Milwaukee's Best

Lore & Background

The brand began in 1895 as Gettelman's Milwaukee's Best Beer. After Miller Brewing Company acquired the A. Gettelman Brewing Company in 1961, the name was shortened to Milwaukee's Best. The best-selling offering, Milwaukee's Best Light, was introduced in 1986, followed by Milwaukee's Best Ice in 1992. In the fall of 2016, the alcohol content of the original lager was increased from 4.3% to 4.8%, and the name changed from "Milwaukee's Best Premium" to "Milwaukee's Best Lager," though it later reverted to "Milwaukee's Best Premium." Milwaukee's Best Ice saw its alcohol content increased from 5.9% to 6.9% in fall 2016, then reduced back to 5.9% in August 2017. It is sometimes referred to as "the Yeti."

Reader's Guide

Milwaukee's Best has received several awards at the Great American Beer Festival, including a bronze medal in 2005 for American-Style Lager, silver medals in 2004 and 2003 for American-Style Lager and American Lager/Ale or Cream Ale, respectively. Its Light variant won a silver medal in 2006 for American-Style Light Lager and a bronze in 2009 at the United States Beer Championships. Milwaukee's Best Ice earned bronze medals at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival and the 2006 World Beer Cup, both in the American-Style Specialty Lager category. The brand's advertising has included a 2006 campaign for Milwaukee's Best Light featuring men crushed by a giant can, with the slogan "Men should act like men, and light beer should taste like beer." In 2016, ads for Milwaukee's Best Ice drew criticism for focusing on its increased alcohol content. Sales declined in later years: MillerCoors shipped nearly 2 million barrels in 2007, but only 1.1 million barrels were sold by 2013. Molson Coors discontinued the original Milwaukee's Best in August 2021, though the Ice and Light varieties continued.

Did You Know?

• Milwaukee's Best is sometimes called 'the Beast'.
• Milwaukee's Best Ice is sometimes called 'the Yeti'.
• Milwaukee's Best Light became the Official Beer Sponsor of the 2009 World Series of Poker, continuing a relationship that began in 2006.
• The original Milwaukee's Best was discontinued in August 2021, but the Ice and Light varieties were not included in the change.