Leinenkugel’s neighbors, fans and friends are reeling from Wednesday’s shocking announcement that Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. will cease operations at the company’s historic Chippewa Falls brewery.
kAm$@ E@@ :D E96 {6:?6?<F86= 72>:=J[ H9@ 2C6 56D46?52?ED @7 7@F?56C y24@3 {6:?6?<F86=]k^Am
kAmu@C>6C y24@3 {6:?6?<F86= qC6H:?8 r@] !C6D:56?E s:4< {6:?6?<F86= D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E 72>:=J >6>36CD H6C6 ?@E 4@?DF=E65 23@FE E96 564:D:@? >256 3J A2C6?E 4@>A2?J |@=D@? r@@CD]k^Am
Lodge associate Matt Leinenkugel fills a 32 oz crowler can of a pilot brew at Leinie Lodge on March 14.
Audrey Korte
River Valley Media Group, file photo
kAm“}@?6 @7 @FC 72>:=J >6>36CD H6C6 2H2C6 @C 4@F?D6=65 29625 @7 E96 564:D:@?] xE’D 2 D25 52J 7@C @FC 72>:=J 2?5 @FC 72?D[” 96 HC@E6] “x? a_`f[ H6 42>6 E@86E96C :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D E@ 46=63C2E6 @FC 3C6H6CJ’D `d_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ] xE H2D E96 567:?:?8 >@>6?E @7 >J 42C66C :? 366C]”k^Am
kAm|@=D@? r@@CD H:== 462D6 @A6C2E:@?D 2E {6:?6?<F86=’D 3C6H6CJ :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J’D %6?E9 $EC66E qC6H6CJ :? |:=H2F<66 @? y2?] `f 2?5 >@G6 AC@5F4E:@? E@ :ED >2:? A=2?E :? |:=H2F<66[ 244@C5:?8 E@ y24@3 {6:?6?<F86= qC6H:?8 r@] !C6D:56?E %@?J qF896C]k^Am
kAm“p=@?8D:56 >J 3C@E96CD[ y2<6 2?5 y@9?[ 2?5 >6>36CD @7 @FC 7@FCE9[ 7:7E9[ 2?5 D:IE9 86?6C2E:@?D @7 72>:=J[ H6 AC@F5=J E@2DE65 @FC 366C 5C:?<6CD[ C6E2:= 4FDE@>6CD[ 2?5 5:DEC:3FE@CD E@ E92?< E96> 7@C E96:C =@J2=EJ 2?5 DFAA@CE[Q s:4< DE2E65] Q%@52J[ @? 3692=7 @7 E96 {6:?6?<F86= 72>:=J[ x E92?< E96> 282:? 2?5 H:== E@2DE E96> E9:D 6G6?:?8 H:E9 2 {6:?6?<F86=’D ~C:8:?2= 2?5 2 E62C :? >J 6J6]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^49:AA6H2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_23d4b3a\h4ga\``67\3`63\_f55h_5e2h_6Qmw:DE@C:4 {6:?6?<F86=VD 3C6H6CJ E@ 4=@D6 :? r9:AA6H2 u2==Dk^2mk^Am
kAm%96 (:D4@?D:? s6A2CE>6?E @7 (@C<7@C46 s6G6=@A>6?E C6A@CED E92E de H@C<6CD :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D 92G6 C646:G65 =2J@77 ?@E:46D 7C@> |@=D@? r@@CD H:E9 2?@E96C bc H@C<6CD E@ 36 =2:5 @77 :? |:=H2F<66]k^Am
kAm“x 766= 7@C 2== :>A24E65 6>A=@J66D 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D 2?5 ECFDE E92E E96 |@=D@? r@@CD =6256CD9:A H:== 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8 A@DD:3=6 E@ 62D6 E96:C A2:? 5FC:?8 E9:D 492==6?8:?8 E:>6[” s:4< HC@E6]k^Am
kAm%96 2??@F?46>6?E 92D 366? 2 3=@H E@ E96 r9:AA6H2 '2==6J]k^Am
A tour group stands outside Leinenkugel’s brewery Friday in Chippewa Falls.
