TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- New ads for Old Milwaukee beer that feature actor Will Ferrell are appearing on television in Midwestern markets including Terre Haute, Ind., and Davenport, Iowa.
Watch the video below to watch Farrell's Old Milwaukee commercials, or click here.
Ferrell was not hired or paid by Pabst Brewing Co., owners of the Old Milwaukee brand, but created the ads on his own as a fan of the beer, according to Pabst chief marketing officer Bryan Crowley.
"Will approached Old Milwaukee because he's a big fan of the beer and thought it would be fun to make the commercials, and we couldn't be more excited that he did," Crowley said in a statement provided to the Tribune-Star.
Adweek noted that the ads might be "guerrilla marketing" intended to coincide with Old Milwaukee's recent refresh of its website and Facebook presence.
It also cited an MSNBC report from 2010 indicating that Ferrell's Funny or Die website was planning to produce sketches incorporating Pabst products as part of an effort by the brewer's new owners, the Metropoulos brothers, to revitalize a host of neglected labels.
And Daren Metropoulos told Adweek, "Will Ferrell...was interested in developing something unique, and we gave him the freedom to pursue his creative vision and produce these spots with a local vibe."
Old Milwaukee is an American lager-style beer currently brewed and owned by Pabst Brewing, Woodridge, Ill. The Old Milwaukee line includes Old Milwaukee, Old Milwaukee Light and Old Milwaukee Non-Alcoholic (NA).
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