Last Call: Historic Wisconsin Brewery Closing After 150+ Year Run

It's not just a brewery, it has a become a tourist attraction, a home to generations of workers, and the heart of a small Wisconsin town, and early next year, it will shut down operations.

The brewery is so old, that it was around before the town itself, and is one of the oldest operating breweries in the United States, but its parent company has decided that it has reached the end of the road and will cease operations on January 17th, 2025.

READ MORE: Minnesota County To Debut New Prototype Snowplow Truck Unlike Any Other In The Country

Over 150 Years of Brewing

Built in 1867 by its founder, Jacob Leinenkugel, the Leinenkugel's Brewing Company has been brewing beer in Chippewa Falls for 157-years. Leinenkugel's was sold to Miller Brewing in 1988, the family continued to manage the brewery, but their future with the company is unclear.

The Leinenkugel's brand is now part of the Molson Coors corporation, which owns over 80 brands including Coors Lights, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Blue Moon, Hamm's, Keystone Light, and many others.

Founding Family Not Told

The former president of Leinenkugel’s, Dick Leinenkugel said in a statement, "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 brewery and it's 120 employees will stop producing beer, but it's not a complete loss, as the popular Leinie Lodge, a tap room that serves up a variety of craft beers, or the pilot brewery, which is a small brewery used to develop and experiment with new beer recipes, will both remain open.

Not The Only Brewery Closing

Molson Coors is also closing the Leinenkugel’s 10th Street Brewery located in Milwaukee, going forward, all Leinenkugel's products will be made at the Valley Brewery in Milwaukee. The company says that currently, 75% of Leinenkugel’s products are already being made in Milwaukee, and recent investments in their canning line made this move possible.