Getting students excited about manufacturing
Mid-State Technical College takes tailored roadshow to employers, adults
September 29, 2025
CHIPPEWA FALLS – Since its inception in 2003, Tony Bugher – president of Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. and sixth-generation Leinenkugel – said the Leinie Lodge has served as a central hub of happenings for Leinie’s drinkers who seek not only Leinenkugel’s “flavors of the moment” but also the full Leinenkugel experience.
Bugher said it’s what the Leinenkugels sought when they first built the lodge across the river from the original Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippewa Falls.
The experience today, he said, includes opportunities to sample new beers from its pilot system in the Pilot Brewery, shop beer gear, tour 158 years of brewing history and enjoy an immersive experience.
“The Lodge is our way of opening our doors for our fans and inviting them in to connect with Leinie’s on a more personal level,” he said.
And though the Lodge’s physical presence is one you can’t miss – featuring 14,000 square feet of taproom, Pilot Brewery and beer garden patio along Duncan Creek – Bugher said he describes it as more than just a place but a mindset.
“It’s about embracing the Northwoods spirit: relaxed, welcoming and full of Wisconsin character,” he said. “But yes, it’s also a destination, whether you’re a local stopping by for a pint or an out-of-towner joining us for one of our events, the lodge is where our legacy meets the present.”
Heritage on tap
According to the lodge’s history at leinie.com, it and the grounds pay homage to the Leinenkugel family brewery that was founded in 1867 by Jacob Leinenkugel.
The website further states that Jacob considered the location ideal for business, with Chippewa Falls being home to the world’s largest lumber mill at the time.
That, it states, created a strong customer base for Leinenkugel and his business partner, John Miller.
Bugher said the rest, as it’s often said, is history.
Hospitality on tap
In honor of the Northwoods it calls home, Bugher said the lodge features a log-cabin style exterior with a warm, wood-accented interior that beckons guests in with its taproom of rotating beers, a fireplace, Leinie’s memorabilia and retail shop.
Bugher said the outdoor beer garden patio is pet-friendly for those with four-legged friends in tow and offers a full drinking and eating experience when it welcomes food trucks every Friday and Saturday.
Each area of the lodge, he said, offers a distinct atmosphere, whether guests prefer relaxing by the fireplace or enjoying a beer flight out on the sunny patio.
Bugher said the idea behind the Lodge follows the same approach Leinenkugel brings to everything it does.
“We want guests to feel like they are joining the Leinenkugel family while they are here,” he said.
A big part of creating that sense of connection, Bugher said, comes through events, which are at the heart of the lodge – whether it’s featuring music, brew samplings or something to benefit a community cause.
“We’re always hosting community events,” he said.
From the big Summer Kick Off every June to the Halloween beer hunt and Oktoberfest celebrations, Bugher said the lodge is home to a wide variety of events throughout the year.
Those, he said, are in addition to the regular programming that brings live music to the patios, food trucks and beer and yoga events.
“There are so many opportunities for our fans to come together over a beer,” he said.
Year-round events on tap
Bugher said the dedicated team led by the events and marketing coordinator is hard at work behind the scenes, coordinating details to ensure events come off without a hitch.
The Summer Kick Off alone, he said, welcomed more than 1,750 members of the Leinie crew.
Smaller-scale Pilot Nights and the patio music series, Bugher said, draw a more intimate group and are a favorite with locals.
Hosted by John Leinenkugel, a fifth-generation family member, and Pilot brewer Jeff Rogers, Bugher said Pilot Nights are held in great regard by Leinie’s fans.
Guests attending these nights, he said, are among the first to sample new beers as well as old favorites and to hear family stories.
As the seasons change, so, too, Bugher said, do the Lodge’s events, with a shift to hosting more of them indoors.
“As Wisconsinites, we are used to the Northwoods winters, but we adapt to keep the lodge lively and welcome year-round,” he said.
Fall, Bugher said, brings the ever-popular Oktoberfest celebrations, whereas winter hails holiday-themed events and indoor tastings.
He said the lodge promotes its events via social media and in its Leinie Lodge member newsletters, drawing groups big and small depending on the events.
“Our guests love the variety, and it’s also a great way for us to support other local businesses while enhancing our guests’ overall experience at the Lodge,” he said.
