United Nations of Beer

Miller High Life

by Greg Barbera
(Beer Delegate, NC, USA)

Miller High Life: Band beer

It will be three years come this April that I started a band to add some spice to my stay-at-home-dad life.

Being in a band - especially a punk rock one - allows me to do some hollerin' and get some of that aggression out that one has to keep bottled up on the preschool playground or kids' soccer pitch.

Plus, it is also a good excuse to drink beer. Lotsa beer.

Somewhere along the line, Miller High Life became the unofficial beer of the band.

I don't remember any lengthy discussions on it or anything, it just kind of happened: when you arrived with beer for practice it was assumed you would be carrying a 40oz, six pack or twelve pack of High Life.

It's also the beer most clubs will give you either for free or at a great discount ($1 a bottle) when you play shows out around town.

Recently the fellas and I have begun to sour on the High Life; I believe I've had more than any lad's lifetime share of the brew than anyone should feel the need to consume. I'm plain tapped out.

But this comes at a discerning price.

I've already laid claim to the fact that I cannot and will not stomach Olympia or Pabst Blue Ribbon anymore. I know they are cheap beers, but I'd rather drink Coors Light than that shitty swill.

So tonight, when I head off to the market for some cold ones before practice, I'll find myself staring at the wall of beer and asking myself, "Yuengling? Busch? Old Milwaukee? Sparks!" and wondering if I'll ever find a decent, cheaply-priced, easily consumed beer for inspiration, motivation and rehydration.

But as it stands now, Miller High Life has gone from band beer to banned beer.