Old Style 6Pk Cans

Old Style 6Pk Cans is a classic American pilsner packaged in a six-pack of 12 oz cans at 4.65% ABV. Long synonymous with Chicago sports culture and Midwestern blue-collar heritage, this golden lager traces its roots to 1902 and remains one of the most recognized regional American beer brands.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.65%  |  Origin: La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA  |  Style: American Pilsner  |  Brewer: Pabst Brewing Company (City Brewery, La Crosse)

Production & Heritage

Old Style was created by the G. Heileman Brewing Company in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where the brand earned a devoted following across the Upper Midwest and became an unofficial beer of Chicago's North Side. Heileman's original process took a full 30 days and employed natural kräusening — a double-fermentation technique in which actively fermenting wort is added to a new batch to restart fermentation, producing a cleaner, more refined lager. The brand is now owned by Pabst Brewing Company, and as of 2023 production returned to La Crosse's City Brewery, though Pabst has confirmed the traditional kräusening method is no longer part of the process.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet corn leads on the nose, followed by light white bread and a faint dusting of white sugar. The overall impression is mild and approachable with no aggressive hop character.

Taste: The palate opens with a noticeable corn sweetness before a gentle malty backbone emerges at mid-palate, carrying hints of biscuit and a subtle tea-like depth. A green-apple skin tartness flickers at the edges, balanced by very light hop bitterness that keeps the body from turning cloying.

Finish: The finish is short and clean with a faint breadiness that lingers just long enough. Light-bodied and highly drinkable, it closes with a slightly sticky sweetness and minimal bitterness.

How to Drink Old Style

Old Style is best served ice-cold straight from the can — it is a no-fuss American lager built for volume drinking on warm days and long afternoons. For a Michelada, its clean corn sweetness pairs naturally with lime, hot sauce, and Clamato. In a Shandy, mix it half-and-half with lemonade for a refreshing warm-weather drink. It also works well in a Beer-a-Rita, where its mild profile blends easily with frozen limeade concentrate without overpowering the citrus.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and tailgating before a Cubs game
• Stocking a cooler for a summer lake trip or camping weekend
• Casual poker nights and low-key gatherings with friends
• Anyone seeking a nostalgic Midwestern lager with genuine regional history

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Old Style taste like? Old Style is a light-bodied golden lager dominated by sweet corn and gentle malt, with minimal hop bitterness and a clean, crisp finish.

How does Old Style compare to Miller Lite? Both are light-bodied Midwestern lagers, but Old Style carries more pronounced corn sweetness and a slightly fuller malty character, while Miller Lite leans drier and thinner with a more neutral grain profile at a lower calorie count.

Is Old Style good for casual drinking? Old Style is an archetypal session lager — its 4.65% ABV, clean flavor, and light body make it well-suited for extended casual drinking in warm weather or social settings.

Where is Old Style made? Old Style is brewed at City Brewery in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the same city where the G. Heileman Brewing Company originally produced it; the brand is currently owned by Pabst Brewing Company.

What foods pair well with Old Style? Chicago-style hot dogs are a natural match given the brand's cultural ties to the city. Grilled bratwurst and burgers complement its malty sweetness. Pizza — especially deep-dish — works well because the beer's light body cuts through rich cheese. Tortilla chips with salsa or queso benefit from its clean, refreshing finish.

What sizes does Old Style come in? Old Style is widely available in 12 oz cans sold in six-packs, 12-packs, and 30-pack cases, as well as in 16 oz tallboy cans and 24 oz single cans depending on market availability.

Is Old Style worth the price? Old Style positions firmly in the value tier of American lagers, priced competitively alongside other domestic macro brands — it delivers honest, straightforward beer with genuine regional heritage at an everyday price point.

Why Old Style?

Old Style's identity is inseparable from its geography — it is a beer born in La Crosse, adopted by Chicago, and carried across generations of Midwestern drinkers who treat it as much as a cultural artifact as a beverage. Its historical use of the 30-day kräusening process distinguished it from faster-produced competitors for decades, giving the brand a production story most macro lagers cannot claim. Now brewed once again in its original Wisconsin home, Old Style occupies a rare space: a mass-market American pilsner with authentic regional roots and a loyal following that extends well beyond simple brand nostalgia.