A Look at a Half-Century of ‘Lite’ Lager | The Wall Street Journal

If America had an official national beer, it would be the light lager. These crisp, low-calorie crushers are a staple at stadiums and bars and as common in backyard coolers as burgers are on summertime grills. 

But as ubiquitous as these brews have become, they’re also a relatively recent addition to the drinking landscape. This year marks the 50th birthday of Miller Lite, the 96-calorie trailblazer that proved to drinkers that beer could “taste great” and be “less filling.” “It invented the new category,” said Ann Legan, Miller’s vice president of marketing.

For the Wall Street Journal, I look at how these bedrock American beers got their start—and what’s on the horizon.