(Courtesy Leinenkugel’s)

The beer biz never sleeps at American Craft Beer. And here’s just some of what’s been happening in the beer world while you are probably still drinking your way through the long Veterans Day holiday weekend.

Molson Coors To Close Historic Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Wisconsin

“Molson Coors will close its Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippewa Falls and the Leinenkugel’s 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee early next year, according to NPR. “Both the 10th Street and Leinenkugel’s Chippewa Falls breweries will cease operations effective Jan. 17, 2025.”

The closures, which will lead to the loss of more than 50 jobs, are part of Molson Coors’ plan to consolidate operations at the company’s main Milwaukee Brewery.

“We’ve made the decision to close two of our smaller brewing operations in Wisconsin and centralize statewide production at our main site in Milwaukee,” Molson Coors Chief Supply Chain Officer Brian Erhardt said in a statement. “While never easy, these choices are made with much thought and consideration to position Molson Coors for continued success in Wisconsin and beyond.”

The company did share that the Leinie Lodge taproom and the adjacent pilot brewery in Chippewa Falls will remain open.

Words to Drink By

“Some people don’t like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster.”  – Elon Musk

(Photo © Brewers Association)

New York Breweries Win Big At Great American Beer Festival

If you care about beer, you probably know that the Great American Beer Festival Competition winners were announced in Denver on October 12^th. Presented annually by the national craft beer trade organization, the Brewers Association, it remains the nation’s largest professional beer competition and the premier symbol of brewing excellence.

A win at the Great American Beer Festival competition is a BIG deal. Taking a gold, silver or bronze medal in any one of this year’s beer categories can put a new brewery on the map and reaffirm the brewing skills of industry leaders that sometimes get overlooked. And six New York State breweries won big this year.

And here’s the full list of New York state medal winners:

Gold

• Hazy Crush from New York Beer Project-Beer Lodge, Orchard Park. Category: Experimental India Pale Ale
• Peach Silhouette from Hudson Valley Brewery, Beacon (Dutchess County). Category: Fruited American Sour Ale
• Pleasantbrau Oktoberfest from Soul Brewing Co., Pleasantville (Westchester County). Category: German-style Märzen

Silver

• Coconut Cluster from Heritage Hill Brewhouse, Pompey. Category: Dessert Stout or Pastry Stout

Bronze

• Bird Light Yuzu from Strangbird Brewery, Rochester. Category: American Fruit Beer
• Special Effects Grapefruit IPA, Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn. Category: Specialty Non-alcohol beer

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