Overview: First brewed in 1867, Leinenkugel’s Original has long served as a regional staple for families in the Upper Midwest. A national rollout occurred in 2017 coinciding with the brand’s 150th anniversary, marking its first venture outside the region.
The Full Story
The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company established the facility in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where founder Jacob Leinenkugel packed barrels in horse-drawn wagons for delivery to neighboring saloons. Despite a storied history that survived Prohibition and World War II rations, the brand remained regional until 2017. Parent company Molson Coors turned the legacy space into a pilot brewery in 2025, but Leinenkugel’s Original continues to be sold across the country.
The seminal explorer collection harkened back to the brand’s German roots — it was established by Bavarian Jacob Leinenkugel — and included a Vienna-style lager and two German Märzens brewed at the same Chippewa Falls facility. The Summer Shandy went national in the summer of 2010, marking Leinenkugel’s first venture outside the Midwest.
Production & Profile
Leinenkugel’s Original is an American Pilsner and Lager that hasn’t relied on flourishes to stand the test of time. Tasting notes include maltiness, toasted grain, and a clean finish. The Summer Shandy went national in the summer of 2010, inspired by radler-style brews from Germany that mix beer with lemonade or lemon-lime soda.
Brand & Industry History
First brewed in 1867, Leinenkugel’s Original is the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company’s hero product. The rollout was spurred on by the company’s 150th anniversary, which saw the release of the Fall Explorer pack. The collection harkened back to the brand’s German roots — it was established by Bavarian Jacob Leinenkugel — and included a Vienna-style lager and two German Märzens brewed at the same Chippewa Falls facility where its founder packed barrels in horse-drawn wagons for delivery to neighboring saloons.
What This Means
It wasn’t craft beer that brought Leinenkugel’s widespread attention; it was the success of its Summer Shandy. Molson Coors took Summer Shandy national in the summer of 2010, marking Leinenkugel’s first venture outside the Midwest.
Consumer Takeaway
Recommended food pairings include bratwurst, sauerkraut, cheese curds, cherry pie, and Michelada. The beer is best suited to food due to German-style pilsners’ ability to hold their own beside fried and salty foods, with a crispness that balances a savory, casual meal.
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