Posted on 07/02/2008 1:52:46 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer, according to an old ad campaign.
And, as Milwaukee-area beer lovers are discovering, a lot of places are out of Schlitz, at least in the bottled form.
Within days of the Schlitz 1960s formula being brought back to Milwaukee, the beer was largely sold out - snapped up by both older guys who remember the beer from back in the day, and younger drinkers curious about the fuss.
A new shipment is coming to liquor stores and taverns beginning Wednesday, but it will be relatively small, said Mike Merriman, president of Beer Capitol Distributing Inc., the wholesaler for Schlitz in Milwaukee County.
Pabst Brewing Co., which owns the Schlitz brand, is expanding production based on the heavy demand in Milwaukee, and Merriman hopes to see the supply situation smoothed out by mid-July. Until then, he said, it will be "a little bit hit and miss" for consumers.
"The overwhelming success was much better than anticipated," Merriman said Tuesday.
The bottled Schlitz, which is being sold as the "Classic 1960s formula," was first rolled out last year in Tampa, Fla., and Minneapolis. Pabst launched it in Chicago in April, and in Milwaukee last week.
Compared with the Schlitz sold in cans, the reformulated Schlitz in bottles has a more full-bodied taste. Pabst, based in suburban Chicago, owns dozens of brands but doesn't operate any breweries. Classic Schlitz is brewed under a contract arrangement by MillerCoors LLC at its Eden, N.C., brewery.
Based on sales in those other cities, Pabst rolled out Classic Schlitz in a handful of Milwaukee-area liquor stores and taverns. Beer Capitol is initially selling it at around 30 locations, Merriman said. He'd like to eventually see it in roughly 700 outlets throughout Milwaukee County.
W.O.W. Distributing Co., a Schlitz wholesaler for Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties, saw the beer quickly sell out within its 10 accounts, said President Aldo Madrigrano. He's eager to get more cases delivered.
"It's a good problem, but it is a problem," Madrigrano said.
At Ray's Liquor, in Wauwatosa, Beer Capitol delivered 70 cases - the equivalent of 112 12-packs, and 56 six-packs - a week ago Tuesday. It was virtually all gone by the time Ray's opened the next day, said Roy Mueller, general manager.
"That's quite amazing," Mueller said.
He said the customers were a mix of older and younger drinkers, including people in their 30s who wanted to try bottled Schlitz. With the strong demand, it's priced at $5.49 for a six-pack. By comparison, a six-pack of Miller Lite sells for $4.99.
Ray's will receive a new shipment today from Beer Capitol. But Mueller said it probably won't even make it to the sales floor. He has a waiting list with about 40 names, and plans to call those customers.
"We'll probably allocate a six-pack apiece," he said.
A case of schlitz.
Old Milwaukee. Man, those were the good ole days!
I beg to differ.................
In a blind tasting, Consumer Reports said Old Milwaukee was America’s best tasting lager.
It is not often you will stumble upon such a high quality beer, at any price. With its fine breeding and high quality, Old Milwauke is not a beer to be either trifled with, or sneered at.
Basically, Schlitz cheapened the taste of the beer and destroyed the brand’s reputation.
Most people don’t realize that Schlitz was enriched with Sunshine Vitamin D-— that same health promoting vitamin found in good tasting milk and not so good tasting cod liver oil. Believe it or not, the ads during the 1930s stated Schlitz With Sunshine Vitamin D was good for its drinkers. From a personal viewpoint, Schlitz took a big chance with this bold statement, because a lot of people have a reputation of staying away from food and beverages that were considered good for them. In this case, Schlitz drinkers didnt mind, because their favorite beer was delightful to the taste buds from the first sip to the last.
In later years, Schlitz advertising went from Vitamin D to kissing. In addition to the best ingredients used, the secret to the beers success was Schlitz-— and only Schlitz used Just The Kiss Of The Hops. No, the Schlitz people didnt pucker up and kiss every hop it used for its beer. The Kiss Of The Hops contributed to a light beer taste without a single trace of bitterness.
With a lot of satisfied beer drinkers around the country, Schlitz consistently ranked among the top selling brands. Not only that, Schlitz was THE largest selling beer during the early 1950s.
On the radio, Vic Damone sang a clever jingle on the real joy of good living. When beer was a part of that good living, Damone musically suggested that all beer drinkers Move Up To Quality .. Move up To Schlitz.
I spent a l-o-n-g summer at Camp Beauregard, LA teaching a survival course. I was pretty much speaking a mix of Cajun, French and ‘Old Milwaukee’ by the time I left, LOL! Man, people know how to eat down der! :)
Those New Glarus beers are awesome! When I was a kid, Mom used to drag me to New Glarus because she sewed and could only get a certain hand-made lace there for her creations.
Now I gladly go there for the beer, LOL!
They were harsh beers. Tasted like beer. Pabst, Old Milwaukee. Cold. I actually liked them and can taste it right now. Had a corner office a decade ago overlooking Miller brewery on State Street so I kind of warmed up to Miller. Been on a diet with Miller lite for many years since.
As we used to say, "It was like making love in a canoe..."
Lucky!—Napoleon Dynamite.
Did you say a scar on your right boob? That may require some pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL
New Glarus Belgian Red is pure ambrosia. Solidly in the top 5 beers I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve had over 1000.
Boy, you Freeper males are off your game today! I though there would’ve been a demand for ‘photographic proof’ ten posts ago, LOL!
Nice! Love that ceiling!
Growing up in Milwaukee meant that I’ve held a pool cue since I was a toddler. Husband said the only reason he married me was that I could keep up with him in pool and was always only one shot behind him.
Fool. I chased him until I let him catch me, LOL!
Have not tried that one and I don’t recall seeing it in the store. I will take a closer look next time. Thanks!
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