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Leinenkugel's Chippewa Falls Brewery Closes Despite Family Offer to Purchase

Jan. 22, 2025

Jake and Dick Leinenkugel, sixth generation family members, made an offer to Molson Coors to buy the brewery, but that offer was declined.

Dave Fusaro

The original Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wis., closed its doors on Jan. 17 after Molson Coors declined an offer from the Leinenkugel brothers to buy it.

Jake and Dick Leinenkugel, sixth generation family members, told the local Fox News affiliate they made an offer to buy the brewery, but that offer was declined. Financial details were not disclosed. Molson Coors said it would close the small brewery back in November 2024.

Molson Coors will continue to use the plant as a pilot brewery and will continue to operate the adjacent Leinie Lodge as a tasting room. Leinenkugel’s beer will be brewed at Molson Coors facilities in Milwaukee, marking the end of a 157-year legacy and resulting in the loss of 56 jobs, according to Fox 9.

The Leinenkugel family sold the brewery to Miller Brewing, then a subsidiary of Philip Morris Cos., in 1988, and the regional brand became a national hit. Miller itself merged with Coors and then was acquired by Molson in 2016.

About the Author

Dave Fusaro | Editor in Chief

Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.