Schlitz Light Can

Illlustration of a Schlitz Light beer can

The Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company was based in Milwaukee, WI and their beer was extremely popular from 1900 to 1950. The company was the largest producer of beer in America for most of that time, only beginning to compete with Anheuser-Busch (maker of Budweiser) in the 1950s. Their slogan was, "When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer." The brewery was founded in 1849, and later acquired by Joseph Schlitz in 1858. Schlitz was eventually sold to Stroh Brewery Company in 1982 and then Stroh, with the Schlitz brand, was bought by Pabst Brewing Company in 1999. Pabst now produces, "Schlitz Gusto" beer as well as the "Classic 60s Formula." Due to rationing during World War II, Schlitz was only available to soldiers in olive green cans from 1942-1947. Viewers of Laverne & Shirley will remember that the two main characters worked in Milwaukee, WI at "Shotz Brewery," which was a fictional version of Schlitz. Schlitz is also know as the first brewery to introduce 24oz "tall boys" and the first "pop top" cans.