takesontaps-blog

[takesontaps-blog]

Takes On Taps

           Hey folks, welcome to the next chapter of my beer blog! If you remember last weeks blog, I explained the differences between Ales and Lagers, as well as taking an in-depth look at a few examples of each, such as: Pilsners, Porters, Wheat Beers and India Pale Ales (IPAs). I wanted to ensure that all my readers have an understanding of the main differences between certain beers, so that we can now go even further by exploring specific beers and what makes them unique! I’d like to start by sharing some of my all-time favorites, some of which I’ve had right in my hometowns of Milwaukee and La Crosse, WI and some of which I had to travel across the country and even out of the country to try!

                                       New Glarus Moon Man

           New Glarus Brewing Company is renowned for producing “indigenous beer”, meaning they produce beer in Wisconsin and don’t sell it anywhere outside the state. No matter where someone is from, they are usually familiar with New Glarus and when they hear the brand them, they tend to associate it with Spotted Cow. Let’s be honest, Spotted Cow is a seriously good beer. In fact, I just had my Aunt and Uncle from Texas visit Wisconsin and they purchased a pack of Spotted Cow to bring home to Texas. However, I’m a firm believer that Moon Man is a truly underappreciated New Glarus brew. This isn’t to say it isn’t extremely popular, it’s still one of the more popular New Glarus beers, I just personally think it has what it takes to stand side-by-side with Spotted Cow. What makes Moon Man so unique is its style and flavor. Moon Man is classified as a No Coast Pale Ale. Pale Ales are generally thought of as lighter, smoother beers, especially when compared to IPA’s. Don’t let that assumption fool you, this Pale Ale is packed with bold flavor. This session beer is created with a blend of five bright, bold hops that fuse perfectly with a malty undertone. A 5% alcohol by volume (ABV) is masked with a fruity taste. The fruity taste comes from a fusion of oranges, grapefruits and lemon. In my opinion, the orange stands out the most which makes it a truly refreshing brew. Some folks enjoy a beer with a fruitier taste on those hot Summer days. To those people, I say grab an orange-slice garnish, glass and pour yourself a Moon Man, you won’t regret it!

                                      New Glarus Belgian Red

           While I’m on the topic of New Glarus beers, I have to mention the New Glarus Belgian Red. I first tried this beer last May when I grabbed my girlfriend 21 different craft beers as part of her 21st birthday celebration. She let me try a sip of the New Glarus Belgian Red and I had to do everything in my power to not revoke a birthday present from someone. This brew is a style of its own, being defined as a Wisconsin Cherry Ale. This Cherry Ale is the perfect concoction of wine and beer. What makes this beer so different from any other I’ve tried are the ingredients. This beer is brewed with Wisconsin Farmed Wheat, Hallertau hops and Belgian Roasted Barleys. There is one more main ingredient to this brew and I think it’s the… cherry on top. Cherries! Over one pound of whole Door County Montmorency Cherries goes into each bottle. Not each brewery tank, not each keg or case, each bottle! This beer is so unique that New Glarus Brewing Company applied for a patent on it. The Belgian Red is highly carbonated and pours as a beautiful ruby red color. The Belgian Red is by far the most sweet and tart beer I have ever tasted. The flavor is impeccable. Since it delivers such a tartness, I don’t think I’d be able to drink more than one at a time, making it more of an occasional beer. In my opinion, this makes the Belgian Red the perfect beer for celebrations and special events! If you make it to Wisconsin, make sure you don’t overlook the Wisconsin Belgian Red, it’s a true delicacy.

