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Molson Coors has rejected an offer to sell the brewery that makes Leinenkugel back to the beer’s namesake family.
Last November, Molson Coors announced it would close its brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. In a statement to the local Fox affiliate, Jake and Dick Leinenkugel said they have made an offer to repurchase the brewery.
“We appreciate (Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley’s) affirmation of the importance of the brand, but we believe a true commitment must include preserving the Chippewa Falls brewery and the livelihoods of those who depend on it,” the Leinenkugel brothers said. “Chippewa Falls Brewery is more than a facility. It is a symbol of our heritage, a source of pride in our community, and a key part of what makes Leinenkugel unique.”
Adam Collins, Molson Coors’ chief communications officer, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the brewer will use the plant as a pilot brewery.
The plant is I’m proud Leinenkugel’s Miller Brewing, later acquired by Molson Coors, purchased the brand in 1988. The Coors Light brewery says it will continue to produce the beer it is known for, Summer Shandy, but will be moving production to its Milwaukee plant. The closure of the Chippewa Falls brewery resulted in the loss of 56 jobs.
As consumers change their alcohol purchasing habits, beverage giants are closing facilities to keep up with demand. Last week, Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman announced it would close its whiskey barrel manufacturing plant, resulting in the loss of more than 600 jobs.
