End of an era as Schlitz, the beer that made Milwaukee famous, pours its last

U.S. newsEnd of an era as Schlitz, the beer that made Milwaukee famous, pours its lastThe iconic lager has quenched the thirst of American beer drinkers for 177 years.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00A variety of antique Schlitz beer bottles in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.Morry Gash / AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 20, 2026, 3:09 PM EDTBy Corky SiemaszkoIt’s last call for Schlitz, the beer that made Milwaukee famous. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The Pabst Brewing Co. has confirmed it is ceasing production of the iconic lager that has quenched the thirst of American beer drinkers for 177 years.“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,” Zac Nadile, Pabst head of brand strategy, said in a statement last month to Milwaukee Magazine.Men enjoy their Schlitz beer in 1920.Kirn Vintage Stock / Corbis via Getty Images fileCars on Woodhaven Boulevard drive past a Schlitz beer billboard in Queens, New York, in 1960.Walter Leporati / Getty ImagesThat means other retro beer brands in what could be called the Pabst portfolio, like bottles of Blatz and Old Milwaukee, will also be harder to find, the magazine reported. “Any brand or packaging configuration that is put on hiatus is still a cherished part of our history and hopefully our future,” Nadile said. “We continually look for opportunities to bring back beloved brands and customer feedback is important in shaping those discussions.”NBC News has reached out to Nadile for elaboration.The demise of a blue-collar beer like Schlitz marks the end of an era.The Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. was founded in 1849 by a German immigrant who took over a small Milwaukee brewery after marrying the widow of the original owner, August Krug — and renamed the business after himself.While “The Beer that Made Milwaukee Famous” soon be...