                                Pearl Street Downtown Brown

           The Downtown Brown is arguably my favorite all-around beer. The Downtown Brown, or DTB, is an all-malt brown-ale. It is brewed with six different malts which combine to create a complex, almost roasted-nut undertone with lots and lots of flavor. The tasty malt flavor is balanced out with both American and British hops, making it an exceptionally drinkable brew. The main reason the Downtown Brown is arguably my favorite beer of all-time is because of how drinkable it is. Certain nights call for certain beers. Some nights I might be in the mood for a Porter and other nights I might be feeling an IPA or a Pilsner. No matter the occasion, I am always down for a Downtown Brown. The beer is a La Crosse, WI local and is seen on tap in almost any bar downtown. No matter which day or night it is, I will always be ready to drink a Downtown Brown. I’m not the only one, either! Pearl Streets’ Downtown Brown was a gold medal winner at The World Beer Championships. My motto for indecisiveness has evolved into, “When in doubt, Downtown Brown”. Treat yourself to this fine brew, your taste buds will thank you for it!

                                New Holland Dragon’s Milk

           Dragon’s Milk is definitely one of the boldest beers I have had. Dragon’s Milk is made by New Holland Brewing who classifies the beer as a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout, however, you might be more familiar with the style Imperial Stout. Like the Downtown Brown, this brew is malt-heavy and has a bold flavor in every sip. A handful of the grains that go into this dark beer are Munich, Caramel, Black, Chocolate Malt and Flaked Barley. Dragon’s Milk utilizes Nugget and Brewer’s Gold hops to help balance the heavy, rich grains that go into production. The final product is a roasty-malt flavor with strong hints of vanilla. However, it wouldn’t be the final product without the aging process. The brew is aged in bourbon barrels which gives this beer the little extra push it needs to be one of the most flavor-packed beers out there. Dragon’s Milk comes in at an ABV of 11%, much higher than any of the other beers I have mentioned thus far. No need to worry, the punch of the alcohol is well-hidden from the vanilla and malts, just don’t drink too many too fast! The beer has one of the most soothing aromas and appearances of just about any beer, all backed by a real-deal flavor. If you get the chance to try New Hollands’ Dragon’s Milk, hop on it!

                                               Dos Equis Blanca

           Okay, so it might not be the first brand that pops into your head when you think top-notch beer. Trust me on this one. I’ve had local beer from all over the United States, I’ve even had local German beer, in Germany! I’ve tried hundreds of different beers and when I try to fathom my top-five, this beer is a candidate for making that cut. Dos Equis Blanca (different from Amber!) is a clean, easy-going Witbier. The Dos Equis Blanca is a perfect combination of everything you look for in a well-balanced beer. Fair amount of hops, little bit of spice to even out the bitterness of those hops and a wheat base to really simmer the whole thing down. This beer is incredibly clean and crisp, making it very easy to drink, especially on those hot Summer days. Not everyone is willing to try different beers, or some people have and they just know that they don’t like deep, dark Porters or well-hopped IPA’s and just prefer the more “traditional”, balanced-beer. Like the “traditional” beer, the Dos Equis Blanca has a wonderful golden pour with a nice head of foam if you give it the right pour. If you tend to be a bit more conservative in your beer choices, this brew might be your calling, so give it a try!

           I could go on and on about the hundreds of beers I’ve tried in my lifetime, and hopefully one day I’ll have the opportunity to! For now, I just wanted to start with a handful of beers that are unique in their own way. Each of these beers has a flavor that is unmatched, and the best part is, they are all fairly attainable, so you can give them a try the next time you see one in a brewpub, bar or market! One of the best parts of being a beer-blogger is being able to exchange my knowledge and opinions with fellow beer-drinkers. Over time, I’ve learned to be a fan of all beers and I invite you to send your taste buds on an adventure the next time you come across an unfamiliar beer, you never know what you might like until you pour it into a glass and give it a try! With that being said, I’d love to hear your thoughts on these beers if you’ve tried them, your thoughts if you try them down the road, or any recommendations you might have for me so I can try one of your favorite beers!

