Latest news with #AnnLegan
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Free beer, Ohio! Miller Lite is giving away 50,000 beers
Miller Lite is celebrating its 50th anniversary by offering 50,000 free beers at bars across the United States, including Ohio. The beer brand will offer free drinks at 450 bars nationwide during International Beer Day on August 1. It will also host a special New Year's Eve-style "Beer Drop" at a Milwaukee brewery, USA TODAY writes. Fans age 21 or older but unable to make it to any of the listed bars can still participate through an online alternative, the company said. USA TODAY reached out to Miller Lite for clarification on whether there is a one free can limit per person. The company kicked off its 50th year celebration by releasing limited-edition gold cans earlier this summer and unveiling a partnership with "Saturday Night Live" star Marcello Hernandez. Here's what to know about the free Miller Lite beers and where to get them in Ohio. When is Miller Lite giving away free beers? Miller Lite will be giving away 50,000 free beers on Friday, August 1, which also happens to be International Beer Day. Ohio bars giving away free Miller Lite beer August 1 As of July 24, nine Ohio bars are participating in the giveaway, according to Miller Lite: More locations could be added to the list, according to Miller Lite's website. "The 50th anniversary is just more than a milestone for Miller Lite, it's a celebration of our fans and the five decades we've spent together enjoying Miller Time," Ann Legan, Vice President of Marketing for Miller family of brands, said in a news release. Which bars are giving free Miller Lite beers? Free Miller Lite beers will be offered at 450 different bars in the U.S. To find the nearest participating location near you, visit enter your state and navigate the list. The company will host its main event at the Miller Lite Brewery in Milwaukee, where cans will drop one by one from a massive six-pack installation at 4:50 p.m. local time. The event will also be livestreamed with the installation dropping at 4:50 p.m. across various time zones. "No matter where you are when the clock strikes 4:50 p.m., it's Miller Time," the brand said in a news release.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Miller Lite giving away 50,000 free beers. When and where to get one
Miller Lite is celebrating its 50th anniversary by offering 50,000 free beers at bars across the United States. The beer brand will offer free drinks at 450 bars nationwide during International Beer Day on August 1 and will also host a special New Year's Eve-style "Beer Drop" at a Milwaukee brewery. Fans age 21 or older but unable to make it to any of the listed bars can still participate through an online alternative, the company said. "The 50th anniversary is just more than a milestone for Miller Lite, it's a celebration of our fans and the five decades we've spent together enjoying Miller Time," Ann Legan, Vice President of Marketing for Miler family of brands, said in a news release. USA TODAY has reached out to Miller Lite for clarification whether there is a one free can limit per person. The company kicked off its 50th year celebration by releasing limited-edition gold cans earlier this summer and unveiling a partnership with "Saturday Night Live" star Marcello Hernandez. Here's what to know about the free Miller Lite beers. When is Miller Lite giving away free beers? Miller Lite will be giving away 50,000 free beers on Friday, August 1, which also happens to be International Beer Day. Which bars are giving free Miller Lite beers? Free Miller Lite beers will be offered at 450 different bars in the U.S. To find the nearest participating location near you visit enter your state and navigate the list. The company will host its main event at the Miller Lite Brewery in Milwaukee, where cans will drop one-by-one from a massive six-pack installation at 4:50 p.m. local time. The event will also be livestreamed with the installation dropping at 4:50 p.m. across various time zones. "No matter where you are when the clock strikes 4:50PM, it's Miller Time," the brand said in a news release.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Miller Lite giving away 50,000 free beers. When and where to get one
Miller Lite is celebrating its 50th anniversary by offering 50,000 free beers at bars across the United States. The beer brand will offer free drinks at 450 bars nationwide during International Beer Day next month and will also host a special New Year's Eve-style "Beer Drop" at a Milwaukee brewery. Fans age 21 or older but unable to make it to any of the listed bars can still participate through an online alternative, the company said. "The 50th anniversary is just more than a milestone for Miller Lite, it's a celebration of our fans and the five decades we've spent together enjoying Miller Time," Ann Legan, Vice President of Marketing for Miler family of brands, said in a news release. USA TODAY has reached out to Miller Lite for clarification whether there is a one free can limit per person. The company kicked off its 50th year celebration by releasing limited-edition gold cans earlier this summer and unveiling a partnership with "Saturday Night Live" star Marcello Hernandez. Here's what to know about the free Miller Lite beers. When is Miller Lite giving away free beers? Miller Lite will be giving away 50,000 free beers on Friday, August 1, which also happens to be International Beer Day. Which bars are giving free Miller Lite beers? Free Miller Lite beers will be offered at 450 different bars in the U.S. To find the nearest participating location near you visit enter your state and navigate the list. The company will host its main event at the Miller Lite Brewery in Milwaukee, where cans will drop one-by-one from a massive six-pack installation at 4:50 p.m. local time. The event will also be livestreamed with the installation dropping at 4:50 p.m. across various time zones. "No matter where you are when the clock strikes 4:50PM, it's Miller Time," the brand said in a news release. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miller Lite giving away 50,000 free beers. How to get one
