Mickey's Fine Malt Liquor

Mickey's Fine Malt Liquor, acquired by Miller Brewing Company from Pabst Brewing
Company in their famous 1999 mega-deal, has a 5.6% alcohol level, which is high for
beer, but not particularly so for malt liquor (extra-strong beer).  Miller does not indicate
when Mickey's was first introduced, nor do they provide any information about what
company first made it, so this remains a mystery to me.  Mickey's Ice, with 5.8%
alcohol is also sold in some markets.  Mickey's is sold in the famous barrel-shaped 12
oz. bottle (6 packs) and in 40 oz. bottles.  It is also available in 16 oz. and 24 oz. cans. 

The drinker will notice that Mickey's has a light, fruity (almost citrus) taste and has a
more regular beer taste than a strong or harsh malt liquor flavor, and this is probably
part of it's appeal.  Mickey's is also famous for it's "fighting hornet" logo character.  I
would highly recommend giving this beer a chance.  You might just become a fan.
Mickey's is not advertised on television, but one might find point-of-sale advertisements
in liquor stores.

A NOTE:  It is recommended that Mickey's not be drunk from the bottle as the green
glass may allow light to spoil the beer.  The canned version is the safer choice.

Magnum Malt Liquor

Magnum Malt Liquor was introduced by Miller Brewing Company in 1981.  Until 1999, which the acquisition of the Mickey's brands, this was Miller's only malt liquor offering.  According to their
website, "Magnum delivers smooth, refreshing beer taste and enjoyment in a malt liquor."  Miller
provides absolutely no television or radio advertising for this product, but you might occasionally
see some point-of-sale advertising at liquor stores.  In paper literature from Miller, which I have in
my beer files, it is stated "Most larger American breweries include a malt liquor in their menu of
products.  Malt liquors are beers with a distinctive taste profile and slightly higher alcohol content.
Malt liquor shipments represent a relatively small segment of the beer industry."  That is about as
to-the-point and non-hyped a description of a product as you'll ever see.  Magnum is certainly low
on the Miller sales chart, but for over thirty years it has remained a steady-selling beer, and it does
have its followers. 

In my opinion, Magnum holds its own against other brands in the malt liquor sub-genre of
American-style adjunct lagers.  Magnum is a smoother and more easy-drinking beer than others
of its ilk, but it does have the requisite kick one expects from extra-strong beers.  The corn
ingredient does shine through in the color (golden) and taste (corny/grainy).  But, if you like a
full-bodied beer flavor, you might just enjoy this.  It should go especially well with cheese and
crackers or pizza.  It's a beer that one would expect to see at parties or at a ball-game watching
get-together.  I doubt many would bring this to a dinner party, though. 

Magnum is most commonly sold in 40 oz. "party size" bottles, but I have seen it in 22 oz. bottles,
18 oz. bottles, 16 oz. cans, and even 12 oz. cans (in 6 or 12 packs). 

A NOTE:  It is recommended that Magnum Malt Liquor be drunk poured from cans or on draft
(which you'll never see), as the clear glass bottles may allow light to spoil it.

Steel Reserve 211

Steel Reserve High Gravity was introduced in 1994 by McKenzie River Corporation of San Francisco, California and bought up by SAB/Miller in 2001. Due to US and state government regulations that do not allow beer to be sold with an alcohol level above about 5%, Steel Reserve is often not referred to as beer, but "lager."
Interestingly, while in Britain strong beers are sold as ESB (extra-strong beer), in the USA they
are marketed as "malt liquor," "ale," or "lager."  But those are really just other words for various
beer styles.  So, have no doubt, it IS beer.  Steel Reserve is sold in varying alcohol levels.  In
Louisiana the 6% alcohol version is available, while the 8.1% version in more common nationally.
This product can be found at most any store that sells beer and is sold in a number of containers
and packages:  12 oz., 16 oz., and 24 oz. cans, and 18 oz., 22 oz. and 40 oz. bottles, although I've
never seen it sold in traditional 12 oz. bottles.  Another version, Steel Reserve 211 Triple
Export is also sold in a few select areas of the country with a black label. This beer has the exact same specifications has the normal Steel Reserve, however. Miller says Steel Reserve High Gravity is "slow-brewed with extra barley and select hops, giving it an exceptionally smooth taste."  I have tried this product from time to time over the past decade and "smooth" was never one of the attributes I associated with Steel Reserve.  "Harsh" or "unforgiving" might have been terms I would have used to describe it.  But, I must say, this beer does grow on the drinker over time, and now I rather enjoy having one every so often.  The regular beer drinker will probably find
it hard to take, while the light beer drinker will probably have trouble even swallowing it, but I still recommend it to those seeking to expand their beer-drinking horizons.  I you have patience and an iron will, you may eventually become a fan of Steel Reserve.

Steel Reserve 211 won a gold medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival and a bronze medal at the 2009 World Beer Cup.

A NOTE:  It is recommended that this beer not be drunk from the bottle, as the clear glass may
allow light to spoil it.

Miller Genuine Draft

After being test-marketed in 1985, Miller Genuine Draft (originally Miller High Life Genuine Draft)
was rolled out nationally in 1986.  Miller's trade-mark cold-filtering process allows this beer to be
shipped and stored warm without undergoing pasteurization.  Except for the fact that Miller High
Life is pasteurized, and not cold filtered, these two products have identical alcohol, calories, carbs,
protein, etc.  MGD was the first large-scale bottled/canned draft beer, although other brands,
notably Piels, had previously introduced such a product as early as the 1970s.  While no longer
heavily marketed (MGD 64 has replaced it as the flag-ship brand of the line, and is given heavy
commercial rotation), MGD is a strong seller and is almost always found on store shelves, usually
in 12 oz. cans or bottles and in 6, 12, 24, or 30 count packages.  One will occasionally see MGD
in tall 24 oz. cans or in 16 oz. plastic bottles at ballgames.  Positioned at the premium-priced level,
MGD competes directly with Budweiser and Coors, although Miller High Life, positioned at the
sub-premium level, is a much bigger-selling Miller product, and receives enormously more
advertising attention from Miller Brewing Company. 