[takesontaps-blog]

Ales vs Lagers

           Hey, folks! I’d like to welcome all new and returning friends to my third beer blog! I’m excited about this one and I hope you are too! If you can think back to my first couple blogs (check them out, if you haven’t already!), I shared lots of great history and information surrounding some of the most prestigious breweries in my home state of Wisconsin. However, I’d like to start diving into the good stuff, beer! With that being said, I want to start gearing my blogs more towards my thoughts, opinions and recommendations of the beers I know and love. Although I’m eager to share my opinions of specific beers, I want to be sure that my readers are well-versed on the terminology that surrounds beer as well as the various categories of beer. And no, categories of beer aren’t Miller Lite, Bud Light and Coors Light. What I mean by “categories of beer” are the unique styles and brewing methods that separate one beer from the next. For example, you may have heard the term “lager” before. Lagers are a type of beer and pale lagers, also known as light lagers, are the world’s most commonly consumed beer today. Running in second place are the Ales. Nonetheless, beer extends far past Ales and Lagers, including variations such as: Bocks, Goses, Hefeweizens, Koelsches, Pilsners, Porters, Stouts, Schwarzbiers, Witbiers, Weissbiers… you get the idea. Beer has been around since 3,500 BC and over time, has been brewed in thousands of variations using vastly different ingredients. There are quite literally tens of thousands of beer variations out there. Seriously, think of the first adjective that comes to mind and now put “ale” after it, I’d be willing to bet that there is a beer out there with that style. Since beer has so many unique variations, there isn’t any one beer list that is completely agreed upon. There are, however, a couple categories that are distinct and agreed upon. Those categories are the Ales and the Lagers. Between the two, they house styles you may have heard of, including: American Lager, Pilsner, Wheat Beer, Saison, India Pale Ale, American Pale Ale, Stouts, Porters, Red Ales/Lagers, Brown Ales/Lagers and many more. The most significant differences between Ales and Lagers are the types of yeast they use and the temperature of the batch during the fermentation process. Ales utilize a yeast called saccharomyces cerevisiae which requires a warmer temperature during the fermentation process, usually around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer temperature causes yeast to rise to the top of the tank during fermentation. Lagers, on the other hand, use a yeast called saccharomyces pastorianus. This type of yeast requires a cooler temperature, generally in the ballpark of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the cooler temperature causes yeast to sink to the bottom of the tank. For the most part, that’s the only difference between the two. Ale’s utilize top fermenting while Lagers use bottom fermenting. Now that we have the basics out of the way, lets go over the good stuff, beer!

                                                     Pilsner

             Pilsners, a beer first produced way back in 1842 in the city of Pilsen is defined as a Pale Lager. Modern Pilsners are known for their very light and clear color. A Pilsners color may range anywhere between a pale to medium gold-yellow. What makes Pilsners such a largely consumed beer across the globe is how drinkable and easy-going it is. This type of beer is right in the range of 4.5%-5% alcohol by volume (ABV, hereafter). Although, an already light beer, any taste of alcohol is well concealed with varying levels of hop aromas and flavors. Since Pilsners are nearly a couple hundred years old, many countries have had their own take on the style. You might recognize a German-style Pilsner such as Beck’s, Bitburger or Holsten. No? Then perhaps the Dutch-style Pilsners such as Heineken and Amstel or the Belgian-style Pilsner like Stella Artois. If those beer brands are going over your head, then you’ll be sure to know the Czech-style Pilsner known around the globe as Budweiser.