Wall Street Journal
06-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Americans Love ‘Lite' Beer. Here's Why—Plus 5 to Try
If America had an official national beer, it would be the light lager. These crisp, low-calorie crushers are a staple at stadiums and bars and as common in backyard coolers as burgers are on summertime grills. But as ubiquitous as these brews have become, they're also a relatively recent addition to the drinking landscape. This year marks the 50th birthday of Miller Lite, the 96-calorie trailblazer that proved to drinkers that beer could 'taste great' and be 'less filling.' 'It invented the new category,' said Ann Legan, Miller's vice president of marketing. Here, more on how these bedrock American beers got their start—and what's on the horizon. Americans have loved moderate-strength lagers ever since European immigrants brought brewing know-how across the Atlantic in the mid-19th century. But typically, flavor and refreshment trumped cares about carbs and calories. That began to change in the mid-1960s when the Brooklyn brewery Rheingold released the short-lived Gablinger's Beer. The recipe then became the basis of Chicago's Meister Bräu Lite, which was pitched as a 'diet' drink for women. After that (questionable) gambit failed, Miller Brewing (now part of Molson Coors Beverage Company) bought the brand from bankruptcy in 1972. The company reformulated the light lager as Miller Lite, taking it national in 1975. Memorable advertisements featuring athletes and celebrities like Mickey Mantle, John Madden and Rodney Dangerfield helped make light lager acceptable and desirable for men. Miller Lite's massive success powered Miller Brewing's rise to become, by 1977, the country's second-biggest brewery behind Anheuser-Busch. Sensing potential, Natural Light, Coors Light and Bud Light soon jumped on the light-lager bandwagon—one defined by flashy marketing, scant carbohydrates and brews that clock in at under 100 calories per 12-ounce serving. But not all players hit the mark. In 2018, Pabst Brewing Company rolled out Pabst Blue Ribbon Easy. At 110-calories, the lager was lighter than PBR—but as the tepid market reaction revealed, not light enough. 'We didn't hit the correct specs,' said Kim Oakley, the brand director for the company's new release, Pabst Light, which hit shelves in April 2025. Lesson learned: The updated version clocks in at 96 calories. 'It fulfills the needs of light beer consumers,' Oakley said. Today drinkers in search of a less-caloric buzz are spoiled for choice, from hard seltzers to canned vodka sodas. Sales of premium light lagers have been eroding on 'a steady downward trend for more than a decade,' said Danelle Kosmal of 3 Tier Beverages, a drinks-industry consulting firm. Despite that downturn, many breweries see light lagers as a category that's ripe for disruption. There are still millions of customers to reach. Mainstream premium light lagers represent one of beer's largest segments, accounting for nearly 18% of dollars spent and 22% of volume, according to NIQ consumer data analyzed by 3 Tier Beverages. In 2022, NFL star Troy Aikman co-founded Eight Brewing to produce a 90-calorie light lager brewed without additives like corn syrup. The company highlights Eight's healthful halo by packaging it in a slim can, which 'resonates as better for you,' said David Reny, the CEO. Historically, craft breweries have boomed by brewing everything but light lagers. However, not everyone loves IPAs or elevated alcohol levels. For craft brewers, light lagers present 'an opportunity to reach new consumers and occasions,' said Bobby Dykstra, the executive vice president of sales and marketing for Duvel Moortgat USA. Duvel Moortgat is the parent company to Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City, Mo., which recently released Boulevard Light, hoping to lure Midwestern consumers. Emphasizing a light lager's regionality is a key sales tactic for breweries such as Columbus Brewing, which recently introduced Ohio Light. 'Local matters almost more than anything else,' said Evan Magliocca, Columbus Brewing's senior vice president of sales and marketing. As for Miller Lite, the brand is rolling out limited-edition golden cans to celebrate its golden anniversary. Pittsburgh Brewing IC Light (4.2% ABV)First released in 1977, this 95-calorie Pittsburgh fave is finding fresh fans thanks to refurbished branding and a new brewery in a former glass factory. 30 (12-ounce) cans, $25 Garage Beer (4% ABV)Last year, NFL superstars and sibs Travis and Jason Kelce invested in this fast-growing, 95-calorie 'beer flavored beer' sold in all 50 states. 24 (12-ounce) cans, $26 Pabst Light (4.2% ABV)The Pabst team built this modernized 96-calorie lager from the ground up, using fragrant El Dorado hops—a craft beer fave—to lend a clean, citrus finish. 12 (12-ounce) cans, $11 K. Spoetzl Brewery Texas Special Light (4% ABV)In March, the Shiner Bock beer makers brought back 'everyman' icon Texas Special with a 98-calorie light lager exclusive to Texas. 12 (12-ounce) cans, $15 Boulevard Brewing Boulevard Light (4% ABV)Made with pilsner malt and Boulevard's house yeast, this Missouri craft brewery's debut light lager clocks in at a mere 89 calories. 12 (12-ounce) cans, $17 The Wall Street Journal is not compensated by retailers listed in its articles as outlets for products. Listed retailers frequently are not the sole retail outlets.
