Louisiana Beer Reviews: Schlitz Gusto Classic 1960s Formula

[therealacevenom]

I have to agree with you. This beer is very good. It's a shame this one is overlooked by many.

[ronaldtheriot]

@therealacevenom I know.

[Sodeggy]

Drinking Schlitz now. Love it. I've always considered Schlitz, Schaefer's, Stroh's and Hamm's to be superior in taste to the American Big Three.

[ronaldtheriot]

@Sodeggy Thanks for watching, Sodeggy! I agree with you, although I do think Coors Banquet Beer is really fine. Have you ever tried Heileman's Old Style or Heileman's Special Export?

[Sodeggy]

@ronaldtheriot Yes, Coors Banquet is good stuff. And Old Style! Forgot to list that. Grab a 30 pack in KY when I can.

[ronaldtheriot]

@Sodeggy Sadly, they don't sell Heileman's brands in Louisiana.

[PancakeBuffalarn]

Just tried a 6 pack of tall-boy cans. I must say I'm really impressed. Its very easy to drink and has such an impressive aftertaste. I get like a lemony bread type of taste and its really incredibly smooth. I agree with the video completely.

[ronaldtheriot]

@PancakeBuffalarn Thanks for watching, PB! Yes, it's a really delicious beer. I agree with your lemony & bread view of it.

[gsikes2]

I am 54, and Schiltz is a brand my dad would buy. It is now in Bev Mo stores in California. Like Pabsts Blue Ribbon, I am sure it will have a place with the rockabilly and hipster crowd. It has history, but it seems to me more of a display piece in your trunk at a car show.

[ronaldtheriot]

@gsikes2 I don't think it's a display piece, it's just a beer that is low profile and owned by a relatively poor company (Pabst) that can't really afford a decent advertising budget. I remember being a child (1970s) and Schlitz was one of the big beers. Hey, thanks for watching, GS2!

[geoffolehane]

The other day I had one of these back to back with Schlitz regular and there was a clear difference for the better. In my area, I think they are getting rid of Schlitz regular in favor of this one.

[ronaldtheriot]

@geoffolehane Yes, I think the 1977-2011 Schlitz is a gone pecan.

[Crisgo3d]

I read someplace that old brewers were called up to make it the old way.

[ronaldtheriot]

@Crisgo3d That's right. They got together some old guys that worked for Schlitz back in the 1960s to help them try to recreate the formula. I don't know if they succeeded, but the new stuff is very good.

[wildbilltexas]

I remember trying Schlitz back in the late 70's and it was really bad, so I never had it again. While I was visiting freinds in Florida last year I tried it again (probly the post 1977 formula) and it was a OK beer.

It's a shame that Pabst is really promoting Lone Star here in Texas and not promoting or distributing any of their other classic brands like Pearl, Schilitz or even PBR. Last time I saw Schiltz was for a 12 pack at Brookshiers supermarket.

[ronaldtheriot]

@wildbilltexas I liked both the 1977-2011 formula and the 2007-present Gusto 1960s formula. I don't recall ever tasting it in the 1970s, but boy do I remember all the Schlitz commercials & hats & towels & shirts, etc! I bought Pearl in Texas this spring as well as Lone Star. I don't think Pabst has too much money to pay for advertising. They're sort of small time.

[wildbilltexas]

@ronaldtheriot I remember all the Schiltz "Go for the Gusto" ads on TV and the merchandise too while growing up, thats why I probably gave it a shot back in the 70's. It's a shame Pabst Brewing has acquired all these brands over the years, yet they distribute and advertise their products so poorly like a tiny mom & pop microbrewery. They are sitting on a goldmine with all these legendary brands. They really need new owners who will advertise heavily and maybe restore or build new breweries.

[ronaldtheriot]

@wildbilltexas I thought the new owner, C. Dean Metroupolos, would really push the company forward, but it's been a year, and I'm not seeing much, except the new Colt 45 Blast line, which seems to be quite hot.

[SwillinGrog]

I actually had Schlitz back in 1991, it left quite an impression - very tasty indeed. I can't believe this iconic American brand isn't available here any longer.

[ronaldtheriot]

@SwillinGrog Schlitz went from being one of the captains of the beer world in the 1970s to being an also-ran by the 1980s. In a way, it's hard to believe it's still produced and not defunct like other ones such as Falstaff. I've always liked it.

[andy49093]

My dad also said the first time he had a Gusto last year that "If it isn't the exact same taste as it was when I started drinking it, it's pretty damn close". So I would guess they at the very least are very close to the original 60's formula.

[ronaldtheriot]

@andy49093 That's probably true. I think they did an outstanding job over there at Pabst Brewing. Whether they make any money from the effort is another story.

[andy49093]

My dad used to drink Schlitz both before and after their recipe changes in the early 70's. As he puts it "Schlitz just became watery sometime around '73". Then they changed it again in '77 to try and fix the problem but the damage was already done. Also he said that Schlitz in the mid-'70's (as did Miller Lite in the 80's) was using a seaweed extract in the wort which, according to alot of guys I know, would form "chunks" in the beer if you had it in your fridge more than about three months...

[ronaldtheriot]

@andy49093 Yeah, Schlitz and others did what Budweiser has NEVER done- mess with the product. It killed 'em. I couldn't comment on various Schlitz tastes, since I never tried it until February, 1996. Thanks for watching, Andy!

[Tunnelfish2]

I'll have to try this one out if it ever appears on the shelves, but I haven't seen much of Schlitz at all anywhere.. It's pretty sad when a company is so disorganized that they would lose something as important as the recipe the brand was built upon. That tells me either management was grossly incompetent or just didn't care. I really don't think that are many (if any) American breweries that still use the recipes my Dad used to enjoy.

[ronaldtheriot]

@Tunnelfish2 I think Schlitz was really screwed up by 1982. Pitiful, huh? Imagine Coca-Cola or Kentucky Fried Chicken losing their recipe! Thanks for watching!

[Tunnelfish2]

@ronaldtheriot Actually, Coke had it's debacle with "The New Coke" and KFC's having it's current issue pushing a grilled version of it's chicken. I think it's best to stick with what works.

[andy49093]

@Tunnelfish2 That is true, both companies have altered their recipes at some point or another, but neither Coca-Cola nor Kentucky Fried Chicken has "lost" their original recipes like Schlitz did... They are/were simply trying to phase in something new on top of the original.

[ronaldtheriot]

@andy49093 So true.

[ronaldtheriot]

@Tunnelfish2 I can't argue with that. By the way, I think Church's spicy chicken is the best.

[ronaldtheriot]

@Tunnelfish2 You can get on the Schlitz website now, and it'll show what stores in every state carry it (and, with maps!).

[Tunnelfish2]

@ronaldtheriot The search tool tells me either invalid zip code, or unavailable.

[ronaldtheriot]

@Tunnelfish2 It's probably not in your area yet, but it'll probably be there before too long.

[dreamcast65]

I have never had Schlitz before because I can't find it here but I know I will love it. Great review as always!

[ronaldtheriot]

@dreamcast65 Thanks, D.C.65! You can get on the Schlitz website now, and it'll actually show what stores carry it in every state. I saw that last night.