Miller Brewery Tour - Milwaukee, WI
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When you first pull into the parking lot near the gift shop, there are all kinds of signs lining the fence that tempt you to go on the tour. We didn't need to be tempted because my friend had already made our reservations online. I will say, this sign had me curious though - CAVES???? Sounded intriguing.
We visited in December and so we were greeted by this Miller Beer Keg Christmas tree. I will be honest, this is the first time I have ever seen a beer keg Christmas tree. It did have lights on it, but we weren't there in the dark and so the tree lights were not on. Even still, it ranks as one of the most interesting Christmas trees I have ever seen. I also know a few people who wouldn't mind if a tree like that popped up in their yard for their holiday party.
We climbed 56 stairs to view the brew kettles. It kind of smelled because they are boiling barley. We learned that they control the color of the beer by how long they allow the beer to be boiled in the kilns. The longer it is in the kiln, the darker the beer will be, either light, amber or dark. There is a lot of chemistry involved in brewing beer, so it was really good that Frederick Miller had spent so much time being an apprentice in Germany prior to starting the Miller Brewery in Milwaukee, WI.
We learned that the same process to brew beer at the plant is the same process you would use if you were to try brewing your own beer at home.
According to "The Miller Beer Barons" by Tim John, Frederick's wife died of tuberculosis and two of their four children also died from the disease. In the book, Frederick Miller is quoted as saying, "Whenever I think of all of them, how they were taken from me so quickly and unexpectantly, then I become sad and melancholy. So I bow in humility and thank the Lord that He has given and also taken away." As a devout Catholic, Frederick Miller was obviously familiar with Job 1:21 in the Holy Bible which says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Six months later, he married a young lady of another brewer and would go on to have many more children. This was not the only obstacle that Frederick would have to overcome.
For me, the Historic Caves were the best part of the tour and it was neat that they had them decorated for Christmas. As you walk through some of the tunnels to get to the cave, there are some beer barrel shadow boxes that depict what life was like for the early workers. Built in 1849, the caves are the oldest thing at the brewery. Big blocks of ice would be used to keep the beer cold and those blocks would last a whole year. The caves were abandoned in 1907 when modern refrigeration came into use. Being inside the caves and imagining them filled with those big blocks of ice that had to be harvested and all the beer inside was pretty cool. I am so glad this part is preserved for people to see a bit of history.
We learned that during the early 1900's when many Protestant religions started pushing for Prohibition (making the production, shipping, and selling of alcoholic drinks illegal), the Miller company went through some trying times. There were not only times where they were not allowed to produce or sell alcohol, but it was also during the start of World War 1 where the Germans in Wisconsin were looked down upon because they were thought of as the enemy, causing much suspicion of people with German ancestry living in Wisconsin. We learned that while fighting political decisions, the Millers also came up with creative ways to stay operational, which included turning some of their buildings into rentals so people would pay them rent for overnight accommodation. They also started producing low alcohol or "near beer" beverages that would abide by the law. They started an ice and storage operation and a non-alcoholic malt syrup operation which homebrewers would buy and make their own beer with. Eventually, they started making root beer, which later evolved into the making of other soda flavors. These facts interested me because I am always interested in how successful people had to overcome so many hardships in order to be successful. It would seem as though Prohibition would be a closed-door to the brewery industry, but because of their willful perseverance and resourcefulness, they were able to stay in business and become one of the leaders in their industry. That is a lesson we all need to hear and be reminded of. It's that great lesson of never putting all your eggs in one basket.
On Friday, April 7, 1933, the Prohibition was lifted. The Miller Brewing Company had survived and it was a time to celebrate. Over the years, many more tribulations would strike the Miller family, but their resolve to keep going has sustained them to this day.
The Miller Inn had a beautiful bar fashioned after the way bars would look in Germany. This was where the employees, locals, and out of towners would come to enjoy their beer. It's also the location that those on the tour get another sample of beer. As mentioned previously, I don't drink beer, not because I think it's wrong, but I have gluten sensitivity and beer has gluten in it. If you have a gluten sensitivity, try one of their Crispin Hard Ciders. I was told that they are gluten-free.
They have quite a few of their different brands on display inside the bar. A further example of not putting all your eggs in one basket. We also got to tour the very large factory where everything is bottled and boxed up and shipped out. It is a huge production and worth seeing such a place of historical significance in Milwaukee. I am very thankful for my friend's thoughtful gift of taking me on this tour. I enjoyed learning about something I previously knew very little about. My take-away lesson is to always be thinking of new ideas, have flexibility, be resourceful, and when plan A doesn't work out like you envisioned, it's ok to try plans B, C, D, E, etc.
The brewery Christmas lights that were on were really pretty. They had many more that weren't turned on yet, but it looked like it would be worth coming to if you live in the area. After the tour was over, you end up back in the visitor center where you get another beer sample and then you go to the gift shop where you get a beer glass as a souvenir which has a wooden nickel token for another free beer. From what I sampled, the Miller Light was my favorite. I thought it tasted like champagne.
Have you ever taken a tour of the Miller brewery or some other brewery? I would love to hear about your time. Leave me a comment and let me know what you enjoyed, what lessons you learned, what your favorite beer was, or what you found fascinating.
As a last disclaimer, I just want to remind all my readers to always have a designated driver when drinking, know your limits, and let's all keep our roads a safe place for all. Cheers!
Until next time, always choose the scenic life!
Hannah Babiak is a stock photographer and travel blogger. For writing assignments or ideas for future posts, please contact her at alwayschoosethesceniclife@gmail.com or leave a comment below.
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