Those 99-can Pabst 'family packs'? Milwaukee will get them, too, eventually. And for free.

Kathy Flanigan | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Why bring a six-pack when you can bring the whole party?

About this time of year, for the past few years, Pabst Brewing has released a 7-foot-long case of PBR that holds 99 cans of brew. It's called the Pabst Blue Ribbon Family Pack.

The catch: It's never been available in Milwaukee.

Good news, Milwaukee. This year, we're not only getting Pabst Blue Ribbon 99 — it will be free.

The bad news is that it isn't here yet.

The packs will be free, but you'll have to win them. Which is probably a better deal than they get in Minnesota. A Mankato liquor store sold out in less than 24 hours. Reportedly, the 99-pack was priced at $59.99.

SOLD OUT! Limited edition Pabst Blue Ribbon 99-Packs gone in 24 hours.https://t.co/bHuQqLg08w — KSFY News (@ksfynews) November 14, 2019

In Milwaukee, Beer Capitol Distributing will have the packs available to win at 15 to 20 area liquor and grocery stores and people will be able to register to win, said Dan Graziano, vice president of sales and marketing.

Southeast Wisconsin should have all three versions of the 99-pack: one filled with regular PBR; one with Pabst Easy, a light lager; and a variety pack that would include Pabst Extra, which is a higher ABV (alcohol by volume), Graziano said.

Product is limited, which is one reason Beer Capitol will give away the beers. Another is that the oversize packs don't come prepackaged from the brewery. Instead, they're built at the distributor, one 99-pack at a time.

There's one more hitch to Milwaukee's late start with the ginormous beer pack: Beer Capitol is waiting for the branded cardboard to come in. Graziano expects that Pabst 99 packs will be available before the end of the year.

RELATED: Wake up and smell the Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee. It's finally available in Milwaukee

Contact Kathy at (414) 224-2974 or kathy.flanigan@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @katflanigan.