                                                    *Pilsner Beer*

                                                  Wheat Beer

             Perhaps you like the lighter side of beers, but Pilsners just aren’t your thing. That’s okay! I’ll move into one of my favorite light beers, the Wheat beers. Wheat beers are typically a top-fermented brew which break down into two main varieties, Weissbier and Witbier. Weissbier and Witbier are both known as “white beer”, this is because Weiss is German for white and Wit is Dutch for white. Based on the German tradition, Wheat beers utilize a ratio of mixing 50% wheat to barley malt. This creates a colored top-fermentation, usually very light in shade. Traditionally, Weissbiers are served in a vase-shaped glass, although authentic German breweries and brewpubs tend to make their own glasses. I spent some time studying in Germany a few years back and it pains me that I haven’t had the chance to enjoy a Weissbier quite like my time in Germany. However, the Hofbrauhaus in Chicago and German-style beer gardens make for a pretty close imitation to the real deal. Belgian beers like the Witbier use a tradition of flavoring the brew with spices as well as plants such as coriander, orange peels, bitter oranges and other citruses instead of hops. This might ring a bell if you’re familiar with the Belgian-style white beer known as Blue Moon. Witbier is also popular in parts of the Netherlands as well, but no matter the region, you’ll likely notice that Witbiers look almost cloudy and white in appearance. Like Pilsners, Wheat beers generally sit at a lower ABV of 4.5%-6% making them very drinkable, especially on a hot Summer day. If you’re a fan of Wheat beer and would like to venture out to other varieties, you could let your taste buds explore variations such as: Berliner Weisse, Gose, Lambic, Weizenbier, Hefeweissbier, Kristallweizen, Dunkles Weissbier or a Weizenbock. All of these beers are in relation to Wheat beer and in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with any of them.

                                                     *Wheat Beer*

                                                India Pale Ale

           India Pales Ales are definitely a style I’m excited to get into because they seem to be getting more and more popular in recent years. India Pale Ales (IPAs) are in the Pale Ale family and are renowned for their unique, bitter flavor. They have a history dating back to the early 18th century when Pale Ales were all the rave in England. George Hodgson of the Bow Brewery was amongst the first brewers to export a Pale Ale to India, where it was then known as an India Pale Ale. Early IPAs, such as Hodgson’s, were only relatively high in ABV compared to most beer brewed in the day and would not have been known as a strong ale. However, over time an ingredient known as wort became well-fermented and began to leave behind fewer sugars and a stronger hop taste. Over time, IPA’s began to see an increase in ABV after countries such as America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and many more took a liking to the unique flavor. Today, most American IPA’s utilize American hops such as Cascade, Centennial, Colombus, Mosaic, Simcoe and several others. Since there are so many variations of just one ingredient, IPA’s could arguably be considered the most diverse style of beer. Even within the United States, West Coast and East Coast breweries tend to create their own style. East Coast IPA’s tend to utilize more malts which counterbalances the bitterness of the hops while West Coast IPA’s rely more heavily on hops, due in part to the close proximity of many hop fields in the Pacific Northwest. IPA’s have taken such a liking over time, that new variations such as Double, Triple and even Quadruple IPA’s were born. Single IPA’s, the most common IPA, tend to have a higher ABV than most beers typically ranging anywhere from 5%-9%. The higher ABV and unique, bitter flavor join forces to make India Pale Ales a true hit-or-miss for consumers. As I said earlier, IPA’s are one of the most diversified styles of beer in the world so even if you don’t like one IPA, don’t be discouraged from trying the next!

                                                   *India Pale Ale*

                                                       Porter

              This last category is one of my all-time favorites. The Porters. Porters, like IPA’s (Pale Ales, at the time) date back to the 18th century in England. Out of London emerged the Porter, a dark, medium-bodied beer with a heavy focus on malts that was balanced by a good amount of hops. As Porters became more and more popular in England, experimentation soon followed and Brewmasters began to tweak recipes, ABV and brewing methods. Early Porters were strong beers, even by modern standards. It wasn’t until World War I that Porters began to see limitations in strength in English breweries, this was due to the shortages of grain at the time. While England began to struggle with the production of Porters, other countries flourished. Ireland was also one of the first to brew the Porter. You may be familiar with the brand Guinness. Well, Arthur Guinness, founder of the company, first brewed the Porter in 1787 and by 1799, he had decided to phase out every other type of beer from his brewery. By 1817, the invention of roasted, malted barley was used to create a darker color and more distinct, burnt taste. Thereafter, Porters from all over the world focused on roasted, malted barley as the primary ingredient. Early Porters had an ABV around 6.6% which is about average for modern Porters, although they can be as low as 4% or as high as 9.5% ABV. The higher ABV and any bitterness is almost entirely masked by the malt-heavy flavor, which in my opinion, makes it one of the most enjoyable and drinkable beers of all.

