Leinenkugel's
A historic Wisconsin beer brand known for traditional ales and lagers, fruit-forward shandies, and its six-generation brewing heritage.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Leinenkugel's is the operating name of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, a Wisconsin beer maker founded in Chippewa Falls in 1867 by Prussian immigrant Jacob Mathias Leinenkugel and John Miller. The brewery is regarded as the seventh-oldest brewery in the United States and the oldest continuously operating business in Chippewa Falls. Its early beers were based on a German brewing formula brought by Leinenkugel, and the company initially built its reputation as a regional producer of conventional lagers and ales. The business remained family controlled for more than a century. Miller sold his interest in 1884, leaving the Leinenkugel family to operate the brewery. Prohibition forced the company to diversify into near beer and soda water. After repeal, members of the Leinenkugel family mortgaged their homes to finance the restoration of brewing equipment, helping preserve the company through a difficult transition. The brewery began expanding beyond its traditional regional base in the 1970s, including the introduction of a light beer. Facing financial pressure, the family sold the brewery in 1988 to Miller Brewing Company, then a subsidiary of Philip Morris. The transaction was notable because Miller retained members of the Leinenkugel family in management rather than completely replacing the established operating structure. Leinenkugel's continued to be presented as a regional, heritage-oriented brewery while benefiting from the distribution and marketing resources of a major beer company. The brand's largest modern growth opportunity came with the launch of Summer Shandy in 2007. The beer combines a wheat-based or ale-style brewing profile with lemonade-like citrus character, helping establish shandies as a significant seasonal category in the United States. Leinenkugel's subsequently expanded its fruit-flavored, citrus, and seasonal portfolio and became particularly associated with sweeter, approachable beers. The brand historically concentrated on the Upper Midwest but later achieved distribution across all 50 states. Leinenkugel's also operates as a visitor and heritage brand. The Chippewa Falls site has offered brewery tours, while the nearby Leinie Lodge provides a tasting room, retail merchandise, and a pilot brewery for small-batch production. The company has used its family history and Wisconsin identity as important parts of its consumer positioning. For its 150th anniversary, it released an old-style German beer brewed under license in Germany by Hofbräu. The brewery became part of the Molson Coors portfolio after the corporate transactions involving MillerCoors and SABMiller. In 2016, following Anheuser-Busch InBev's acquisition of SABMiller, Molson Coors became the sole owner of the Miller brands, including Leinenkugel's. The Chippewa Falls brewery and Milwaukee's 10th Street Brewery were subsequently affected by operational consolidation. Molson Coors announced in November 2024 that both facilities would close by January 17, 2025, with production consolidated in Milwaukee or elsewhere within the company network. The Chippewa Falls site nevertheless continued to support tours and heritage activities according to the supplied reference material. In January 2026, Katie Leinenkugel was identified as the sixth generation of the family to head the brewery.
History
Leinenkugel's traces its history to May 1867, when Jacob Mathias Leinenkugel and John Miller co-founded a brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Leinenkugel, a Prussian immigrant, brought a German-influenced brewing formula that formed the basis of the company's early production. Miller later sold his stake in 1884, leaving the brewery under Leinenkugel family control. The enterprise became both a major local institution and the oldest operating business in Chippewa Falls. The brewery survived Prohibition by making near beer, locally known as "Leino," and soda water. After the repeal of Prohibition, members of the Leinenkugel family mortgaged their homes to fund the rehabilitation of the brewery's brewing vats. This episode became part of the brand's family-continuity narrative. For much of its early modern history, the company was primarily a regional Upper Midwest brewer, with traditional beers representing the bulk of its production. Expansion began in the 1970s, including the introduction of a light beer. In 1988, financial difficulties led the family to sell the company to Miller Brewing Company, a Philip Morris subsidiary. Miller preserved a degree of continuity by retaining Leinenkugel family members in the operation. Several attempts were made to broaden distribution, but the brand's strongest growth came after the 2007 introduction of Summer Shandy. Its combination of beer and lemonade-style citrus flavor gave Leinenkugel's a distinctive position in the growing seasonal and flavored-beer segments. The company later developed a broader shandy and fruit-beer portfolio while retaining conventional lagers and ales. Its distribution expanded from the Upper Midwest to all 50 states. Leinenkugel's also acquired Milwaukee's 10th Street Brewery in 1995. The facility had previously been associated with the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company and was opened in 1986 by G. Heileman Brewing Company for the Blatz label. Under Leinenkugel's ownership, it became associated with the Big Eddy line of seasonal, higher-alcohol ales. Corporate ownership changed again through the MillerCoors and SABMiller transactions. In 2016, after Anheuser-Busch InBev acquired SABMiller and SABMiller sold its stake in MillerCoors, Molson Coors became the sole owner of the Miller brands, including Leinenkugel's. The brand continued to emphasize its family history, Wisconsin roots, visitor experiences, and accessible flavored beers. Its 150th anniversary was marked with an old-style German beer brewed under license in Germany by Hofbräu. Labor and production changes shaped the brand's later history. Workers represented by Teamsters Local 662 struck in July 2023 over wages, ending the action on September 1 after ratification of a three-year contract. In November 2024, Molson Coors announced plans to close both the historic Chippewa Falls brewery and the 10th Street Brewery by January 17, 2025, consolidating production. The Chippewa Falls location continued to be associated with tours and the Leinie Lodge visitor operation. In January 2026, Katie Leinenkugel became the sixth generation of the family to head the brewery.
