The Edgy '90s Beer That Quietly Disappeared From Shelves
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Miller Brewing Company has been one of America's leading beer brands for decades. If you frequent your local dive bar or enjoy a crisp, affordable brew, chances are you've cracked open one of the company's drinks in your lifetime. However, younger generations may be unaware that the company once produced Red Dog, a popular mid-'90s beer that eventually disappeared.
During an era when consumers began to gravitate towards ostentatious craft beverages, Miller became one of the major brands to capitalize on the trend. Specifically, the beverage giant released Red Dog through its Plank Road Brewery division in 1994. The drink was arguably ideal for those who desired a more adventurous type of beer with a bolder flavor than the norm. Richard Lalley, who was Miller's product development director at the time, revealed to The Chicago Tribune that Red Dog was a German-inspired brew that combined ale and lager. Smooth and somewhat sweet, it had a different flavor profile and higher ABV than typical American beers (5.5% instead of 5%).
According to research published in Chain Drug Review (via Gale), just six months after Miller released Red Dog, it had sold 1 million barrels. This marked one of the most successful debuts the company had ever seen up to that point. This hot start even inspired Anheuser-Busch to develop its own version of a specialty beer. According to the book "Barrel-Aged Stout and Selling Out," the latter company tried to throw consumers off and draw attention away from Miller's product by giving the competing beverage a similar name: Red Wolf.
Where is Red Dog Beer today?
Red Dog also gained traction due to its macho anti-establishment marketing. The iconic logo displayed a deep red, robust bulldog mascot that became a prominent symbol in television ads. The famously croaky-voiced actor Tommy Lee Jones narrated Red Dog's rebellious subconscious in the company's commercials. The brand's "You Are Your Own Dog" slogan encouraged viewers to remain individualistic and true to their beliefs. (In this case, that meant buying the unpretentious American beer.)
Unfortunately, Molson Coors' 2016 acquisition of Miller Brewery eventually led to the end of Red Dog's run. The company announced in July 2021 that it was getting rid of 100 different products to center on better-performing premium options, including craft beers. The statement concluded that Molson Coors aimed to revamp the brand. The following month, the company also confirmed on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that it had discontinued Red Dog.
Reddit and BeerAdvocate users have occasionally questioned if anyone has spotted the product in stores, causing some fans to remember it fondly. Although beer innovation is at its peak, the nostalgia attached to Red Dog remains alive, demonstrating its impact on brewing culture.