The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company (/ˈlaɪnənkuːɡəl/), doing business as Leinenkugel's, is an American beer maker based in
Chippewa Falls,
Wisconsin. Leinenkugel's was historically distributed only in the
Upper Midwest, but is now available throughout all 50 states. The company is the seventh oldest brewery in the United States, and the oldest business in Chippewa Falls. It is a subsidiary of
Molson Coors. It produces both traditional beers, including
lagers and
ales, as well as a popular line of
shandies, which are a mixture of beer with fruit juices, such as
lemonade.
History
The brewery was co-founded in Chippewa Falls in May 1867 by
Prussian immigrant Jacob Mathias Leinenkugel (1842–1899) and John Miller, making it the seventh oldest brewery in the United States.[1][2][3] The original beer brewed, which historically made up 90% of company production, was based on a formula Leinenkugel brought with him from Germany.[1] The company is the oldest operating business in Chippewa Falls.[4] Miller sold his stake in the company in 1884.[5]
During
Prohibition, the company produced
near beer (known regionally as "Leino") as well as
soda water.[5] With the repeal of Prohibition, Jacob Leinenkugel's daughters mortgaged their homes to fund the restoration of the company's beer brewing vats.[6]
The Leinenkugel's brewery expanded from its local roots beginning in the 1970s, when it first introduced its light beer.[5][7][8] The family-owned brewery was sold in 1988 to
Philip Morris subsidiary
Miller Brewing Company in an effort to stay solvent.[5][1][6] In an unprecedented move at the time, Miller kept the Leinenkugel family on to run its operation.[6]
After several attempts to bring the beer to national U.S. markets, Miller succeeded in 2007 with the addition of a Summer Shandy ale to the Leinenkugel's product line.[1] The company has since become well known for its sweeter beers and
shandies,[1] with nine out of ten shandies consumed in the United States being brewed by Leinenkugel's.[6]
On October 11, 2016,
SABMiller sold its stake in
MillerCoors for around US $12 billion after the company was acquired by
Anheuser-Busch InBev, making
Molson Coors the sole owner of all Miller brands, including Leinenkugel's.[9] As of 2016, the brewery has distribution outlets in all 50 states[10][11] and its president is still a family member, Dick Leinenkugel.[6]
For the company's 150th anniversary, it created a special, "old style" German beer,[12] which was actually brewed by license in Germany via
Hofbräu.[1]
In July 2023, Leinenkugel's workers went on strike for the first time since 1985 over low wages.[13] Members of
Teamsters Local 662, the strike ended on September 1 when a three-year contract was ratified.[14]
Breweries
Leinenkugel's operates two breweries. The original, the company's base of operations, is located in Chippewa Falls;[10] and the 10th Street Brewery located in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[15][11] The 10th Street Brewery (formerly the
Valentin Blatz Brewing Company brewery), was opened in 1986 by
G. Heileman Brewing Company for the Blatz label. It was purchased by Leinenkugel's in 1995. It produces Leinenkugel's Big Eddy ale line, a series of seasonal, high alcohol beers.[16]
Products
As of 2019, beers produced by Leinenkugel's include:[17]