For those who might appreciate a light-bodied, semi-sweet beer, with an average alcohol level
(4.7%), Miller Genuine Draft should fit the bill.  You might be surprised by how well this beer
accompanies a sandwich and chips.

Red Dog

Red Dog beer was introduced by Miller Brewing Company in 1994, under the umbrella of the
Plank Road Brewery line (also including Icehouse and later Icehouse Light and Southpaw
Light).  Initially, Red Dog was heavily marketed as premium beer, with many television
commercials and print ads.  Apparently, the beer was not a great success because after a few
years almost all advertising stopped and Red Dog was relegated to the value-priced segment.
It is now sold in direct competition with Natural Ice, Schlitz, Old Milwaukee, and even
Milwaukee's Best, which is another Miller brand.  Red Dog is sold in 12 oz. cans, 16 oz. cans,
12 oz. bottles, 32 oz. bottles, 40 oz. bottles, and other container formats.  While not wildly
popular, and considered a cheap beer, it is a steady seller, and is stocked on most store
shelves, usually in cans. 

I find Red Dog to be a better-than-average beer.  It has good body and a nice bite to it.  It's a
bit darker than other mass-produced adjunct lagers, and it really does have a reddish hue to it's
overall golden color.  At 5% alcohol it is high-average for alcohol content.  For those who
appreciate a slightly stronger tasting, richer, and heavier standard beer, this should satisfy.  It is
probably most suitable for an afternoon cookout or fish fry.  I suggest giving this beer a try if
you've never had it. 

Rhinelander Beer

Rhinelander Beer has a history that is pretty much typical for regional American-style beer brands- started by ethnic Germans in the late 1800s, took a body blow during Prohibition, enjoyed a post-World War II heyday, then slowly deteriorated during the inevitable consolidation era of the late 20th Century, only to be resurrected by an outside interest, who swooped up the brand for a cheap price, hoping to capitalize on the "retro" or "hipster" fads of the last decade. But, most of the regional brands, aside from Yuengling and, possibly Lone Star, have not really become popular and continue to occupy shelf space in the dark corners of neighborhood beer outlets.

Otto Hilgermann and Henry Danner founded Rhinelander Brewery in 1882 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. It was rebuilt following an 1897 fire. Operations ceased during the 1919-1933 Prohibition era, and after restarting in 1933, and brewing as an independent company for over thirty years, Rhinelander was bought out by Joseph Huber Brewing Company, and all brands were moved to that company's brewery in Monroe, Wisconsin. No commercial brewing has existed in the town of Rhinelander since then. During their post-World War II heyday the Rhinelander Brewery was producing about 40,000 barrels per year, and the 7-ounce "Shorty" bottle was their most popular offering. Of course, buying out smaller, struggling breweries was no help, and Joseph Huber Brewing was in trouble by the 1970s, and after being passed around to different owners, the entire operation was purchased by Canadians, Ravinder Minhas and family, who immediately changed the name of the company to Minhas Craft Brewery. They also operate a brewery in Calgary, Canada.

Jyoti Auluck purchased the ownership rights to the Rhinelander line from Minhas in 2009, but Minhas continues to contract-brew the beers for Rhinelander. Auluck has indicated a desire to resume brewing operations in Rhinelander at some future point. In 2011 the Shorty 7 oz. bottle was returned to the Rhinelander line.

This author has never tried any Rhinlander product, but he does own a Rhinelander can from the late 1970s.





               

Miller High Life

Miller High Life, "The Champagne of Beers," and formerly "The Champagne of Bottle Beer," was introduced by Miller Brewing Company in 1903.  It is available in clear glass bottles, cans, or on draft.  This product is one of the leaders in the beer industry and is heavily promoted and advertised.  "It's Miller Time" might be its most famous and classy ad campaign.  Miller High Life is positioned in the sub-premium pricing range, below the Miller Genuine Draft line and above Red Dog and the Milwaukee's Best line.  It is comparable in price level to the Busch line from Anheuser-Busch/Inbev.  Before the advent of MGD, Miller High Life was positioned at the premium level in direct competition with Budweiser and Coors.  Interestingly, when Miller Genuine Draft first debuted in 1984, it was called Miller High Life Genuine Draft.  Miller High Life is available in 7 oz., 12 oz., 18 oz., 32 oz., and 40 oz. bottles, and in 12 oz., 16 oz., and 24 oz. cans.  It can also be found on draft.

For those who enjoy a fairly light, highly carbonated beer, with a moderate alcohol level, Miller High Life should be a pleasant experience.  Besides its bubbly champagne aspect, it's also quite dry as well.  In fact, I find this to be one of the driest-bodied beers on the market.  High Life also has a subdued, snappy hop aspect.  This is an acceptable beer to bring along for a evening dinner party, but it is probably more appropriate for a crawfish boil or an afternoon barbecue.  For a dinner party beer, one might consider Miller Genuine Draft or one of the Miller craft products (Henry Weinhard's or Leinenkugel's).  Anyway, High Life is a venerable and respected beer.