The final opportunity to crack open a cold can of Schlitz is rapidly approaching.

Following Pabst Brewing Co.’s May announcement that Schlitz, “the beer that made Milwaukee famous,” will cease production, Wisconsin Brewing Co. in Verona brewed one last batch – to the specificiations of Schlitz’s recipe from 1948, widely considered to be the brand’s heyday.

That final batch will be available Saturday, June 27. To celebrate, Wisconsin Brewing Co. is hosting an all-day party, called Celebrate Schlitz, at its taproom, 1079 American Way in Verona.

Pre-orders for cans from the 80-barrel batch went on sale at midnight Saturday, May 23. They sold out by 9 a.m.

Wisconsin Brewing Co. brewed the batch that day, at a gathering involving dozens of Schlitz fans, with remarks from Wisconsin Brewing Co. brewmaster Kirby Nelson.

This Saturday, the all-day Celebrate Schlitz party will begin with pre-order pickups starting at 9 a.m., and the Wisconsin Brewing Co./Lake Louie Brewing taproom opening at noon. Nelson will lead a toast at 5 p.m., and live music from Oshkosh-based band Copper Box will run from 5 to 8 p.m. A food truck, Beef Butter BBQ, will be on site from noon to 8 p.m., according to information about the event on Facebook.

Those who don’t get a chance to have a few final sips of Schlitz June 27 may get one more chance July 4, at Old World Wisconsin’s 50th anniversary celebration in Eagle, where Wisconsin Brewing Co. plans to have some of the beer on tap.

Schlitz had its start in Milwaukee in 1849. The brand rapidly expanded in the late 19th century, and became the largest brewer in the United States by 1902.

It had a culturally significant impact on the city of Milwaukee, where its history can still be seen at Schlitz Park, the former site of its longtime brewery complex, as well as in former tied houses that still bear the Schlitz iconic globe logo and the brand’s lasting contributions like the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center and the Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall.

Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Celebrate Schlitz party will be send-off for Milwaukee’s famous beer

Reporting by Kelli Arseneau, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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By Kelli Arseneau, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network