Miller Brewing Company

Where It All Started

Frederick J. Miller was introduced to the world of breweries by his uncle. After learning everything he could, Miller was determined to open his own. He leased the royal brewery of the House of Hohenzollerns in Germany, but before he could make his mark in the beer industry, political unrest and increasing restrictions on trade in Europe led him to immigrate to the United States. 

As legend has it, Miller arrived in New York, accompanied by his wife and son, with a pocketful of brewer's yeast and $9,000 in gold. After spending a year scouting the country for cities with good access to waterways, as well as the barley and hops needed for brewing beer, he settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As he described it: "A town with a magnificent harbor like that has a great future in store."

Miller bought the abandoned Charles Best Plank Road Brewery in the Menomonee Valley and established the Frederick Miller Brewery. Always passionate about his beer, Miller proclaimed "Quality, Uncompromising and Unchanging" as his slogan. More than a beer slogan, though, it summarized his vision for the future of Miller Brewing Company.