Who owns ICEHOUSE?

ICEHOUSE is owned by

MOLSON COORS

Website

The Icehouse beer brand, introduced in 1993, was the brainchild of Plank Road Brewery, a division of Miller Brewing Company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At the time, Miller was under the ownership of Philip Morris Companies Inc. The Plank Road division was named after the original brewery Frederick Miller acquired in 1855, which he later transformed into Miller Brewing Company. This new division was established to capitalize on the burgeoning microbrewery trend of the early 1990s.

Icehouse distinguished itself by being the first commercially available “ice beer” in the United States. Ice beer is a type of lager that undergoes a unique brewing process where the beer is cooled to below freezing temperatures during its aging. Unlike the German style of beer known as Eisbock, the ice crystals that form are not removed to increase the alcohol content. Instead, they are reincorporated back into the liquid after the beer is brought up to temperature. This technique purportedly results in a smoother and more refined taste. Several other brands followed suit, including Bud Ice, Keystone Ice, and Natural Ice.

In 2002, the ownership of Miller Brewing Company transitioned to South African Breweries, leading to the formation of SABMiller. This acquisition marked the beginning of a series of strategic consolidations in the brewing industry. In 2008, SABMiller joined forces with Molson Coors Brewing Company to create a joint venture in the United States known as MillerCoors LLC. This partnership aimed to strengthen their market presence and leverage their combined expertise in brewing.

The brewing landscape saw further changes in 2016 when Anheuser-Busch InBev acquired SABMiller. To comply with regulatory requirements set by the Federal Trade Commission, SABMiller’s stake in MillerCoors was sold to Molson Coors. This move ensured that competition in the U.S. beer market remained robust, allowing Molson Coors to assume full control of the MillerCoors venture.

Popular Beers by this Brand

• Icehouse
• Edge Lager

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