Leinenkugel's Brewery closing in Chippewa Falls

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I haven't had a beer since 1986 - but this still makes me sad. When I was in college, I used to drink Leinie's on tap at the 5 Corners Saloon. To be clear - Leinie's is not going away - but it will now be brewed only in Milwaukee. details from the Strib:

The historic Leinenkugel’s brewery in Chippewa Falls is closing after more than 150 years of operating in the western Wisconsin town, as parent company Molson Coors centralizes brewing operations in Milwaukee.

No timeline was given for the brewery closure.

The Leinie Lodge and attached pilot brewery will remain open in Chippewa Falls, Erhardt said.

The production brewery, which still sports several thousand original bricks from its 1867 founding, has about 120 employees and produces 185,000 barrels of beer a year.

The Leinenkugel family sold to Miller in 1988, which was later incorporated into beer giant Molson Coors.

Former brewery president Dick Leinenkugel told radio station WTMJ he is “deeply saddened by the decision of the Molson Coors leadership team to close our Chippewa Falls brewery and home.”

The Leinie’s brand is synonymous with Midwestern lake culture, as the popular Summer Shandy often finds its way into coolers and onto lakeside taps. Leinenkugel’s beers are reliably found at bars and retailers across Minnesota, Wisconsin and beyond thanks to Molson Coors’ broad distribution network.
 

I haven't had a beer since 1986 - but this still makes me sad. When I was in college, I used to drink Leinie's on tap at the 5 Corners Saloon. To be clear - Leinie's is not going away - but it will now be brewed only in Milwaukee. details from the Strib:

The historic Leinenkugel’s brewery in Chippewa Falls is closing after more than 150 years of operating in the western Wisconsin town, as parent company Molson Coors centralizes brewing operations in Milwaukee.

No timeline was given for the brewery closure.

The Leinie Lodge and attached pilot brewery will remain open in Chippewa Falls, Erhardt said.

The production brewery, which still sports several thousand original bricks from its 1867 founding, has about 120 employees and produces 185,000 barrels of beer a year.

The Leinenkugel family sold to Miller in 1988, which was later incorporated into beer giant Molson Coors.

Former brewery president Dick Leinenkugel told radio station WTMJ he is “deeply saddened by the decision of the Molson Coors leadership team to close our Chippewa Falls brewery and home.”

The Leinie’s brand is synonymous with Midwestern lake culture, as the popular Summer Shandy often finds its way into coolers and onto lakeside taps. Leinenkugel’s beers are reliably found at bars and retailers across Minnesota, Wisconsin and beyond thanks to Molson Coors’ broad distribution network.
I wrote Leinenkugel's in college once to see if they would be interested in sponsoring our trivia team. I was hoping for free beer, but I was still happy they responded at all. We got signs, koozies, key chains, tee shirts, etc.. and a letter thanking us for all our support. Pretty cool of them. I haven't had a Leinie in years as my tastes have matured in adulthood, but I still have fond memories of college and going to Chippewa Falls to do the tours.
 

I wrote Leinenkugel's in college once to see if they would be interested in sponsoring our trivia team. I was hoping for free beer, but I was still happy they responded at all. We got signs, koozies, key chains, tee shirts, etc.. and a letter thanking us for all our support. Pretty cool of them. I haven't had a Leinie in years as my tastes have matured in adulthood,
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Glad I went there a couple months ago. I like their beer. Bit shocked by this
 

Glad I went there a couple months ago. I like their beer. Bit shocked by this
The beer isn't going away, it's going to be made in a different location.
 


Hot take.... Hamms is superior to Leinies.
Once at We-Fest, somebody stole all of our beer when we were at the concerts. Emptied every cooler, except for cooler of the guy who brought nothing but Hamms. Even the thieves wouldn't touch it.
 



Hot take.... Hamms is superior to Leinies.
I won't say Hamm's is "better", but I certainly prefer it.

I remember at the Hooters in Fargo a while back during school; On Wed or Tue night, they would have a pitcher of beer and 20 wings for $5. The beer was Hamm's; if you wanted any other beer, the special was $7.
 

I remember at the Hooters in Fargo a while back during school; On Wed or Tue night, they would have a pitcher of beer and 20 wings for $5. The beer was Hamm's; if you wanted any other beer, the special was $7.
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Once at We-Fest, somebody stole all of our beer when we were at the concerts. Emptied every cooler, except for cooler of the guy who brought nothing but Hamms. Even the thieves wouldn't touch it.
Too bad I wasn't there. I would have hit the jackpot.
 





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