                                                      *Porter Beer*

Pilsners, Wheat beers, India Pale Ales and Porters are just four out of thousands of beer styles. Each of these four styles branch out into hundreds of variations themselves, but it is important to remember that they all derive from either a top-fermentation or bottom-fermentation style, known formerly as Ales and Lagers.

[takesontaps-blog]

Beer Blog Two

             If you can recall last weeks blog, I talked all about where my love for beer first began. As a Milwaukee native and 21-year resident of Wisconsin, I think it’s in the fine detail of my state citizenship requirements to love and appreciate beer for all its worth. And to be honest, it’s not hard to do when you’ve been as spoiled as I’ve been. As you can tell from my last blog, I can go on and on about just one single brewery. To be fair, the Miller Brewing Company has a history and story that’s hard to match (just read last weeks blog, if you haven’t already!), but one of the things I will always appreciate about Wisconsin are all the microbreweries, craft breweries and their employees who put their blood, sweat and beers on the line. The beer industry is competitive and has rigorous barriers to entry, so when an owner decides to open a local brewery, they have to be all-in and must have a burning passion for the business and the beer. Fortunately, Wisconsin is home to many brewers who are passionate about their line of work. I’ve had the opportunity to see small breweries thrive and blossom into the success stories they are today. Whether it be the Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, the Pearl Street Brewery in La Crosse or the New Glarus Brewing Company out of New Glarus, each of these companies pride themselves on the hard, gritty and determined work of their employees. A local brewery begins with a small staff, which is why it is especially important to find employees who are just as passionate as the companies’ founders. For this blog, I’d like to make a tribute to the local Wisconsin breweries that “made it big” but remain humble and proud of the foundation in which it all began.

            New Glarus Brewing Company, one of the aforementioned breweries, is arguably the world’s most renowned indigenous beer company. Although this beer is sold exclusively through the New Glarus Brewing Company and Wisconsin retailers, almost any U.S. citizen would recognize a Spotted Cow or the New Glarus logo. So, how exactly did a company who sells exclusively through just one of fifty states become so successful? Well, it all started with the burning desire to succeed and the willingness to sacrifice it all from the founders. The co-founders and couple, Deb and Dan Carey, first relocated from Colorado to New Glarus, Wisconsin in 1993. Dan had sacrificed a job with the beer-behemoth known globally as Anheuser-Busch while Deb finished selling their Fort Collins, Colorado home to make the move possible. After the move to New Glarus, the company recognized by the State of Wisconsin as the New Glarus Brewing Company was born. The Carey’s brought with them their two elementary-aged children so they knew they needed to succeed. They began by purchasing second-hand brewing equipment from a failed brewery at a local auction, using the funds from the sale of their Colorado home. Deb quickly got to work with marketing the company while Dan, who had studied brewing in college, focused on the creation of the companies very first beer. After tireless work, the Edel Pils beer was launched and the New Glarus Brewing Company had recognition in New Glarus and in surrounding cities/counties. In the first year of business, the couple had produced and sold 300 gallons of beer, a remarkable amount for a company of two. Focused solely on expanding, Dan continued to drive the growth of the product line while Deb continued efforts on marketing. For a little while, in the mid 90’s, the company sold their product through Chicago. Growing tired of the commute to and from Chicago, something struck co-founder Deb Carey. This was exactly what they didn’t want to do when they moved to New Glarus from Fort Collins. Deb realized there was more than enough room to grow locally and Dan didn’t drop a high-ranking job with Anheuser-Busch to become a mass-producer of beer. The dream was always to provide a quality craft beer to the locals, thus their withdrawal from Chicago. Deb Carey was even quoted saying, “It’s not about the size. We’re trying to be profitable and take care of the people around us—that is really the goal”. And take care of the people, they have. Efforts re-shifted towards the quality of the products and the response was overwhelming. Wisconsinites love this brand, plain and simple. For a company selling exclusively to a state with less than six million residents, they have managed to break the top-20 for largest craft breweries in terms of beer sales volume, per the Brewers Association. Although sales have only gone up in recent years, the possibility of re-entering other states is “not in the cards for New Glarus”, according to Deb. This company will remain indigenous for the foreseeable future which just adds to the list of reasons I love the New Glarus Brewing Company.     

