Last Schlitz beer batch scheduled in Wisconsin as brand goes on hiatus

The final batch of Schlitz beer will be brewed on May 23 at Wisconsin Brewing Company in Verona, Wisconsin, marking the end of a brand that was once the largest brewery in the United States and a fixture of American beer culture for 177 years. Parent company Pabst Brewing Company confirmed that Schlitz Premium is being placed on hiatus indefinitely.

Zac Nadile, Pabst’s head of brand strategy, attributed the decision to rising operating costs. “Unfortunately, we have seen continued increases in our costs to store and ship certain products and have had to make the tough choice to place Schlitz Premium on hiatus,” Nadile said in a statement. He added that the brand remains “a cherished part of our history and hopefully our future,” and that Pabst would evaluate opportunities to bring it back based on customer feedback.

Wisconsin Brewing Company brewmaster Kirby Nelson will oversee the final 80-barrel batch, brewed using the company’s 1948 recipe. “We decided that, Schlitz being what Schlitz was, it deserved a proper sendoff. One with dignity and respect,” Nelson said. A limited release of the final Schlitz is scheduled for June 27, with farewell events planned at Milwaukee-area...