Leinenkugel moves brewery to Milwaukee and closes Chippewa Falls

by Junna Base November 6, 2024

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.’s 157-year-old Chippewa Falls brewery will close — production of Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy and other brands will move to the State Street brewery in Milwaukee.

Also closing is Leinenkugel Brewing’s newer satellite facility at 1515 N. 10th St., north of downtown Milwaukee overlooking I-43.

Production at both locations will move to Molson Coors Beverage Co.’s State Street brewery in Milwaukee’s near west. Molson Coors owns Leinenkugel Brewery and the former Miller Brewing Co. operations.

According to a statement released on Wednesday, the changes will take effect on January 17. There was initially no information about how many jobs were cut.

“Although never easy, these decisions are made with great care and consideration to position Molson Coors for continued success in Wisconsin and beyond,” said the statement from Brian Erhardt, chief supply chain officer of Molson Coors.

Molson Coors has gradually moved production of Leinie’s brands from Chippewa Falls to Milwaukee as the portfolio has grown, Erhardt said. More than 75% of Leinenkugel’s volume is produced in Milwaukee.

The new production relocation can be absorbed “as we will be exiting a long-term contract brewery at the end of the year, thereby freeing up capacity for brewing our own brands,” said Erhardt.

The Leinie Lodge Visitor Center overnights in Chippewa Falls

In Chippewa Falls, the Leinie Lodge visitor center and adjacent pilot brewery “remain open year-round for guests to enjoy and experience Leinenkugel’s beers and history,” according to Molson Coors.

Leinenkugel Brewing was founded in 1867 in Chippewa Falls by the Leinenkugel family.

Miller Brewing Co. acquired Leinenkugel’s in 1988 – nearly 30 years before Molson Coors took over the Miller operation.

Molson Coors announced in 2020 that it would add 377 full-time jobs to its Milwaukee operations by the end of 2021. These would be located at the company’s offices at 3939 W. Highland Blvd. created.

The company then employed 540 corporate positions and 601 brewery positions at its West Side offices and breweries.

At the time, Molson Coors also had 46 positions at the 10th Street brewery and 75 positions at Leinenkugel Brewing in Chippewa Falls.

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