Forbes
21-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Miller Lite Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Campaign With Nostalgic Ad
For younger consumers, it may come as a surprise that low-calorie beer has not been around forever. Indeed, John A. Murphy, former President of Miller Brewing is credited with leading the company in creating the light beer category in 1975 when Miller Lite was introduced. Via strong marketing and the use of retired sports stars as endorsers, the brand convinced men that light beer had appeal Indeed, its 'tastes great, less filling' tagline became iconic in marketing circles and has had enduring appeal across a variety of demographic groups. With its 50th anniversary at hand, the brand is celebratting its heritage with a new marketing campaign. The campaign, 'Legendary Stories Start With a Light,' will feature Lite's longtime customers who have made the brand part of their personal history. It is kicking off with an ad running during the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. The ad takes the form of a creative film narrated by Christopher Walken and includes snapshots of fans who have been loyal to the brand for the past half-century. It also contains images of familiar Miller Lite 'all-star' endorsers including John Madden, Dick Butkus, and Bob Uecker as well as country music star Luke Combs. Ann Legan, Global VP, Miller Family of Brands Molson Coors To gain more insight on the campaign and its objective, I interviewed Ann Legan, Global Vice President for Miller Family of Brands at Molson Coors Beverage Company. Legan clearly takes pride in Miller having created the light-beer category and believes the nostalgic approach to the ad kicking off the campaign will connect with consumers, stating: 'If we look at the big picture, the Legendary Stories Start with a Lite campaign was inspired by our history and our drinkers - past and present. This campaign will resonate with consumers because it's an ode to the people over the past 50 years who've helped shape us into the brand we are today and to those who are connected to us now and who will impact the brand's next 50 years. This campaign is a celebration of them and how they've helped us create legendary moments and how we'll continue to shape stories together.' Legan, an MBA graduate of the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University, observes that Lite is a classic, timeless brand and that it appeals to consumers of all ages who long for simpler times and are looking for ways to connect with others. 'A big goal of the campaign is to connect with and pay homage to the loyal drinkers who have been with Miller Lite since the beginning,' she says, 'while also reaching the next generation of legal drinkers by showing authentic moments where people are having the time of their lives …aka Miller Time.' The tagline in the ad – Legendary Stories Start with a Lite – has a double meaning. First, it implies that great nights start by getting together with Miller Lite. Second, it refers to the heritage or 'legendary story' of the original light beer. Legan views that campaign as a way to, 'Give 'cheers' to our fans and thank them for the legendary nights we've had together over the past 50 years. In choosing Walken for the voiceover for the spot, the goal was to choose someone with an iconic presence. 'Christopher Walken is a true original, just like we are,' says Legan, 'He tells stories in a way that's different from everyone else - recognizable and unique. He captures the notion of being legendary, unique, and memorable.' The ad is just the beginning of Lite's 50th anniversary campaign and fans can expect specialty packaging, unique collaborations, new celebrity spokespeople and other experiences in the coming months. In an era where many companies including many retailers and airlines, among others, are facing criticisms for altering or cutting back rewards programs, it is refreshing to see a brand celebrate its loyal customers. Sounds like a great way to commemorate a 50th anniversary.