- 2026
Sixth-generation family leadership
[1]Katie Leinenkugel became the sixth generation of the family to head the brewery.
- 2025
Chippewa Falls and 10th Street production closures
[1]Molson Coors closed the two brewery locations and consolidated operations.
- 2023
First brewery strike since 1985
[1]Workers struck over wages before ratifying a three-year contract in September.
- 2017
150th anniversary beer
[1]The brewery commemorated its 150th anniversary with an old-style German beer produced under license in Germany.
- 2016
Molson Coors becomes sole owner of Miller brands
[1]Following the SABMiller and MillerCoors transactions, Molson Coors became the owner of Leinenkugel's.
- 2007
Summer Shandy introduced
[1]The launch of Summer Shandy became a major turning point and helped establish Leinenkugel's as a leading U.S. shandy brand.
- 1995
Acquisition of Milwaukee's 10th Street Brewery
[1]Leinenkugel's acquired the Milwaukee brewery later used for parts of its specialty and seasonal production.
- 1988
Sale to Miller Brewing Company
[1]The family-owned brewery was sold to Miller Brewing Company to address financial difficulties.
- 1970
Expansion beyond the traditional regional portfolio
[1]The brewery introduced a light beer as it began broadening its market and product range.
- 1920
Survival during Prohibition
[1]The company produced near beer and soda water during Prohibition.
Products and positioning
An accessible, heritage-led American beer brand that combines Wisconsin brewing tradition with approachable seasonal, citrus, and fruit-forward products.
Shandy · 2007
Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy
A seasonal beer combining an ale-style base with lemonade-like citrus flavor. Introduced in 2007, Summer Shandy became the defining modern product of the brand and helped move Leinenkugel's from a primarily regional traditional brewer into the national flavored and seasonal beer market.
Shandy
Leinenkugel's Grapefruit Shandy
A citrus-led shandy extending the brand's fruit-forward approach beyond its original lemonade-style flagship. It is positioned as a bright, approachable seasonal or warm-weather beer within Leinenkugel's broader shandy family.
Seasonal high-alcohol ale
Leinenkugel's Big Eddy
A specialty line of seasonal, higher-alcohol ales associated with the former 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee. Big Eddy gave the brand a more distinctive and robust specialty-beer expression alongside its lighter, sweeter shandies and traditional beers.
Beer · 1867
Leinenkugel's traditional lagers and ales
The core of the brewery's historic portfolio consists of conventional lagers and ales rooted in German-influenced brewing traditions. These products preserve the brand's original identity while the shandy range supplies its most recognizable contemporary differentiation.
Brand decisions
2024
Consolidate brewing operationsStrategyBackground
Molson Coors announced a production restructuring affecting the historic Chippewa Falls brewery and the 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee.
Action taken
The company announced that both facilities would close by January 17, 2025, with operations consolidated elsewhere.
Aftermath
The decision ended brewing at two locations closely associated with Leinenkugel's while the Chippewa Falls site continued to have heritage and visitor functions.
2007
Launch Summer ShandyProduct launchBackground
The brand needed a product capable of broadening its appeal beyond its established Upper Midwest market.
Action taken
Leinenkugel's introduced Summer Shandy, combining beer with lemonade-style citrus character.
Aftermath
The product became a major national growth driver and made shandies central to the brand's identity.
1988
Sell the family brewery to Miller Brewing CompanyM&ABackground
The family-owned brewery faced financial pressure and sought a transaction that could preserve the business and improve its ability to compete.
Action taken
Leinenkugel's was sold to Miller Brewing Company, while members of the Leinenkugel family remained involved in operating the brewery.
Aftermath
The deal brought the brand into a major national brewing system while retaining elements of its family identity and regional heritage.
Recent events
- 2026
Katie Leinenkugel becomes sixth-generation family leader[1]
Leadership change
Katie Leinenkugel became the sixth generation of the Leinenkugel family to head the brewery.
- 2024
Molson Coors announces closure of Chippewa Falls and 10th Street breweries[1]
Other
Molson Coors announced that the Chippewa Falls brewery and Leinenkugel's 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee would close by January 17, 2025, with brewing operations consolidated elsewhere.
- 2023
Leinenkugel's workers strike over wages[1]
Other
Teamsters Local 662 members at Leinenkugel's went on strike in July 2023, marking the first strike at the brewery since 1985. The dispute centered on compensation and ended on September 1 after workers ratified a three-year contract.
Sources2 sources
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