                 *New Glarus Brewing Company’s “Drink Indigenous” Label*

     New Glarus Brewing Company isn’t the only brewery to have deep roots in a local community. Pearl Street Brewery is a La Crosse, Wisconsin-based brewery that has been ingrained in the community for nearly two decades. Pearl Street Brewery was opened in 1999 when Brewmaster Joe Katchever, like the Carey’s, drove from Colorado to Wisconsin with only a 1984 Eagle Wagon and a trailer packed with brewery equipment. Joe and his dad started small in a subterranean brew house on Pearl Street, La Crosse, thus the name Pearl Street Brewery. Even in the beginning, Pearl Street Brewery has been so dedicated to serving the people of La Crosse that former La Crosse mayor, John Medinger, was the first to tap the inaugural keg at the breweries’ grand opening. Since that grand opening, Pearl Street Brewery has found remarkable success and quickly expanded and moved on from their Pearl Street location. However, rather than moving to a bigger city or state, they remained rooted in La Crosse and purchased the historic La Crosse Footwear building on Saint Andrews Street, where they are located today. Last year, I had the honor of speaking with Tami Plourde, co-owner and Director of Sales and Marketing with Pearl Street Brewery. Although the brewery took off in wild success, Tami and the rest of the “Brew Crew” have egos that have remained grounded. Tami was genuine and more than willing to answer some questions I had when she saw the passion I had for the business. I recall asking Tami what she thought Pearl Street Brewery’s biggest challenge would be going forward. Tami had responded by saying, “Changes in legislature. Big corporate beer wants all of us small independent craft brewers’ heads on a silver platter. They won’t stop until they stop us”. There’s almost something heroic about a local craft brewery battling the big-names while refusing to expand nationwide to become one themselves. Local has been the name of the game for Pearl Street Brewery for quite some time. Pearl Street Brewery has perhaps the best public relations of any business in La Crosse. The brewery covers the social facet of the business by handling any complaints or requests in a timely manner. Furthermore, they offer brewery tours twice a week and frequently bring live music straight to the brewery so the community can enjoy a craft beer with some music. Between tours and events, Pearl Street Brewery lets it be known that they appreciate the people who made them the successful brewery they are today. Don’t believe me? Just check out their social media platforms. They’re covered in community events and appreciation posts. What’s really unbelievable about this, is that customers come second to employees. Tami explained to me that the Pearl Street Brewery really emphasizes on investing in their employees. Without them, the company would not run the way it does and would be nowhere near as successful as they are now. To them, customers come in a close second, Tami said. As a bartender in La Crosse, I’ve also had the pleasure of running into Kaleb, the La Crosse County Brand Manager for Pearl Street Brewery. From the handful of experiences I’ve had with him, it’s clear that Kaleb loves his job and his company. They treat the employees right. You can even go on to their website (http://pearlstreetbrewery.com/the-brewery/) and read a short bio of each and every employee, from the “Fix-It” guy to the Tour Guides and every employee in between. It’s the small things that make all the difference in the world when working as a local, independent business.  It’s quite clear that Pearl Street Brewery found success by ensuring they started the company with employees who were dedicated to building the brewery from the ground up. The fact that they now have over 30 employees who produce and sell thousands of gallons of craft beer but remain in the city where it all started is truly remarkable and admirable.

