It's one of the oldest beers brewed in Michigan, originating more than 100 years ago before vanishing in the 1990s.

Now Altes — the brew that once was an official sponsor of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions and beloved by fans of cheap beer — is making a comeback.

Altes Original Detroit Lager will be hitting store shelves and restaurants later this spring with initial distribution in nine southeast Michigan counties.

Samples of the new beer will be available on Detroit Tigers Opening Day, April 4, at Nemo's Bar and Grill in Corktown.

"We're really blessed by a brand we are able to revive and yet it sells itself," said Eric Stief, co-founder of Detroit National Brewing Co.

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Stief, along with Carl Erickson and Pat Kruse, exclusively relaunched the beer in 2016 in a partnership with Traffic Jam and Snug. But the three men had been planning the relaunch for eight years.

In addition to Altes' Original Detroit Lager, Traffic Jam and Snug will introduce Altes Sportsman, which will be Vienna-style lager that is darker than the original with stronger taste.

Altes will be distributed through Rave Associates, from which commercial businesses, such as stores and restaurants, can request shipments.

The beer will be brewed through Brew Detroit.

"We realized the brand was available and reinvigorate this product as a good quality craft of beer. It's a locally owned company," Stief said. "We still had love for this brand. There's still a lot of people who have memories with the brand."

Altes dates to the 1910s in the Tivoli Brewery, later renamed as Altes Brewing Co. in Detroit. It was considered a beer of choice and eventually became a sponsor for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers by the 1960s.

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And it was inexpensive. In the heyday of its popularity in the 1970s, 24-pack cases sold for less than $5.

During a phone interview with the Free Press Wednesday, Erickson recalled seeing an archived advertisement for a pint of Altes selling at $1. In 1910, the Free Press published an ad that a case of 24 with orange labels sold at $1.25.

"It shows the difference in time," Erickson said, laughing.

The company was acquired in the 1950s by National Brewing Co. before it was acquired by Carling National Brewing Co. in the 1970s and finally G. Heileman Brewing Co. from 1980 to 1990.

Stief and Erickson said since announcing the relaunch in 2016, they have received positive feedback, with some people as far as Colorado interested in purchasing the beer. People even shared photos of family members with a can of beer.

Both men said they eventually plan to expand the distribution to the entire state.

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