The Search is On for the Mayor of Wisconsin’s ‘Champagne of Beers’ Region
If you're a fan of the "Champagne of Beers" and live in the state of Wisconsin, this opportunity is calling, and it comes with a lot of delicious benefits.
Miller High Life's slogan has been "Champagne of Beers" for decades, and frankly, when it comes to macro-brews, it lives up to its name. It's extremely carbonated, has that bubbly, tingly mouthfeel that recalls champagne, and, in my opinion, is generally smoother than a lot of other beers, especially in a bottle. Molson Coors, the company that owns Miller High Life, has announced a search for the Mayor of the "Champagne of Beers" region in Wisconsin to honor the timeless beverage.
READ MORE: Portillo's Just Dropped a New Hot Dog and Chicagoans are Going Nuts
What it Means to Be the Mayor of the "Champagne of Beers" Region:
A contest to search for the recipient of the honorary title was launched last week. For context, the "Champagne of Beers" region of Milwaukee is a portion of West State Street in the Miller Brewery Grounds. Borrowing the designation from the "Champagne region" of France, the specific area was designated as such by the Milwaukee Common Council back in June 2021. Now, Molson Coors is in search of the area's first ever honorary mayor:
Every great region deserves a great mayor, and we can’t think of anyone better to represent the Champagne of Beers than someone who truly loves Milwaukee and Miller High Life. We’re looking for someone with hometown pride, a great story and the personality to wear the ceremonial crown with confidence - Alison Hanrahan, Molson Coors' Community Affairs Manager, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
In order to qualify for consideration as the Mayor of the "Champagne of Beers" region, you must fit the following criteria:
- Must be a legal resident of select Wisconsin zip codes (see the list here)
- At least 25-years-old
- Be able to attend the inauguration ceremony on September 19th at the Miller Visitor Center in Miller Valley, where the winner will be sworn into office.
How to Apply to Be the Mayor of the "Champagne of Beers" Region:
You can visit the official Miller High Life website to apply for a chance to be the honorary mayor of the area. The registration form includes an original essay component (250 words or fewer), as well as one photo (in PDF format) of yourself living the "High Life." Considering the hoops through which one has to jump to become mayor, this is a walk in the park by comparison.
The judging is where it gets interesting...
Criteria for submissions will put 50% of the weight on one's "passion" for High Life. Originality/memorability counts as 25%, and the remaining quarter-percent is one's "strength of argument" for why they should be considered, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The contest is open through 11:59pm on August 23rd, 2026.
What You Win if You're Granted the Title of "Mayor:"
From there, a panel of "qualified" judges will select one entrant with the highest-scoring submission, with the winner to be notified around the end of August. The honorary mayoral term is one year.
In addition to the title, the winner will receive two cases of Miller High Life, a "citizenship certificate" recognizing the winner as a citizen of the "Champagne of Beers" region, a dinner for eight (the winner and seven guests, age 25+) at the Miller Caves, two High Life T-shirts, two High Life hats, and a $2,000 check to assist the winner in taxes potentially associated with the prize. The latter is a very thoughtful point of consideration. Lost in a lot of these contests are the inevitable taxes the winner must pay.
You can apply to be the Mayor of the "Champagne of Beers" region of Wisconsin and find out more about the contest on Miller High Life's website.
LOOK: Breweries with the most highly ranked beers in Illinois
Gallery Credit: Stacker