Molson Coors closing historic, beloved Leinenkugel’s brewery in Chippewa Falls

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.

“While never easy, these choices are made with much thought and consideration to position Molson Coors for continued success in Wisconsin and beyond,” Brian Erhardt, the company’s chief supply chain officer, said in a statement.

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.”

“For over 157 years and six generations of family management, Leinenkugel’s has been brewing great beers for our legions of fans throughout Wisconsin and across the country,” his statement said. “None of our family members were aware or counseled ahead of the decision. It’s a sad day for our family and our fans.”

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.

“Ever since Leinenkugel’s joined Miller Brewing in 1988, the brand and Chippewa Falls have been a cherished part of our company and culture,” Erhardt said. “That’s not changing. Leinie’s Summer Shandy and the rest of the portfolio will continue to play a role in our premiumization plans.”

Leinenkugel’s 40-year-old 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee also will close. The move follows the end of a large contract brewing agreement with another, unnamed brand and as the main Molson Coors brewery in Milwaukee gets a canning line upgrade, Erhardt said.

Dick Leinenkugel said he feels for the employees and Chippewa Falls community and “I trust that the Molson Coors leadership will do everything possible to ease their pain during this challenging time.”

“I know the Molson Coors leaders don’t take these decisions lightly,” he said in a statement. “It’s clear to me that they determined that the savings resulting from the closure were significant enough to justify this difficult decision.”