Beer In Ads #883: 100 Years In America


Wednesday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1955. Showing scenes of two groups playing golf, 100 years apart, the 100 Years In America they’re referring to vaguely tied to being “still the National Champion of Quality.” They also make the connection that golf courses are unchanged, and the beer is unchanged, over that same century. And that must be one really tiny pilsner glass, as it’s been filled to the top, but the bottle is still half full.

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Beer In Ads #872: Cheese Recipe For Pleasure


Wednesday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1954, during their minimalist period. They seem to be well ahead of the curve showing a variety of different cheeses, including a giant vat of cheese sauce. We all know how well cheese and beer pair together. Unfortunately, I’m not sure Miller High Life has enough flavor to stand up to most of those cheeses, especially the blue.

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Beer In Ads #865: Traditionally The Finest


Monday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from either the late 1950s or early sixties. It’s during the phase when all of Miller’s ads showed this Spartan, minimalist decor, like sets built by kids using Dad’s barn. Despite the weird looking South Pacific artwork, apparently it actually came from Carlebach Gallery in New York. But my favorite part of the ad is their characterization of California. “In colorful California … a land noted for its charm and gracious hospitality….” This is also one of the few ads I can remember seeing a half empty beer bottle; almost always it’s either full or empty.

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Beer In Ads #824: Red High Life


Friday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1941. It’s a two-color ad, using mostly red, but it really makes the beer bottle and glass pop. It looks this might only be part of the ad, it feels like something must be missing, and the proportions don’t look quite right, either, providing more evidence that this is only a piece of the original ad.

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Beer In Ads #819: Gourmet Sh


Friday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1955. I know this type of minimalist design was popular then, but it looks like a fake store set used by a high school play, not a national ad campaign. While I was born in the 50s, barely, I didn’t have to live through it, but it seems like a very odd decade. People dressed up to do everything. And the only thing that looks gourmet about tat shop is the name. I do like the tagline though; “Quality is always in good taste.” Too bad the second part of that doesn’t ring as true.

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Beer In Ads #802: Miller Makes It Right!


Tuesday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from what looks to me to be the 1960s. At least that’s my guess based on the look of the ad and the size of the lapels and the tie. What cracks me up is what makes up “A man’s world.” That includes “Shiny wood, smoke, pretzels and good conversation.” Oh, and Miller High Life. Not so sure about that last one. But shiny wood? Oh, yeah.

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Beer In Ads #777: Go First Class With Pizza & Beer


Tuesday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from the early 1960s, part of their “Go First Class” series. The ad seems to be saying that pizza and beer are the path to being high class. Now, I’m a great lover of pizza, and there are few pairings so obviously perfect together than beer and pizza. I could eat pizza almost every meal if you let me, and there are amazing gourmet pies all over the place these days. But in the 1960s? I certainly don’t remember pizza being thought of as “high class” until very recently. Also, I have to say. That is not the most appetizing pizza I’ve ever laid eyes on.

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