'The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous' Falls Victim To Rising Costs

MILWAUKEE, WI — One of Milwaukee’s most famous beer names is getting shelved.

Pabst Brewing Co. is putting Schlitz Premium "on hiatus" after more than 175 years, NBC News reported. The company cited rising storage and shipping costs as the reason for the move.

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"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, told Milwaukee Magazine.

Schlitz has deep roots in Milwaukee. The brand dates back to 1849 and became known nationwide by its famous slogan, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous."

The beer’s final Wisconsin sendoff is expected to come from Wisconsin Brewing Company in Verona, which is set to brew one last batch using a 1948 recipe.

The final batch is expected to be released on June 27.

Pabst has not ruled out bringing Schlitz back someday, but for now, the historic Milwaukee brand is headed for hiatus.