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Leinenkugel's

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Coordinates: 44°56′36″N 91°23′44″W / 44.943323°N 91.39543°W / 44.943323; -91.39543
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Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Founded1867
HeadquartersChippewa Falls, Wisconsin
United States
OwnerMolson Coors
ParentMolson Coors Beverage Company

The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company (/ˈlaɪnənkuːɡəl/), doing business as Leinenkugel's, is an American beer maker based in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Leinenkugel's was historically distributed only in the Upper Midwest, but is now available throughout all 50 states. The company is the seventh oldest brewery in the United States, and the oldest business in Chippewa Falls. It is a subsidiary of Molson Coors. It produces both traditional beers, including lagers and ales, as well as a popular line of shandies, which are a mixture of beer with fruit juices, such as lemonade.

History

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The brewery was co-founded in Chippewa Falls in May 1867 by Prussian immigrant Jacob Mathias Leinenkugel (1842–1899) and John Miller, making it the seventh oldest brewery in the United States.[1][2][3] The original beer brewed, which historically made up 90% of company production, was based on a formula Leinenkugel brought with him from Germany.[1] The company is the oldest operating business in Chippewa Falls.[4] Miller sold his stake in the company in 1884.[5]

The original Leinenkugel's brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

During Prohibition, the company produced near beer (known regionally as "Leino") as well as soda water.[5] With the repeal of Prohibition, Jacob Leinenkugel's daughters mortgaged their homes to fund the restoration of the company's beer brewing vats.[6]

The Leinenkugel's brewery expanded from its local roots beginning in the 1970s, when it first introduced its light beer.[5][7][8] The family-owned brewery was sold in 1988 to Philip Morris subsidiary Miller Brewing Company in an effort to stay solvent.[5][1][6] In an unprecedented move at the time, Miller kept the Leinenkugel family on to run its operation.[6]

After several attempts to bring the beer to national U.S. markets, Miller succeeded in 2007 with the addition of a Summer Shandy ale to the Leinenkugel's product line.[1] The company has since become well known for its sweeter beers and shandies,[1] with nine out of ten shandies consumed in the United States being brewed by Leinenkugel's.[6]

On October 11, 2016, SABMiller sold its stake in MillerCoors for around US $12 billion after the company was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev, making Molson Coors the sole owner of all Miller brands, including Leinenkugel's.[9] As of 2016, the brewery has distribution outlets in all 50 states[10][11] and its president is still a family member, Dick Leinenkugel.[6]

For the company's 150th anniversary, it created a special, "old style" German beer,[12] which was actually brewed by license in Germany via Hofbräu.[1]

A toast with Leinenkugel's summer shandies

In July 2023, Leinenkugel's workers went on strike for the first time since 1985 over low wages.[13] Members of Teamsters Local 662, the strike ended on September 1 when a three-year contract was ratified.[14]

On November 6, 2024, MolsonCoors announced the 157 year old brewery in Chippewa Falls and Leinenkugel's 10th Street Brewery would be closed by January 17, 2025, and operations consolidated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[15][16]

Breweries

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Leinenkugel's operates two breweries, but Molson-Coors will be closing them in 2025.[17] The original, the company's base of operations, is located in Chippewa Falls;[10] and the 10th Street Brewery located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[18][11] The 10th Street Brewery (formerly the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company brewery), was opened in 1986 by G. Heileman Brewing Company for the Blatz label. It was purchased by Leinenkugel's in 1995. It produces Leinenkugel's Big Eddy ale line, a series of seasonal, high alcohol beers.[19]

Products

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As of 2019, beers produced by Leinenkugel's include:[20]

Beers

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  • Honey Weiss, wheat beer with honey
  • Sunset Wheat, wheat beer (fall seasonal)[21]
  • Berry Weiss, wheat beer with berries
  • Creamy Dark, dark lager
  • Leinenkugel's Original, pilsner
  • Wisconsin Red Pale Ale, a pale ale
  • Leinenkugel's Light, a light beer
  • Canoe Paddler, a Kölsch (summer seasonal)
  • Oktoberfest, a Märzen (fall seasonal)
  • Snowdrift, a vanilla porter (winter seasonal)
  • Cherry Blonde Lager
  • Red Lager
  • Northwoods Lager

Shandys

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  • Orange Shandy
  • Berry Shandy
  • Summer Shandy (lemon flavored)
  • Grapefruit Shandy
  • Watermelon Shandy
  • Pomegranate Shandy
  • Harvest Patch Shandy (pumpkin spice flavored, a fall seasonal)
  • Cranberry Ginger Shandy

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Kevin, Brian (October 5, 2017). "An Old Beer Learns New Tricks, and Risks an Identity Crisis". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Red, White, and Brew: An American Beer Odyssey; St. Martin's Press; pp. 63–80
  3. ^ Gentile, Dan (August 18, 2014). "These Are the 11 Oldest Operating Breweries in the US". Thrillist.
  4. ^ Chippewa County Historical Society. "The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company Archived 2018-01-25 at the Wayback Machine". marker. Wisconsin Historical Markers.
  5. ^ a b c d "History of the Leinenkugel Brewery". Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e Rotunno, Tom (April 23, 2017). "As Shandy Season Approaches, Leinenkugel's Celebrates 150 Years With a New Beer". CNBC. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "SAB Miller - Brands - Leinenkugel's Original". Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  8. ^ Apps, Jerold W. (2005). Breweries of Wisconsin. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 142–146. ISBN 9780299206543. OCLC 787846771.
  9. ^ Wright, Lisa (November 11, 2015). "Molson Coors doubles with $12B Miller buyout". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Evavold, Ross (September 9, 2014). "Jake Leinenkugel Retiring as President of Brewing Company". The Chippewa Herald. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Bahr, Joan (August 8, 2017). "Leinie's Brews Nationwide Plan for Original". Milwaukee Business Journal.
  12. ^ Freeman, Thomas (March 13, 2017). "Leinenkugel's Marks 150th Anniversary with New German-Style Lager". Maxim. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  13. ^ "Workers at 156-year-old Wisconsin brewery stage first strike in decades". Washington Post. July 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Moskowitz, Daniel (September 1, 2023). "Leinenkugel's Teamsters in Wisconsin Ratify Contract, End Strike". International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
  15. ^ Schulz, Joe (November 6, 2024). "Molson Coors to close Leinenkugel's Brewery in Chippewa Falls". Wisconsin Public Radio News. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  16. ^ Daykin, Tom (November 6, 2024). "Leinenkugel Brewing is ending 157 years in Chippewa Falls. Production is moving to Milwaukee". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
  17. ^ Schulz, Joe (November 6, 2024). "Molson Coors to close Leinenkugel's Brewery in Chippewa Falls". Wisconsin Public Radio News. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  18. ^ Daykin, Tom (February 1, 2017). "Leinenkugel Plans to Expand Milwaukee Brewery, Add Jobs, with $50 Million Project". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  19. ^ Shepard, Robin (December 7, 2012). "Meet the Big Eddy Beers from Leinenkugel's". Isthmus. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  20. ^ "Our Beers". www.leinie.com. Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  21. ^ "Leinenkugel's bringing back Sunset Wheat". December 17, 2021.
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44°56′36″N 91°23′44″W / 44.943323°N 91.39543°W / 44.943323; -91.39543

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