It has been said that beer has been present on American shores since before settlers first arrived. Generally, men in the brewing industry are the most prominent. However, a recent discovery revealed that in the 18th century, there were many women who formed teams to make their own beer. The importance of these women increased during the colonies and they became the controllers of the alcoholic beverage market.
In this way, Miller Lite pays tribute to women, and to one in particular: Mary Lisle, the first documented woman brewer, or brewster, in the United States. The beer brand is producing endless cans of its iconic white can to honor Liles and all the wives who came before her. The limited edition cans replace ‘Miller Lite’ with ‘Mary Lisle’ and update their trademark to read “she is an integral part of the process.” In addition, the cans also include an engraving of Liles and information about the history of women in American brewing.
The famous brewer’s father, Lisle, was the first recognized brewer in the United States. He was from Philadelphia and left that company to his son. The only problem was that distributions began as the breweries became municipalized. Later, the industry would focus on men, encouraging alcoholism among this sector of the population.
When Lite asked the older drinkers if they knew that women brought beer to the United States, the top respondent said no. Kelsey Ott, the associate marketing manager for Miller Lite says it’s an opportunity to communicate the story and facts about women brewers. “Mary Lisle is the first documented brewer in U.S. history,” notes Ott. However, “it took 100 years to register his name”. Men and women who preceded Lisle and who contributed significantly to brewing have been erased.
Miller Lite has donated a portion of its sales to support women in the beer world. At an event scheduled for June 30, several cans of beer will be unveiled. In recent years, beer brands have historically stereotyped, objectified or underrepresented women.
Some experts believe that there has been immense progress so far, but there is still a long way to go. This includes Molson Coors Beverage Company, which along with Miller Lite is committed to making the brewing industry more inclusive. This company, in addition to developing its professional and educational talents, is also committed, like its competitor, to promoting female and racial leadership.
“We believe we have made a lot of progress in this area and in our organization, pushing for more inclusion of women in our breweries and corporate offices. But there is more work to be done to not only move forward but to honor the important role women played in American brewing. We are proud to help bring Mary Lisle’s story to more people this Fourth of July,” she concludes.
