Milwaukee's Best

Milwaukee's Best Beer was originally introduced in 1895 by the small A. Gettelman Brewing

Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  In 1961, this company was acquired by Miller Brewing. 

Miller introduced a reformulated Milwaukee's Best Beer in 1984, and it has been a wildly

popular value-priced beer brand ever since.  "The Beast," as it is known by party drinkers, is

infamous for delivering a particularly miserable hang-over.  As I only drink beer as a aficionado,

I have no first-hand knowledge of this beer's hang-over qualities.

My opinion of "The Beast" is that it is one of the better beer values for those who appreciate

American-style adjunct lager.  It has a robust taste, and a deep yellow color.  I think reasons

for it's notorious reputation are its strong beer flavor, it's cheap price positioning (it's not even

sold in bottles!), and it's hangover reputation.  But, from a neutral perspective, this beer is

obviously made with care, and it holds its own against other American beers.  For an enjoyable

crisp, clean finish Milwaukee's Best is one to get.  And, it has the body and bite that many will

appreciate and that some will recoil from.

One Note:  I still think the original can design, which I only have a picture of from Miller Brewing

literature, was the best design of this beer.  It was beautiful: a brick-red & gold shield with a

drawing of horses pulling wagons full of beer barrels.  I do have the second version of this can, but

the picture is cropped inside the logo shield.  In 1998, Miller began to make radical changes to the

can (and at that time, bottle) design.  However, even with this year's change (the brand's sixth since

1984) they've continued with the shield, which was always part of the logo in some way.

Count me in as a Milwaukee's Best fan!