One of America’s Oldest Beer Brands Discontinued

Schlitz Premium, a historic beer brand that originated in Milwaukee during the 1840s, has officially been placed on “hiatus” by Pabst Brewing Company, one of the largest breweries in the United States. This announcement came on a Friday, marking the end of nearly two centuries of brewing history.

Wisconsin Brewing Company recently revealed plans to brew its last batch of Schlitz at the end of May. This decision follows rising costs in storage and shipping, leading Pabst to make the tough choice to pause production on this classic brand. Zack Nadir, who oversees brand strategy at Pabst, noted the challenges this brings, expressing hope for the brand’s future after confirming the hiatus.

Schlitz, once the largest brewery in the country, used to famously tout the phrase, “The beer that made Milwaukee famous.” The company was founded by August Krug in 1849 and later expanded when Joseph Schlitz, after marrying Krug’s widow, took the reins, turning the venture into a renowned beer brand. The brewery gained significant attention during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, where it provided beer to residents who had limited access to clean drinking water.

However, the brand’s appeal began to wane in the 1970s, partly due to cost-cutting measures that altered its original recipe. Schlitz went through several ownership changes—being sold to Stroh Brewing in 1982 and eventually being acquired by Pabst in 1999.

Kirby Nelson, the brewmaster at Wisconsin Brewing Company, mentioned a desire to honor Schlitz with a dignified farewell as production comes to a close. They plan to brew “The Last Schlitz” on May 23rd, with a release scheduled for June 27th. Additionally, bars and breweries in the Milwaukee area are organizing farewell events to pay tribute to this longstanding beer brand.

Attempts to reach out to Schlitz and Pabst for comment were unsuccessful before publication.