Bugher said some events directly benefit the community even more, such as the Paws & Pints nights hosted on the last Thursday of each month.
These events, he said, bring Leinie fans’ dogs together for a puppy play date to support local humane associations.
In addition, Bugher said the lodge hosts a pet supply drive with a portion of the proceeds going back to humane associations.
“[They] also bring adoptable pups, so our guests could take home a ‘furever’ friend,” he said.
In addition to public events, Bugher said the lodge also hosts private events onsite – everything from weddings and showers to corporate retreats and family reunions.
The lodge, he said, can accommodate up to 200 guests, the beer garden fits 60 and the Pilot Brewery has space for up to 45 guests.
Guest feedback, Bugher said, has been overwhelmingly positive.
“One of the most common things we hear is how warm and welcoming it feels,” he said. “Guests love how the lodge and our event space capture the spirit of the Northwoods and fits their hosting needs.”
The number of guests flowing in and out of the lodge, Bugher said, is season-dependent.
Though it is open year-round, he said the lodge sees an uptick in visitors at major events, such as the Summer Kick Off party and Oktoberfest celebrations.
Among the visitors, Bugher said, are many former Wisconsinites returning from places like Arizona and Florida, as well as travelers from the Twin Cities and Chicago.
“When you walk into the parking lot at the lodge, it’s fun to see license plates from all over,” he said. “I also love to hear directly from our guests what brought them to Chippewa Falls. Sometimes, they are passing through on a road trip or camping, but a lot of times people will venture up north [just] to visit us.”
Innovation on tap
Bugher said the draw, understandably, is the beer that fills guests’ glasses.
And in 2022, he said the Leinie Lodge expanded that appeal, with the addition of its Pilot Brewery, a space dedicated to experimenting with and crafting new brews.
“The brewery is our brewing playground where we can brew lodge-exclusive beers, bring back fan favorites from hibernation, as well as find our next great beer for wider distribution,” he said.
Case in point: Bugher said the new Leinie Lodge Lime offering was created within those four walls, becoming a fast fan favorite that the team knew they had to brew to get in the hands of far more beer aficionados.
The beer, he said, is a gateway to the larger Leinie Lodge experience.
“We often hear stories from couples who met over a Leinenkugel’s or how folks love to connect with friends and family over our brews,” he said.
Timelessness on tap
Tours, Bugher said, are also a key part of the Leinie Lodge experience.
Offered year-round and booked mainly through the lodge’s website, Bugher tours draw steady interest from visitors.
Options, he said, include the Legacy Brewery Tour and the Pilot Brewery Tour, which highlights the lodge’s seven-barrel, small-batch brewing system introduced in 2022.
The Behind the Scenes Tour, Bugher said, delivers just that – a tour through 158 years of brewing traditions, previewing the Pilot Brewery and answering questions.
Finally, Bugher said the Historical Grounders Tour provides an in-depth overview of the Leinenkugel family, Leinenkugel history and Chippewa Falls.
“The historic 1867 Leinenkugel’s brewery holds so much history itself,” he said. “Our grounds… are filled with picturesque views of our historic buildings and serene landscapes.”
Those seeking a deeper dive into Leinenkugel history, Bugher said, can take time to view the photos, vintage memorabilia and pieces of Leinenkugel history hung and placed throughout the lodge.
The original Copper Kettle top, he said, hangs proudly above the bar.
“I personally love the Malt House on the property,” he said. “While it’s no longer in use, it is the original and it is a beautiful building. If walls could talk, they would have so many stories to share.”
Bugher said that rich history is part of why Leinenkugel’s has been an important part of Molson Coors for nearly 40 years.
At the same time, he said joining the larger company has created new opportunities for the brand.
“We’ve been able to scale production to get our delicious beer in the hands of more people nationwide,” he said. “We’ve also been able to tap into their network of partnerships to forge our own with teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and three-time all-star and MVP Christian Yelich.”
Furthermore, Bugher said Molson Coors is committed to maintaining a strong presence in Chippewa Falls as well, with the Leinie Lodge serving as a gathering place for the next generations of Leinie’s fans.
“We’re incredibly proud of Leinie’s, the many people in Chippewa Falls who built this brand into what it is today and what it will continue to be for years to come – a true Wisconsin beer beloved by people across the country,” he said.