Audrey Korte, River Valley Media Group
kAm”xE :D E6CC:3=J D25[” t2F r=2:C6 C6D:56?E $92??@? |@@C6 D2:5 %9FCD52J] “x 766= =:<6 x 42? 32C6=J 5:86DE E9:D ?6HD E9:D H66<] %96C6’D D@ >F49 92AA6?:?8 2?5 E9:D ?6HD 23@FE {6:?6?<F86=’D :D C62==J ?@E 96=A:?8]”k^Am
k9am‘w2C5 52J 7@C E96 r9:AA6H2 '2==6J’k^9am
kAmqC:2? u=J??[ 2 r9:AA6H2 r@F?EJ q@2C5 $FA6CG:D@C D2:5 96 H2D DEF??65 3J E96 ?6HD]k^Am
kAm“xE 42>6 2D 2 4@>A=6E6 D9@4<] x >62?[ E92EVD 366? @?6 @7 E96 >2:?DE2JD :? E96 4:EJ @7 r9:AA6H2 u2==D[” u=J?? D2:5]k^Am
kAm|2?J {6:?6?<F86=VD 72?D >2<6 =@?8 EC:AD 6249 J62C E@ G:D:E E96 r9:AA6H2 u2==D 3C6H6CJ 2?5 6?;@J 92?8:?8 @FE 2E E96 {6:?:6 {@586 D:EF2E65 @G6C sF?42? rC66< :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D] qC6H6CJ E@FCD 2C6 @776C65 52:=J 2?5 D6CG6 2D 2 E@FC:DE 2EEC24E:@? 2?5 64@?@>:4 5C:G6C]k^Am
kAmu=J?? D2:5 96 E2<6D ?@E6 @7 2== E96 @FE @7 DE2E6 =:46?D6 A=2E6D :? E96 {6:?6?<F86=VD A2C<:?8 =@E @7E6? 2?5 H@?56CD H92E E96 4=@DFC6 H:== >62? 7@C E@FC:D> :? E96 2C62]k^Am
kAm“x <?@H {6:?:6 {@586 :D DE2J:?8 @A6? 3FE E9:D :D 2 92C5 52J 7@C E96 r9:AA6H2 '2==6J[” |@@C6 D2:5] “x 92G6 7C:6?5D H9@ 92G6 4@>6 E@ G:D:E[ 42==:?8 E@52J[ 2D<:?8 :7 :E’D ECF6 3642FD6 H6 2=H2JD 8@ E@ {6:?6?<F86=’D H96? H6 92G6 9@FD68F6DED 2?5 DEF77]”k^Am
kAm{6:?:6 {@586 :D 2 A@AF=2C E@FC:DE DA@E[ @776C:?8 {6:?6?<F86= 3C6HD @? E2A] xE 9@DED 2 ?6H=J @A6?65 A:=@E 3C6H:?8 DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm%96 {@586 H:== C6>2:? @A6?]k^Am
Leinie Lodge is a premier destination for locals and tourists alike. Visitors can enjoy a pint, or more, go on tours and purchase Leinenkugel merchandise.
Audrey Korte
The Chippewa Herald, file photo
k9amV#6D:=:6?E 4@>>F?:EJVk^9am
kAm%6C: ~F:>6EE6[ tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C @7 r9:AA6H2 u2==D |2:? $EC66E D2:5 D96 H2D “D9@4<65” 3J ?6HD @7 {6:?6?<F86=’D A=2??65 3C6H6CJ 4=@DFC6]k^Am
kAmqFE D96 D2:5 r9:AA6H2 u2==D H:== 4@>6 E9C@F89 E9:D 92C5D9:A]k^Am
kAm”(6 2C6 2 C6D:=:6?E 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 =@@< 7@CH2C5 E@ 7FEFC6 3C6H6CJ E@FC 56E2:=D[” D96 D2:5] “~FC E9@F89ED 2C6 H:E9 6>A=@J66D 2?5 72>:=:6D :>A24E65 3J E9:D F?6IA64E65 ?6HD]”k^Am
kAm~F:>6EE6 D2:5 =@42=D H:== 5@ H92E E96J 42? E@ DFAA@CE {6:?6?<F86=’D H@C<6CD 2?5 E96 {6:?:6 {@586]k^Am
kAm“%96 8C62E A2CE :D H6 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ AC@>@E6 E96 E2DE:?8D 2?5 6G6?ED 2D H6== 2D E96 !:=@E qC6H6CJ D@ E96C6 :D DE:== 2 =@E E@ 6IA6C:6?46[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
Leinenkugel‘s held its annual Summer Kick Off on Saturday, featuring six food trucks, cold beer and plenty of live music on the grounds of the historic brewery in Chippewa Falls.
