An obvious bummer for the community of Chippewa Falls. I’ve watched a few different stories from various TV stations in that area and they all interview people from Chippewa Falls that say losing this brewery is like losing the legacy of the town. This is one of those breweries/companies that has been in that community seemingly forever. I didn’t realize that it was the 7th (or 8th, depending on which site you visit) oldest brewery in America.
Now the brewery is set to close on January 17th, 2025. I have never been. I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘bucket list’ trip for me, but I always thought it would be cool to see that area and tour the brewery. So here’s my question: For anyone that has done it, is it worth it to make the 3 1/2 hour drive before this thing shuts down in a few months? I feel like you’d have to make a weekend out of it at least, right?
It does sound like the Leinie’s Lodge on that site and a small satellite brewery are going to continue operating, maybe that’s enough history that I could push a trip to later date. But I sort of feel like if I want the full experience I need to get there before the big brewery shuts down. Thoughts? I’ll take my answer off the air.
PS: When I was going to school in Point, there was a bougie martini bar that opened on the Square called Nikki’s. It’s marketing revolved around trying to sell $6 (in 2004!) over-sugared chocolatini’s and cosmos to college kids who wanted to pretend they were Carrie Bradshaw galivanting around Manhattan instead of poor students on the doorstep of the Northwoods. I happened to be dating one such person. Now I have never been a martini drinker, so my one refuge at this bar was the ONE beer they had on tap: Leinie’s Red. I drank a TON of $3 Leinie’s Red tappers at that bar.
Double PS: I love Oktoberfest beers, and Leinie’s Oktoberfest is by far my favorite. The only problem with that is that I feel like there’s MAYBE a two-week window to buy the longnecks. They pop up at stores the week after Labor Day, and they’re gone before the calendar even turns to October. So the first day I see them I snatch up 3-4 cases for safe keeping. Hide them all around the different fridges in the house like a squirrel packing away walnuts for the winter.
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