Olde English 42OZ

Olde English 42OZ is a 42-ounce bottle of American malt liquor brewed by Miller Brewing Company at 7.5% ABV. This expression earned multiple Gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival in the American Malt Liquor category (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995) and another Gold in the American Style Specialty Lager category (1997), establishing it as one of the most decorated malt liquors in the United States.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA  |  Style: American Malt Liquor  |  Brewery: Miller Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Olde English 800 is brewed by Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin — a brewery founded in 1855 by Frederick Miller and now operating under the Molson Coors umbrella. The malt liquor is produced using a straightforward grain bill of barley malt alongside corn syrup (specifically dextrose and maltose) as a fermentable adjunct, with hop extract providing a restrained bitterness. Notably, no high fructose corn syrup is used in production, and the corn-derived sugars are consumed during fermentation and are not present in the finished product. The 42-ounce bottle — a signature large-format offering — delivers the same recipe at 7.5% ABV in most markets, though certain eastern U.S. regions receive a 5.9% ABV version due to local regulations.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a slightly fruity, grain-forward sweetness. Faint cereal malt and a subtle corn-like warmth sit underneath, with minimal hop presence.

Taste: The palate enters sweet and malty, with noticeable corn character and a grain-cereal backbone reminiscent of an amplified American lager. At mid-palate, the elevated alcohol brings a rounded warmth alongside the lingering malt sweetness. A slight hop bitterness emerges toward the back but never dominates the profile.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length, with a crisp, wheat-like quality and a mild corn aftertaste. A residual sweetness and trace of alcohol warmth carry through the close.

How to Drink Olde English

Olde English is traditionally served chilled, straight from the bottle or poured into a glass over ice in warmer weather. The 42-ounce format is designed for casual, communal drinking. For those looking to mix, a Brass Monkey — combining Olde English with orange juice — is the most iconic cocktail pairing, producing a sweeter, citrus-cut version of the malt liquor. A Sidewalk Slam blends the malt liquor with a lemon-lime soda for added effervescence and approachability. A simple Shandy-style pour with lemonade tempers the malt sweetness and makes the ABV more sessionable.

Best For

• Casual backyard cookouts and warm-weather gatherings
• Watching sports with a group looking for a high-ABV, value-driven option
• Fans of American malt liquor exploring a GABF gold medal winner
• Mixing into a classic Brass Monkey cocktail

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Olde English taste like? Olde English delivers a sweet, malt-forward flavor with prominent corn character, a touch of fruity sweetness, and a crisp, wheat-like finish at a noticeable 7.5% ABV.

How does Olde English compare to Steel Reserve? Both are high-ABV American malt liquors, but Olde English tends to lean sweeter and smoother with a corn-cereal profile, while Steel Reserve (at 8.1% ABV) is generally considered drier and more aggressively alcoholic on the palate. Olde English also holds five GABF Gold medals, giving it stronger competitive-judging credentials in the category.

Is Olde English good for mixing in cocktails? Yes — the Brass Monkey, made by combining Olde English with orange juice, is perhaps the most well-known malt liquor cocktail in American drinking culture, and the beer's inherent sweetness blends easily with citrus mixers.

Where is Olde English made? Olde English 800 is brewed by Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a historic American brewing city. The brand is now produced under the Molson Coors corporate umbrella.

What foods pair well with Olde English? Grilled hot dogs and burgers complement the malt sweetness with smoky, savory contrast. Spicy fried chicken works well, as the corn-sweet body tempers heat. Salted pretzels or chips echo the grain character. Barbecue ribs with a sweet glaze mirror the beer's residual sugar. Pizza — especially pepperoni — pairs naturally with the crisp carbonation and malty backbone.

What sizes does Olde English come in? Olde English 800 is available in multiple formats, including the signature 42-ounce bottle, 40-ounce bottles, 24-ounce cans, and 12-ounce cans, though availability varies by market.

Is Olde English worth the price? Olde English positions squarely in the value tier of American malt liquors, delivering a high ABV at an accessible price point — and it backs that value with five Great American Beer Festival Gold medals, which is uncommon at this price level in the category.

Why Olde English?

Few malt liquors can claim five Gold medals from the Great American Beer Festival, a distinction that separates Olde English from the majority of its competitors in blind, professional judging. Brewed in Milwaukee by one of America's oldest and most established breweries, the recipe relies on barley malt and corn-derived sugars without high fructose corn syrup, resulting in a cleaner fermentation profile than many drinkers expect from the category. The 42-ounce bottle remains one of the most recognizable large-format packages in American beer culture, and the liquid inside — sweet, golden, and direct — delivers exactly what the style demands at 7.5% ABV without pretension.