The Associated Press

TUMWATER, Wash. - Miller Brewing Co. last week said it plans to close its 106-year-old Tumwater brewery, which employs 400 workers, July 1.

Miller spokesman Michael Brophy said the brewery is too small and too outdated. It is the smallest of Miller's seven U.S. breweries.

"A lot of thought and consideration went into this," he said.

The brewery was started in 1896, making Olympia beer. It was sold to Pabst in 1983 and Miller in 1999. Miller became part of South African Breweries last year.

The Tumwater plant producing about 1.7 million barrels of beer in 2002. It no longer produces Olympia beer, but instead brews Henry Weinhart's, Mickey's, Hamm's and Old English 800 Malt Liquor, beverages also made at other Miller plants.