Established in 1895 as Gettelman's Milwaukee's Best Beer, Miller Brewing Company shortened the brand name to Milwaukee's Best when they took over the A. Gettelman Brewing Company of Milwaukee in 1961. Since then, the Best family has grown to include the popular Milwaukee’s Best Ice, introduced in 1994, and its best-selling offering, Milwaukee's Best Light which was introduced in 1986. MBL contains 3.5g of carbohydrates, and 0 g of fat. Milwaukee's Best Light is the Official Beer Sponsor of the 2009 World Series of Poker, which continues a relationship between the two entities that began in 2006. According to a report by Beer Marketer's Insights and published by USA Today on December 9, 2013, sales of Milwaukee’s Best in America have declined in recent years. Despite MillerCoors shipping nearly 2 million barrels in 2007, sales of the beer dropped over the next five years, with just 1.1 million barrels sold.
Products
Milwaukee's Best Lager
In the fall of 2016, the alcohol content was increased from 4.3% to 4.8%, and the name changed from "Milwaukee's Best Premium" to "Milwaukee's Best Lager." The name was eventually changed back to "Milwaukee's Best Premium."
Milwaukee's Best Ice
In the fall of 2016, the alcohol content was increased from 5.9% to 6.9%. In August 2017, it was reduced back to 5.9%.
Silver medal, 2003 Great American Beer Festival, American Lager/Ale or Cream Ale
Milwaukee's Best Light
Silver medal, 2006 Great American Beer Festival, American-Style Light Lager
Bronze medal, 2009 United States Beer Championships, American Light
Milwaukee's Best Ice
Platinum medal, 2020 4-time Best Ice in America
Platinum medal, 2019 three-peat Best Ice in America
Platinum medal, 2018 back-to-back Best Ice in America
Platinum medal, 2017 Best Ice in America
Bronze medal, 2003 Great American Beer Festival, American-Style Specialty Lager
Bronze medal, 2006 World Beer Cup, American-Style Specialty Lager.
Advertising
In 2006, MillerCoors ran a series of ads depicting men who were perceived as being unmanly, and are subsequently crushed by a giant can of Milwaukee's Best Light falling from the sky, followed by the slogan "Men should act like men, and light beer should taste like beer." In 2016, advertisements for Milwaukee's Best Ice drew criticism for their focus on the increased alcohol content of the beer.
