Leinie Lodge — Restaurant in Chippewa Falls

Visited in over 5 years on 5/19/22 between 3:20pm-3:40pm. The lodge went downhill once the Leinenkugel's family sold themselves out to Miller. Over the years I've seen the changes in becoming more & more money eccentric (tasting used to be free & unlimited; once owned by Miller they started limiting with wristbands, then started charging, releasing the decline in attendees/sales they included the tours but required people to take (just like New Ulm, MN Schells) before they would be allowed to taste (which is a waste of time if frequent visitor who's also done that before.. pointless to see the same things again & again for 30 minutes just to taste for 10 minutes), prices kept rising for the tasting + tour, got rid of the tour requirement, got rid the wristbands and charged to either have pints or tasters.... I've heard of other variety of changes in relation to the tastings not known well enough to list. They've reduced their merchandise in the lodge to a fraction of what it once was (focusing more on big ticket items) replacing 1/3 of the space just for the bar area to include seating and standing versus what it used to be with folks just drink & walk around shopping for an more intimate experience... so much open/empty space now. This most recent visit I've noticed the bar twice the length of what it used to be yet only 1 tap area is used. Started selling their beers at the brewery which probably hurt the local grocery/liquor stores that folks would go to afterwards for the 6-packs so the company could keep all the profits for themselves now. Used to get the canoe tap handles for the seasonal/specialty beers that usually had the fruit or theme sculpted on the top of the canoe/tap... the new versions are just a cheap generic joke (except the price tag is similar)... both canoes are smaller versions of their predecessors with a screw base at the top as well so you have to buy the separate mini "paddles" for the tops to indicate...

While MillerCoors does own Leinenkugel's, you won't see any evidence of that at the Leinie Lodge. The Lodge still feels very small-town and friendly with lots of merchandise for sale and small museum-like cases scattered amongst the building.

Just inside the front doors, you are greeted with the option of a $5 tour of the brewery grounds (that lasts about 45 minutes) and a bracelet that allows for five beer tastings (the $5 includes a free "Official Taste Tester" glass). I have never been on this particular brewery tour, but have done the tastings several times. The bracelet lets you choose from four of their many beers on tap (including a menu they have in which they mix different beers). The "Pink Lemonade" beer mix is sweet, but a crowd favorite. The fifth and final tasting is their Big Eddy special brew, which is always changing. I have had the Royal Nektar and Russian Imperial Stout, both have been amazing.

Carrie, our bartender from our most recent visit, was the nicest bartender I have met. She was very knowledgeable, let me try a couple samples of new brews, and even set my daughter up with her own taster of lemonade. It was her great service that compelled to write this review.

My wife and I have decided to make the Leinie Lodge a traditional stop when passing the Eau Claire / Chippewa Falls area on our way home to the cities. If you are driving that area of I-94, I would recommend a visit. It’s well worth the 7...

So yesterday I went to the summer opener and had a great time, even though it rained it was my first time being at the lodge I live in Eagle River and thought it would be a great afternoon when I was inside of the Lodge looking for souvenirs to purchase, I noticed that the family members serviced in the military. I asked one of the workers if they had any type of T-shirts that had a military logo on it along with their beer logos they said no my husband is retired Air Force and our son is currently surviving in the Air Force and is deployed in Jordan. We sent him care packages and I thought it would be really cool to send him a T-shirt that had something to do with the lodge, beer and military I’ll put together to represent Wisconsin, and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do that. It would be cool if you had a T-shirt that had all of that together seeing how your family also was very active in the military. Thank for your time. By the way we love seeing at the Eagle River 4th of July ...