                                        *Pearl Street Brewery Logo*

            Whether it be the New Glarus Brewing Company or the Pearl Street Brewery, Wisconsin is spackled with all sorts of craft brewers who are dedicated to serving the local community first. These companies focus on better rather than bigger, which is why Wisconsin is home to so many wonderful craft beers. As a 21-year resident of Wisconsin, I am truly lucky to have been able to grow side-by-side with so many local breweries. I’m happy to have been able to share a couple of my favorites with you, so thanks for the read! And as always, if you’re interested in some of the resources I used to develop this blog, or you’re just interested in learning more about the companies, links are posted below.

  http://allaboutbeer.com/new-glarus-25-years-on/

https://newglarusbrewing.com/

http://pearlstreetbrewery.com/

http://pearlstreetbrewery.com/the-brewery/

[takesontaps-blog]

Beer Blog One

        Beer! Beer! Just the word, is happiness to my ear. Greetings, friends! As a “beer connoisseur”, per say, I find joy in trying all different sorts of beers. From Stouts and India Pale Ales (IPA) to Pilsners and Porters, there isn’t a beer on the face of this Earth that I wouldn’t be willing to try. As I make my way through the bubbly world of beer, I’d like to share my take on taps, bottles, breweries and virtually everything beer with you. So, where can I start? Hmm, how about by sharing with you where my love for beer first began. I had my very first beer last September, when I turned 21 years old. Well, okay… maybe I had a beer or two before then. I was born and raised in Wisconsin, after all. Although Wisconsin is considered the Dairy State, any proud Wisconsinite would be able to tell you that beer could rival that nickname. It would be more than fair to say that my love for beer is due in part to my citizenship to Wisconsin. After all, I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, right next to the world-renowned Miller Brewing Company. Beer comes from all over the world and has been brewed using various techniques, tools and ingredients as far back as 3,500 BC! With over 5,000 years of history, I will have plenty of information to share on the wonderful world of beer. I’d like to start by paying homage to my birthplace and the place that makes me proud of where so many great beers come from today, Milwaukee.

        As I had mentioned, I was born in Milwaukee and would go on to spend the next 18 years of my life living there. The city is spackled with brewers, some of whom are smaller microbreweries specializing in craft beers and others who are making a name for themselves outside of Wisconsin. However, there is no bigger name in the modern beer business than the Miller Brewing Company.

        To provide some history on how Miller Brewing became the company it is today, I’ll start with the companies’ foundation that dates all the way back to 1855. Miller Brewing Company was founded by one Mr. Frederick Miller. Frederick Miller had emigrated from Germany in 1854, bringing with him a special brewer’s yeast that would set him apart from all the other breweries. Like most businesses, Frederick Miller started small by purchasing a local Milwaukee brewery named Plank Road Brewery. The brewery was located in an area called the Miller Valley. Due in part to Frederick’s last name, as well as the location in Miller Valley, the Plank Road Brewery was renamed and the Miller Brewing Company was born. The Miller Brewing Company would then go on to remain in the Frederick Miller family for over 100 years until the eventual sale to W. R. Grace and Company in 1966. The brewery swapped ownership yet again in 1969, 2002 and most recently in 2015 when Anheuser-Busch Inbev reached a full agreement to purchase the company for a whopping $107 billion dollars. The 2015 agreement was the most recent sale of the Miller Brewing Company, but it is important to note that the company merged with fellow beer behemoth MolsonCoors on October 10, 2016. When Frederick Miller founded the company in 1855, Miller Brewing Company had one facility with a staff of 25 employees who brewed 300 barrels of beer. Today, Miller Brewing Company operates: six breweries, five manufacturing plants, four distributorships, a glass bottle production facility, a label factory and several gas wells which employ roughly 9,500 people. Altogether, the company now brews more than 40 million barrels of beer per year. No, that’s not a typo, more than 40 million barrels of beer per year! This makes Miller Brewing Company the second largest brewery in the United States. I think it’s safe to say Frederick Miller would be proud of where his company is today (well, apart from his great granddaughter selling off the company in 1966).

                                              *Miller High Life Logo*

        Now the fun part, beer! MillerCoors (Joint name of Miller Brewing and Molson Coors) offers more than 50 beers. You might have heard of a few, such as: Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Leinenkugel’s, Redd’s, Coors, Miller 64, Red Dog, Smith and Forge, Sol Cerveza, Steel Reserve and Olde English 800. While I could go on and on about the many great beers MillerCoors has to offer, I’d like to stick to the original beers that the Miller Brewing Company offered prior to the merger in 2016.