Audrey Korte
River Valley Media Group
kAmu=J?? D2:5 E96 72>:=J C6>2:?D C6G6C65 :? E@H?]k^Am
kAm“%96 {6:?6?<F86= 72>:=J[ 8@D9 >J 525 H2D :? E96 D6CG:46 2?5 <?6H 2 4@FA=6 @7 E96> 7C@> >:=:E2CJ D6CG:46] p?5 x E6== J@F H92E[ WE96J 2C6X E96 ?:46DE A6@A=6 E@@[ 2?5 J@F <?@H[ C62==J 5646?E 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ[” u=J?? D2:5] “#682C5=6DD :7 E96J 92G6 E96 3C6H6CJ @C ?@E E96JVC6 DE:== G6CJ H6== C6DA64E65 :? @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am
kAmqF896C E@=5 %96 r9:AA6H2 w6C2=5 @? (65?6D52J E92E 96 5:5 ?@E DFAA@CE E96 564:D:@? 3642FD6 E96 3C6H:?8 4@>A2?J 92D 366? :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D 7@C `df J62CD]k^Am
kAm{6:?6?<F86=’D ;@:?65 |:==6C qC6H:?8 :? `hgg H9:49 :?4@CA@C2E65 :?E@ |@=D@? r@@CD] %96? |@=D@? r@@CD AFC492D65 {6:?6?<F86=VD @FEC:89E :? a_`e]k^Am
This photo was taken in August of 2022.
Original caption: Tony Bugher, the next president of Leinenkugel formerly worked at TDS. TDS hosted a joint Family Support Center fundraiser and kick-off celebration for the construction of the new TDS fiber network in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire at Leinie Lodge on Wednesday.
Audrey Korte
The Chippewa Herald, file photo
kAm%96 r9:AA6H2 u2==D pC62 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 D2:5 :E 2:>D E@ 96=A :>A24E65 H@C<6CD 5FC:?8 E96 D9FE5@H?]k^Am
kAm”(6 2C6 D2556?65 E@ 962C @7 E96 4=@DFC6 @7 E96 {6:?6?<F86=’D qC6H6CJ] q68:??:?8 :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D >@C6 E92? `dd J62CD 28@[ {6:?6?<F86=’D 92D 366? 2 =@?8 DE2?5:?8 3FD:?6DD[ 96=A:?8 D92A6 E96 4@>>F?:EJ H6 2C6 E@52J[” E96 r92>36C DE2E6>6?E D2JD] “pD H2D ECF6 D@ >2?J J62CD 28@[ E96 5:G6CD:EJ @7 @FC 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 :?5FDEC:6D 2==@H FD E@ C6>2:? C6D:=:6?E 2D @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 6G@=G6D]”k^Am
kAm%96 r92>36C 2=D@ D2:5 :E :D H@C<:?8 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 A@E6?E:2= :>A24E @? 3C6H6CJ\C6=2E65 E@FC:D>]k^Am
kAm“(:E9 E96 {6:?:6 {@586 2?5 E96 !:=@E qC6H6CJ C6>2:?:?8 @A6?[ v@ r9:AA6H2 r@F?EJ[ E96 %@FC:D> s:G:D:@? @7 E96 r92>36C[ H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ AC@>@E6 E96:C E2DE:?8D 2?5 6G6?ED H9:=6 D66<:?8 E@ F?56CDE2?5 7FEFC6 3C6H6CJ E@FC 56E2:=D 2?5 @AE:@?D[” 2 DE2E6>6?E 7C@> E96 r9:AA6H2 u2==D pC62 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 C625D]k^Am
Teri Ouimette, the executive director of Chippewa Falls Main Street in June of 2022.
