MILWAUKEE — Pabst Brewing Co. confirmed it is discontinuing Schlitz beer, with Wisconsin Brewing Co. set to produce the final batch at its facility in Verona, Wisconsin, on May 23. The 177-year-old brand will receive a limited release of its last batch on June 27, along with a larger celebration event at the brewery.

"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," said Zac Nadile, head of brand strategy at Pabst Brewing Co. Pabst said the brand could return in the future.

"Any brand or packaging configuration that is put on hiatus is still a cherished part of our history and hopefully our future. We continually look for opportunities to bring back beloved brands, and customer feedback is important in shaping those discussions," Nadile said.

Schlitz was once one of the world's biggest beer brands and the country's largest brewery until it was surpassed by Anheuser-Busch in the late 1950s. The brand began losing popularity in the 1970s after cost-cutting changes altered the beer's flavor. Schlitz was sold to Stroh Brewing in 1982, and Pabst acquired the brand in 1999.

For the final run, Wisconsin Brewing Co. plans to re-create a version of Schlitz inspired by its "golden era," drawing on archived brewing records from the original Milwaukee brewery. The recipe includes six-row malted barley, yellow corn grits, German Hallertau Mittelfruh hops, and Washington Cluster hops.

"Things change, but Schlitz deserves better than just to be swept under the rug. It really needs to go out with dignity and respect," said Kirby Nelson, brewmaster at Wisconsin Brewing Co. Preorders for the final batch will begin May 23 on Wisconsin Brewing Co.'s website.