Beer fans: we’re always looking for the next craft beer to get our hands-on. Ask any of us – nothing quite beats the enjoyment of trying new beers and finding new obsessions.
With so many beers on the market, we’re hardly running short of options.
If you’ve never heard of Miller Beer, you’re in for a treat. The Miller Brewing Company (now owned by Coors) is one of America’s most popular beer brands.
So, there’s a strong chance you’ve already tried one of their lagers for yourself. If you haven’t, or you simply want to know more about the infamous Miller Beer.
Stick with us to learn everything you need to know about this incredible brewery, its rich history, and its super clean, super tasty beer.
What Is Miller Beer?
Miller is a type of pale lager that’s produced in the USA. Miller Genuine Draft is the most popular miller beverage, and it promises a taste of crisp, fresh draught with every sip.
The Miller Brewing Company is based in Wisconsin, America. Beer giants Molson Coors took over the entire brand and portfolio in 2016 but still operates at the original Miller Brewing Company complex.
The Miller Brewing Company was initially founded in 1855 by Frederick Miller, and since then, Miller beer has become one of the most popular beer brands in America. They have an array of popular lagers, including:
- Miller Genuine Draft
- Miller High Life
- Miller Lite
- Miller Ultra
- Miller Valley Fredrick Millers Chocolate Lager
How Is Miller Beer Made?
Miller beer is made in several ways, depending on the specific type of lager you’re drinking. For the purposes of this article, let’s look at the process behind two of Millers’ most popular lagers: Genuine Draft and Miller Lite.
Miller Genuine Draft: How Is It Made?
Miller Genuine Draft, lovingly nicknamed ‘MGD,’ was originally produced to mimic the flavor of Miller High Life.
Although these two beers share the same recipe, Miller’s genuine draft is cold-filtered and not pasteurized, unlike Miller High Life.
Miller Genuine Draft is cold-filtered four times in the brewing process. It contains no additives and preservatives to give you a clean, fresh taste every time.
The brewing process starts with unique barley varieties. Miller uses 100% American hops from the Pacific Northwest, along with specially purified water.
Proudly, the company also uses the same yeast that its founder, Frederick Miller, first used when he bought it over from Germany.
Miller Genuine Draft is the first beer in the world to be four-times cold filtered. Most beers will go through the filtration process to make them brightly colored, where it’s then put into bottles and cans and pasteurized.
However, the cold filtration process for Miller’s genuine draft uses thick ceramic filters that will filter the beer four times, making it one of the smoothest tasting beers on the planet.
In 1993, MiGD was America’s No.6 beer brand, with 7.1 million barrels shipped. In 2019, the numbers slipped to under 1 million barrels; however, the numbers are expected to keep climbing.
Miller Lite: How Is It Made?
Miller Lite, now sold by Molson Coors, is a 4.2% ABV lager. This particular lager is brewed with high-quality water that’s pulled from cold springs and ancient aquifers. Pretty impressive, right?
The barley malt is what really makes Miller Lite stand out from other beers.
The malted barley used gives Miller Lite a distinctively rich, malty flavor and aroma, and this truly comes to fruition during the brewing process.
Millers use select crystal malt, which has an undertone of toasted toffee. This also gives miller lite its instantly recognizable golden color.
During fermentation, the yeast converts sugar from malted barley. The yeast used for Miller Lite is the same yeast used by Frederick Miller in the 1850’s – impressively, it’s never changed.
Like many other brewers, Miller also used corn syrup to help fuel the yeast and turn it into alcohol.
Miller lite uses a few distinctive hops, including those from the Pacific Northwest and Saaz hops, which Miller’s brewmasters have chosen to give it a unique, sensory experience.
What Does Miller Beer Taste Like?
The answer to this question will depend on the type of Miller beer you drink. However, Miller is known for producing some of the crispest, most refreshing lagers on the planet.
Although some may taste more bitter than others, this bitterness is never overpowering, and each lager manufactured by Millers is just as refreshing as the last.
Miller beers are best-enjoyed ice cold to really make those crisp, clean flavors and aromas burst to life.
Miller Lite, in particular, has a slight hint of citrus and a refreshing aftertaste that makes it perfect for enjoying on a warm day.
Miller beers complement almost any type of meal, too, so they’re a great drink to have kept in the fridge for emergencies or simply as just a refreshing beverage to enjoy when you’re winding down after a long day.
Miller Beer: Calories And Nutrition
The calorie and nutritional content of miller beer can vary. However, for the purposes of this article, we’ll take a look at the calories and nutrition found in Miller Genuine Draft Lager.
Miller Genuine Draft Lager
- Calories: 140 Calories
- Carbohydrates: 12.2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Sodium: 10mg
Good news for those watching their waistlines – the average ordinary strength lager contains around 170 calories, so Miller Genuine Draft Lager is below the average!
Like other beers, Miller Genuine Draft Lager also contains vitamins and minerals, including potassium and calcium.
The Bottom Line
Miller Beer is one of the most recognizable lagers in the world. Although the company has since been taken over by America’s biggest beer giant, Coors, the quality of Miller’s beer isn’t going anywhere.
Their distinctive recipes, brewing techniques, and refreshing beverages are what make them one of the most famous names in the industry.
Even under new ownership, this popularity is expected to continue, if not increase.
So, if you haven’t already tried Miller Beer, why not treat yourself to one of their clean, cool lagers, and see what all the hype is about for yourself!
I want to share with you all of my favorites, as well as share advice on picking certain alcohols and flavors.
I hope you enjoy my articles as much as I enjoyed researching them!
- Why Are Some Alcohols Referred To As Spirits? - February 11, 2023
- The Healthy Benefits Of Drinking Cannonau Wine - January 31, 2023
- All Major Differences Between Prosecco And Moscato (And Which You Should Choose) - January 7, 2023
