Schlitz was founded in 1849 and was once the largest brewery in the US until Anheuser-Busch overtook it in the late 1950s|J. Jeremiah|CC BY-NC 2.0
After more than 175 years, the iconic Schlitz Premium beer brand is being discontinued. Parent company Pabst Brewing Co. confirmed that the brand is being placed on hiatus due to rising storage and shipping costs.
The company will brew the final batch of Schlitz at its Verona, Wisconsin, facility on May 23.
Founded in 1849, Schlitz rose to prominence after the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, when it shipped beer to residents who lacked clean water. Known as “the beer that made Milwaukee famous,” Schlitz was once the largest brewery in the US before Anheuser-Busch overtook it in the late 1950s.
The brand’s popularity declined in the 1970s after cost-cutting measures changed its recipe and taste. Although the brand is now on pause, Pabst said it remains open to reviving Schlitz in the future.
Meanwhile, more health-conscious Americans are choosing non-alcoholic beverages. A 2025 Gallup survey found that only 54% of US adults said they drink alcohol.