The journey of the Miller Brewing Company spans more than 160 years, from its founding in Milwaukee to Molson Coors' anticipated takeover this week.
1855: Frederick Miller emigrates from Germany to Milwaukee, buys the Plank Road Brewery and makes his first batches of beer in America.
1887: Miller begins transporting its own beer for the first time.
1903: Miller High Life is unveiled on December 30.
1949: After surviving Prohibition, Miller reaches one million barrels of production on a yearly basis.
1970: Philip Morris buys Miller Brewing.
1975: Miller launches Miller Lite.
1986: Miller starts Miller Genuine Draft.
2002: South African Breweries buys Miller.
2008: SABMiller and Molson Coors formed their U.S. joint venture. SABMiller owned 58% of the joint venture and Molson Coors 42%.
November 2015: Anheuser Busch Inbev and SAB Miller make agreement for $106 billion; MolsonCoors will acquire SABMiller’s 58% stake in MillerCoors for $12 billion pending worldwide regulatory approvals. This will give Molson Coors full control over the MillerCoors portfolio.
July 2016: U.S. Dept. of Justice joins other regulatory bodies across the globe to approve the ABI/SABMiller merger. As a result, ABI and MillerCoors will remain independent competitors in the U.S.
Expected this week: ABI/SABMiller deal expected to formally close and MillerCoors becomes US Business Unit of Molson Coors, which buys Miller's international group and owns/controls Miller's brands worldwide.
- Various brands will still be brewed in Miller Valley
- Milwaukee remains one of three hometown markets for the company.
Source: MillerCoors
