With Milwaukee in the limelight this week during the Republican National Convention, we’re looking at one of Brew City’s biggest contributions to Chicago: Schlitz beer.
An advertisement for Schlitz beer in 1953. (Betz-Marsh Studio / Cincinnati Museum Center / Getty)
A Sip of History
In the mid-19th century, German immigrant Joseph Schlitz had been working at a brewery. When owner August Krug died, Schlitz bought and renamed the brewery (and married Krug’s wife).
Schlitz’s proximity to Chicago was important. In the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Schlitz donated barrels of beer to support relief efforts. And with local breweries burnt down, Schlitz’s beer sales doubled.
It was at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago that Schlitz made its slogan official: “The beer that made Milwaukee famous.”
Enter a Familiar Illinois Family
Schlitz ran the brewery with Krug’s nephews, the Uihleins. They took over the business when Schlitz died at sea in 1875.
The Uihleins remain a familiar name to Midwesterners today: Lake Forest billionaires Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein founded packing supply giant Uline more than 40 years ago. They've also emerged as top donors in former President Donald Trump’s re-election bid.
Schlitz’s Chicago Legacy Today
While Pabst Brewing now owns the Schlitz brand, Chicagoans can still see Schlitz signs around town at former tied houses. These pre-Prohibition taverns only sold beer from the Milwaukee manufacturer.
How can you spot one? The Schlitz name is often adorned on a globe on top of buildings like Schubas in Lakeview, the former Southport Lanes bowling alley, East Side Tap, and a future Englewood cafe.
