Schlitz Is Gone, but First It's Getting One Last Hurrah
2 days ago
- #brewery-discontinuation
- #beer-history
- #Milwaukee-heritage
- Schlitz, a historic Milwaukee beer brand established in 1858, has been discontinued by Pabst Brewing Co. due to rising costs.
- Wisconsin Brewing Co. is brewing the final batch of Schlitz on May 23, 2025, based on a 1948 recipe from Schlitz's peak as the world's best-selling beer.
- The brand's history includes its founding by August Krug, takeover by Joseph Schlitz, and later ownership by the Uihlein brothers, who sold it in 1982, ending its Milwaukee roots.
- Schlitz's decline began in the 1970s after cost-cutting changes altered its flavor, leading to a loss of loyal drinkers and eventual sale, with Pabst acquiring it in 1999.
- The final Schlitz brew uses traditional ingredients like six-row malted barley and specific hops, intended as a dignified farewell to a brand that once symbolized Milwaukee's brewing fame.