The International Brewing Awards, Лондон:
- 2015 – Gold (Miller Lite) medal.
Superior Taste Award, Brussels:
- 2015, 2016 – Excellent Taste Award (Miller Lite).
International competition of beer, non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks, Kiev:
- 2015 – Gold (Miller Genuine Draft) medal for “High quality beer from a foreign manufacturer”.
The Dieline Awards, Chicago:
- 2017 – First place for Miller Lite packaging design.
PRO Awards, New York:
- 2017 – Bronze Award for “Best Cross Media Interaction”.
Interesting Facts
MillerCoors is the only brewing company that employs three certified holders of the honorary title of Master Cicerone at once (there are 16 of them in the world). To achieve this title, you must pass an intensive two-day test that includes a written essay, an oral exam in front of 12 industry experts, tasting and describing the features of more than 40 beers.
Types of beer Miller
Miller High Life, 4,6%
The most popular and titled variety of the brand, the recipe of which was developed by Frederick J. Miller in 1903. The drink acquired its cult status in 1933 – it was it that the American President Roosevelt received as a gift on the occasion of the celebration of the repeal of Prohibition. Due to the high level of carbonation, High Life is not inferior to champagne in terms of the number of “bubbles”, which is recorded in the label adorning the slogan “The Champagne of Beers”. The style is an American lager of amber-golden color, with a pearl head of foam. The main components of the aroma are bready and grassy notes. Malt sweetness, notes of hops and fruits are expressed in the taste. The tongue-tingling carbonic acid does not interfere with the enjoyment of beer.
Miller Genuine Draft, 4,6%
One of the most successful products of the brand is unpasteurized packaged beer, which practically does not differ in taste from draft beer. In 1985, Martin Calle, the owner of the Calle & Company agency, was brought in to develop the draft beer concept. When brewing, a four-fold cold filtration technology is used, provided by the specialists of the Japanese company Sapporo Breweries. Light golden color matches the style, when poured into a glass, a dome of white plentiful foam forms. The aromatic range is made up of tones of wild flowers, corn, rye bread. The taste harmoniously combines malt, fruit-yeast and hop notes. The optimal serving temperature is 5-7 ° C, barbecue chicken wings and cheese nachos are perfect as snacks.
Miller Midnight, 4,5%
The variety was developed specifically for the Russian market, the master brewers from Milwaukee Jacky Lohmann and Rhonda Danenberg worked on the recipe. A carefully crafted blend of pale and caramel malts has created a dark lager with a light and refreshing character. The beer is garnet-brown in color, with a slowly settling head of foam and large bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Caramel, fresh pastries, characteristic aroma of hop cones are heard in the bouquet. Saturation with carbon dioxide makes itself felt with a slight tingle and saltiness, a hint of prunes and a restrained bitterness of dark chocolate appear in the dry aftertaste. Gastronomic beer that will be successfully combined with both traditional snacks and various desserts.