Audrey Korte, The Chippewa Herald, file photo
k9am’p E@F89 J62C’k^9am
kAm%96 =@DD @7 2?@E96C =2C86 6>A=@J6C :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 255D E@ E96 5:77:4F=EJ 72465 7@==@H:?8 E96 C646?E 4=@DFC6D @7 EH@ 9@DA:E2=D]k^Am
kAmw$w$ $E] y@D6A9’D w@DA:E2= 4=@D65 |2C49 aa :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D] }62C3J w$w$ $24C65 w62CE w@DA:E2= :? t2F r=2:C6 2=D@ 4=@D65 E92E 52J]k^Am
kAm%@86E96C E96 A2:C @7 9@DA:E2=D 2?5 2 8C@FA @7 C68:@?2= 4=:?:4D E92E D9FE 5@H? 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 6>A=@J65 23@FE `[c__ H@C<6CD] x? 255:E:@? E@ E96 =@DD @7 BF2=:EJ ;@3D[ :E 92D =67E 2 D:K23=6 962=E9 42C6 82A :? E96 EH@ (:D4@?D:? 4@F?E:6D @7 r9:AA6H2 2?5 t2F r=2:C6]k^Am
Gov. Tony Evers visited Leinenkugel for a tour in August of 2022 to discuss the importance of water for industry and individuals in Wisconsin.
Audrey Korte, Chippewa Herald, file photo
kAm%96? :? |2J E96 }] qC:586 $EC66E w@=:52J 82D DE2E:@? :? r9:AA6H2 u2==D 4=@D65 H:E9@FE H2C?:?8] u@FC @E96C w@=:52J DE2E:@?D 2=D@ 4=@D65 :? t2F r=2:C6] %96 5@H?E@H? r9:AA6H2 u2==D =@42E:@? C6>2:?D 6>AEJ]k^Am
kAmq@E9 4=@DFC6D 42>6 H:E9 ?@ H2C?:?8 E@ 6>A=@J66D[ 4:EJ @C 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=D :? 2 4@?46C?:?8 EC6?5 7@C E9@D6 H9@ D66< E@ AC@>@E6 E96 2C62VD 3FD:?6DD :?E6C6DED] k^Am
kAm“$66>D E@ 36 E96 ?6H VEC6?5V @7 4@CA@C2E:@?D E@ ?@E ?@E:7J 6>A=@J66D[ >2?286>6?E @C E96 4:EJ @7 r9:AA6H2 u2==D @? H92E E96J 2C6 A=2??:?8[” ~F:>6EE6 D2:5] QtI2>A=6i w$w$ $E] y@D6A9’D w@DA:E2=[ w@=:52J $E2E:@? $E@C6 2?5 ?@H {6:?6?<F86=’D qC6H6CJ]”k^Am
kAm~F:>6EE6 D2:5 E92E 56DA:E6 E96D6 7CFDEC2E:@?D[ r9:AA6H2 u2==D :D C6D:=:6?E]k^Am
kAmqF896C E@=5 E96 r9:AA6H2 w6C2=5 @? (65?6D52J E92E 96 :D “D@CCJ” 7@C =@42=D 2?5 H@C<6CD H9@ H:== 36 :>A24E65 3J E96 4=@DFC6 @7 E96 3C6H6CJ] w6 D2:5 {6:?6?<F86=’D H:== C6>2:? 2? 24E:G6 4@?EC:3FE@C E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^49:AA6H2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_b`5`fbe\h5af\``67\gg`d\c3fd3ccb6`3aQma_ DE@C:6D 23@FE {6:?6?<F86=VD 3C6H6CJ :? r9:AA6H2 u2==Dk^2mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^49:AA6H2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^`gb65ch7\3h64\d4f7\gdea\h6_2h6g7_77hQmuC@> w6C2=5 7:=6Di {6:?6?<F86=VD 2E `d_ M p 9:DE@CJ :? H@C5D 2?5 A:4EFC6Dk^2mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^49:AA6H2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5c43cgd4\74`a\dbg2\gf_c\hbbh573eebg6Qm!w~%~$i s:4< {6:?6?<F86=’D =2DE E@FCk^2mk^Am
In this Series
Updated
Dec 18, 2025
Updated
Jan 15, 2025
Updated
Mar 20, 2026
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
