The appearance of poker pro Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth Jr.’s image on millions of beer cans this summer is part of a massive advertising campaign and sweepstakes that will award a free seat to the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.

Word was revealed last week that starting next month, the Miller Brewing Company, a Milwaukee-based beer-maker, will begin nationally distributing special edition beer cans featuring images of and quotes from Wisconsin favorite son and 11-time WSOP bracelet-winner Hellmuth.

The brands of beer involved are Milwaukee’s Best Light, an official WSOP sponsor, Milwaukee’s Best and Milwaukee’s Best Ice.

But now, the rest of the story: The whole promotion isn’t just an homage to Hellmuth, it’s a full-blown contest that will award lots of poker-themed prizes.

According to the Miller Brewing Company, beginning June 1, 2008, and running through August 31, 2008, beer-buyers will be able to find official entry codes inside specially-marked packages of Milwaukee’s Best, Best Light and Best Ice, that feature the Hellmuth cans.

The codes can then be entered at a Milwaukee Brewing Company website, www.milbest.com, for a sweepstakes featuring Hellmuth- and poker-related prizes, such as Hellmuth caps, Hellmuth T-shirts and poker chip sets.

The grand prize will be an all-expenses paid trip for four to the 2009 WSOP, including the $10,000 buy-in fee for the Main Event for one person and private poker lessons from the “Poker Brat” himself for that person.

Meanwhile, more information has emerged about what exactly will appear on the Hellmuth beer cans.

The cans will feature three different poses of Hellmuth, plus three different poker quotes (one pose and quote per can).

On his blog at his website, www.philhellmuth.com, the “Poker Brat” reveals two of the Hellmuthian quotations that will grace the cans of brew: “I can dodge bullets, baby!” and “If it weren’t for luck, I’d win ‘em all!”

The now-famous quotes were uttered during WSOP action televised on ESPN.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)