PRIDE & POURS. The Leinie Lodge (124 E. Elm St.) is heading into its 22nd year with a full slate of summertime events just on the horizon – and yes, the Chippewa Falls site is still brewing, thanks to the Lodge's Pilot Brewery, pictured.

There’s no point in beating around the bush: when the news broke that Leinenkugel’s historic Chippewa Falls brewery would cease production, the community was shook to the core. For over 150 years, the brewery had overcome hurdle after hurdle, and continued to employ locals as it had since the day it opened. In January this year, the community saw it brew its final batch.

Just across Duncan Creek, The Leinie Lodge still stands; the neighboring space, marked by its red roof and log-cabin style exterior, has been the hub for all brewery visitors; host and partner to a variety of community events and organizations; and locals' Happy Hour favorite for years. While the Lodge was not included in the Chippewa Falls brewery’s closure, its team felt the shock right alongside the Chippewa Valley – in more ways than one.

“We’ve had to completely uproot our way of thinking and our day-to-day work," Tiffany Thompson, the Lodge’s events and marketing coordinator, shared in a recent interview. "But we had to immediately turn around and hold onto our motivation and positivity.

“The raw emotion, the tears on this campus for those first few months, it was really hard – it still is – but our pride is still very, very present.”

”

FOR US, AT THE LODGE, IT IS ABOUT SUPPORTING LOCAL.

And the truth is, we need the community right now. We want to prove that we're supposed to be here.

TIFFANY THOMPSON

LEINIE LODGE EVENTS & MARKETING COORDINATOR

The Lodge celebrated its 20th anniversary just a couple years back, its opening in 2003 signaling an even stronger relationship and commitment to Chippewa Falls and the wider community. The space sprawls about 14,000 square feet including its outdoor patio and beer garden, which overlooks the historic Leinenkugel’s brewery and Duncan Creek.

On its grounds, the Lodge welcomes over 125,000 people each year for all kinds of events and annual favorites – including its live music and food truck series, Paws & Pints fundraiser, and coming up soon, its annual Summer Kick Off event. Slated for June 14, the Summer Kick Off brings new beer releases, 15 brews on tap, live music and food trucks, a bags tournament, giveaways, and the chance to connect with the brewers and Leinenkugel family, all in celebration of the Lodge. 

Inside, the Lodge’s variety of seating hosts folks who stop in for a pint at the indoor taproom, with plenty of memorabilia and merch on display. It is also home to the Pilot Brewery, which continues to craft small-batch Leinenkugel’s beer today – something that a surprising amount of people aren’t aware of, Thompson said.

"We mostly just ask the community and the public online, 'What do you want to see? What hibernated brews do you want us to bring back (with the Pilot Brewery).' We really get to try things no one else can, and it's such a cool thing not everyone knows about."

kate kirchEN

leinie lodge social media manager

Cranberry Ginger Shandy was brought back for a limited time this past March at the Lodge, thanks to the Pilot Brewery. (Photo via Facebook)

The Pilot Brewery was opened at the Lodge in 2022, introducing a seven-barrel system with the capacity to craft seasonal brews and brand-new varieties, available only to Lodge visitors. Some of those brews, coined ‘Innovation Brews’ by the team, became so popular they went regional and nationwide – including Leinie Lodge Lime and Lakeside Cherry, which were first tasted by locals and Lodge visitors.

“We mostly just ask the community and the public online, ‘What do you want to see? What hibernated brews do you want us to bring back (with the Pilot Brewery)?’ ” Kate Kirchen, social media manager, said. “We really get to try things no one else can, and it’s such a cool thing not everyone knows about.”

Pilot Brewer Jeff Rogers regularly hosts Pilot Night events alongside John Leinenkugel, allowing a few dozen people to try out brews before they go public and have one-on-one conversation with Rogers and Leinenkugel.

The Lodge continues to offer tours of the historic brewery as well, and while it isn’t in production anymore, the tour itself is largely the same, Thompson said. Plus, there are several other tours to take: the Legacy Tour, Behind The Scenes Tour, Pilot Tour, and the Historical Grounds Tour.

For fifth generation Chippewa Falls native and Leinie Lodge Tour Guide, Christiana “Nana” Wald, her pride and love of Leinenkugel’s is less about the beer and more about the people.

Folks enjoying a pint or two at the Lodge. In this year's Best of the Chippewa Valley Readers Poll, locals voted Leinie Lodge one of the area's 'Best Happy Hour Spots.'

“I am a Chipp’wa girl through and through,” Nana said (with an emphasis on Chipp’wa pronunciation). “Through the years, I had heard about the brewery yet didn’t pay much mind to it – it was something we talked about over Christmas meals – and although I didn’t always understand it, the brewery has always been a huge part of our community."

Nana knows all the local stories about the Leinenkugel’s brewery: its beginnings during the lumber era; how it survived through Prohibition; when Leinenkugel’s became a subsidiary of Miller, and later of Molson Coors; and its part in the fabric of Chippewa’s pride.

“It has been said, ‘there is something about Chippewa Falls.’ I contend that it has a lot to do with our brewery,” Nana said. “Although the heartbeat of our brewery may be a bit weaker, it’s still beating! We have our Pilot Brewery (and we continue to) brew with pride!”

Nana is one of the Lodge’s team members, born and raised in the community. While the year-round team is made up of about 50 people, that doesn’t include the seasonal staff that come aboard: teachers, college students, and more, Thompson said.

"It has been said, 'there is something about Chippewa Falls.' I contend that it has a lot to do with our brewery."

CHRISTIANA "NANA" WALD

Fifth Generation C.F. native, leinie lodge tour guide

The Lodge's patio, pictured, overlooks the historic brewery grounds and Duncan Creek.

Inside, visitors can check out plenty of merchandise and Leinenkugel's goods, enjoy a pint, and check in for tours.

In Chippewa Falls, the team is involved with Oktoberfest, Spring Fest, Pure Water Days, Northern Wisconsin State Fair, and more community events. Perhaps more privately, the Lodge also gives back to over 50 area organizations, from local nonprofits to humane orgs.

The Lodge’s placement in and team of Chippewa Valley locals extends further than its grounds: from its marketing and photography to their printing and more, they hire local. “It’s important for our community to know, our dollars stay here. We don’t use companies down in Chicago or in California for all these services,” Thompson said.

“For us, at the Lodge, it is about supporting local,” Thompson continued. “And the truth is, we need the community right now. We want to prove that we’re supposed to be here.”

Headed into  its 22nd year, the Leinie Lodge crew is ready to embrace a new season of community gatherings – and more than a few pints of home-brewed beer. 

Leinie Lodge is annually involved in some of the area's staple community events, like Chippewa Falls' Oktoberfest, pictured. (Photo via Facebook)

The Leinie Lodge (124 E. Elm St., Chippewa Falls) is open seven days a week, 10am-6pm Sunday-Wednesday and 10am-8pm Thursday-Saturday. Keep up with the Lodge on Facebook (@LeinenkugelsLeinieLodge) and see their full events schedule at leinie.com/leinie-lodge.