Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Wisconsin Brewing revives 177-Year-Old Schlitz recipe

5/20/2026

36 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Pabst Discontinues Schlitz

Pabst Brewing Co. discontinued Schlitz Premium after 177 years because rising storage and shipping costs caused a hiatus.
Wisconsin Brewing Company will brew the batch, with brewmaster Kirby Nelson making 80 barrels on May 23 from a 1948 recipe that includes barley, corn grits, Hallertau Mittelfruh and Washington Cluster hops.
The batch will be released in quantities on June 27, with Wisconsin Brewing hosting a farewell celebration at Lake Louie.

Summary

Pabst Ends Schlitz

Pabst Blue Ribbon teamed with Grillo’s Pickles to release the limited-edition lager PBR x Grillo’s Pickle Beer.
Schlitz, founded in 1849 as a Milwaukee tavern brewery owned by August Krug and renamed after Krug’s 1856 death, announced a shutdown in 1981 because competition from Miller and Pabst.
Pabst Brewing Company bought Schlitz in 1999, relaunched it in 2008, and discontinued it in May 2026 after the relaunch failed.

History

Historical Context

When the Eighteenth Amendment took effect in January 1920, Prohibition forced the closure of over a thousand U.S. breweries, wiping out firms such as Schlitz. The 2026 Schlitz shutdown, driven by soaring storage costs and fierce competition, mirrors the historic market squeeze that followed the 13-year ban and the 1933 repeal.

1 of 3

Pabst Discontinues Schlitz

Pabst Brewing Co. discontinued Schlitz Premium after 177 years because rising storage and shipping costs caused a hiatus.
Wisconsin Brewing Company will brew the batch, with brewmaster Kirby Nelson making 80 barrels on May 23 from a 1948 recipe that includes barley, corn grits, Hallertau Mittelfruh and Washington Cluster hops.
The batch will be released in quantities on June 27, with Wisconsin Brewing hosting a farewell celebration at Lake Louie.

1 / 3