        One of the more notable beers you might have heard of (especially the college kids) is Hamm’s and Hamm’s Special Light. While I do admit it’s not my favorite Miller product, it is one of the best beers in terms of bang-for-your-buck. A 30-can case of Hamm’s can run as little as $10-$12 dollars if you go to the right stores. With a light flavor that goes down easy, you could find yourself ten Hamm’s in by the end of the night. The best part? That could cost you as little as $3 or $4 dollars, talk about efficiency!

        Hamm’s might not be your first choice, and that’s okay! Miller Brewing Company also offers classics with much more flavor like Mickey’s. Mickey’s is a fine malt beverage with moderate bitterness and lots and lots of malts. One of the neatest things about Mickey’s is the innovative 12-ounce “grenade” bottle they can be found in. You may have seen a grenade-style bottle before, and that style all originated with Mickey’s! In a world of standard cans, you can keep it classy with a Mickey’s grenade bottle. However, if you’re looking for a little less class and a little more fun, virtually every gas station in the Milwaukee Area will offer a Mickey’s 40-ounce bottle. The 40-ounce bottles are a nice, cheap snag but I wouldn’t recommend making Mickey’s your first choice for drinking games like “Edward 40-Hands” (A game in which you tape a 40-ounce beer to each hand and begin drinking). This is because Mickey’s contains so many malts which will fill you up much faster than light beers like Hamm’s.

             *Mickey’s famous 12oz. grenade-style bottle and 40oz. bottle*

        Miller Brewing Company also has products you may not have heard of before, such as Miller Fortune. This product was brewed in lesser amounts than other Miller products which is why you may not have heard of it. Another reason why this beer is often unheard of is because production has come to a halt. There are still select stores, bars and restaurants that offer Miller Fortune so if you’re lucky enough to come across the jet-black Miller Fortune bottle, I’d give it a try! Part of what makes this beer so unique is that it was brewed with caramel malts and cascade hops. The malts and hops create the perfect balance for a smooth swallow, but this product is known to follow with a minor “bite” as it has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 6.9%, a bit higher than standard light beers.

        I’ve always been a huge fan of the Miller Brewing Company and part of the reason I’m such a big fan is because they brew my all-time favorite beer. I decided to save the best (in my opinion) for last. Miller High Life. The “Champagne of Beers”. Miller High Life is a classic American-style lager that dates all the way back to 1903. High Life was launched to be Miller’s flagship beer and to this day serves as a staple to the Miller name. I’m not sure if it’s the classic glass bottles or the fact that they use the original 1903 recipe, but something about this beer makes you feel authentic. In my opinion and in many others, there is nothing classier than a Miller High Life in a bottle which is why so many people gave it the nickname it has today, the Champagne of Beers.

                             *Miller High Life’s Iconic “Lady In The Moon”*

        As a beer lover, I am very fortunate to have been born and raised in Milwaukee. Milwaukee is home to so many great beers and the Miller Brewing Company products I’ve mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg for Milwaukee brews. The Miller Brewing Company paved the way for dozens of other brewers hoping to make a living doing what they love in Milwaukee. Even if beer isn’t your style, you’ll find the Miller name everywhere around the Milwaukee community. One of the most iconic instances is on the home field of the Milwaukee Brewers’. This major league baseball team plays home games in Miller Park, a renowned stadium that is positioned just three miles away from the original Miller Brewery that Frederick Miller first opened in 1855.

        I’d like to thank each of you for taking the time to read my first blog and if you’re interested in some of the resources I used to create this blog or just want to know more about the Miller Brewing Company, please see the links I have posted below. Cheers!

https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/miller-brewing?hashedNID=#1G22840500106

https://www.millercoors.com/beers/great-beers

https://www.millercoors.com/breweries/miller-brewing-company/brands-we-brew