Coors Closing Down Leinenkugel’s Historic Brewery In Chippewa Falls

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI — Leinenkugel’s beer will no longer be brewed in Chippewa Falls' 157-year-old brewery.

Instead, it will be produced at parent company Molson Coors’ plant in Milwaukee.

"Following the end of a large contract brewing agreement and amid an ongoing canning line investment project at our Milwaukee brewery, we’ve made the decision to close two of our smaller brewing operations in Wisconsin and centralize statewide production at our main site in Milwaukee," Molson Coors Chief Supply Chain Officer Brian Erhard told Patch in an emailed statement.

"While never easy, these choices are made with much thought and consideration to position Molson Coors for continued success in Wisconsin and beyond."

The Chippewa Falls location is expected to be closed in January, KSTP reported.

Dick Leinenkugel, the recently retired president of the Chippewa Falls beer brand, said in a statement that no one in his family was consulted:

“None of our family members were aware or counseled ahead of the decision. It’s a sad day for our family and our fans. In 2017, we came together in Chippewa Falls to celebrate our brewery’s 150th anniversary. It was the defining moment of my career in beer. Alongside my brothers, Jake and John, and members of our fourth, fifth, and sixth generations of family, we proudly toasted our beer drinkers, retail customers, and distributors to thank them for their loyalty and support. Today, on behalf of the Leinenkugel family, I thank them again and will toast them this evening with a Leinenkugel’s Original and a tear in my eye.”