The Pride

Issue date: 12/5/06 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: David Bauer

As the final Beer of the Week for the semester and for the 2006 year, we've saved the best for last. After a long semester of cold nights of studying, and long days of classes, we all deserve the best reward for our hard work, and that reward is Miller High Life.

The label itself is awe inspiring: the proud Miller logo with its swooping underline on the top of the label, and proudly and boldly below, golden letters proclaim "HIGH LIFE"-as if the beer is announcing your arrival to a new luxurious life of delicious beer flavor. Under the name is scrawled in an elegant cursive font, "The Champagne of Beers," signifying that it is signed and guaranteed to be the best.

Miller High Life is not available at just any establishment. In fact, Miller High Life is not served at many establishments on account of it not being available on draft. But it is readily available at liquor and grocery stores, generally towards the back of the store, bottom shelf of the cooler, down and to the left between the Mickey's and Steel Reserve. It is a bit expensive, with a 40 oz. generally costing between $1.60 to $2.25, compared to other 40 oz. beers and malt liquors such as Country Club and Bud Ice which run between $1.10 and $2.00. But it is well worth the extra fifty cents to live the high life.

High Life comes in a variety of sizes, 16 and 24 oz. cans, 12, 22, 32 and 40 oz. bottles. Many enjoy pilsner beers in special pilsner glasses; however, frequent drinkers of Miller High Life all know that "The Champagne of Beers" is best enjoyed from the bottle, preferably of the 32 or 40 oz. variety. To prevent your hands from warming the beer, which generally alters the flavor and aroma of the beer, it is typical to use the bag that is given to you by the liquor store as a single use beer cozy.

While High Life is slightly low on alcohol content for a pilsner at 4.7% ABV, it makes up for it in taste. In 2002 at the World Beer Cup, Miller High Life won the gold medal in "American-style Lagers" against 17 other contestants. It has a rich golden color and a frothy head with good retention. It has a distinct lack of smell and goes down smooth, provided it stays cold. If allowed to warm, the 'Champagne of Beers" spouts a bouquet of corn adjunct and yeast smells, becomes increasingly difficult to drink, and sometimes causes inexplicable headaches in some drinkers. It has a uniform and simple mouth-feel and tastes sweet, with slightly spicy hops and strong corn adjuncts.

Originally brewed in 1903, Miller High Life has an over 100 year tradition of providing only the finest to distinguished drinkers. In just a few weeks we will get a chance to toast the New Year and say goodbye to the last. Do it in style, and become part of the distinguished tradition, with a 40 of the "champagne of beers."

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