An enduring American beer brand with a rich 177-year history is poised to vanish from store shelves.

Schlitz Premium, a once-prominent brewery brand rooted in Milwaukee since the 1840s, is being discontinued by Wisconsin Brewing Company. The final batch of Schlitz Premium is set to be brewed this month due to escalating storage and shipping costs, as stated by Zac Nadile, Pabst’s head of brand strategy.

Recognized for its famous slogan “the beer that made Milwaukee famous,” Schlitz Premium was the country’s largest brewery until the late 1950s. Established in 1849 by August Krug, the brewery gained prominence when Joseph Schlitz, after marrying Krug’s widow, transformed it into a major beer label.

Following the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, Schlitz Premium supplied beer to Chicago residents facing water scarcity, enhancing its reputation. Although a cost-saving reform in the 1970s led to a decline in popularity, the brand changed ownership over the years before being acquired by Pabst in 1999.

The brewmaster at Wisconsin Brewing Company, Kirby Nelson, expressed a desire for Schlitz Premium to receive a dignified farewell, stating, “We decided that, Schlitz being what Schlitz was, it deserved a proper sendoff. One with dignity and respect.”

After the final brewing on May 23, a limited release is scheduled for June 27. Milwaukee-area bars and breweries are also preparing farewell events tied to the last batches of Schlitz Premium.