Well hello readers of The Bobber! My name is Kortnee and I am the Social Media Coordinator for Discover Wisconsin. I am a big fan of craft beer and love to make trips around the state to local breweries but one I hadn’t visited until late last year was Leinenkugel’s Brewery and the Leinie Lodge! So this past November I packed a bag, hopped in the car, and took a trip up to Chippewa Falls for the weekend with a small group of friends to get the full experience of Leinie Lodge! Get ready to take it all in with me (again!) and read more about what a trip to Chippewa Falls can look like.
Getting to Chippewa Falls
Photo Credit: Discover Mediaworks
We headed out on our trip early Saturday morning to get a great head start on the day. Being in the Madison area, we had about a two and half hour trip. Luckily, there was no snow on the roads and the traffic was minimal so the ride went quick once we had The Cabin Podcast rolling!
As we got closer to Chippewa Falls, we made a pit stop in Altoona to grab a big delicious brunch before heading out to explore all day long. We grabbed skillets at the Altoona Family Restaurant right off of US Highway 53 and let me tell ya… That stop was definitely worth it! We got our food quickly and it was extremely delicious!
Once arriving in Chippewa Falls, I was in love with the charming and quaint downtown. Local shops lining the storefronts with little dining and bar options in-between made this a stop I can’t wait to get back to this year! We got to stay right downtown at the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites – Chippewa Falls. Not only is the Cobblestone conveniently located right along the downtown corridor but also provides big city quality in small towns. After checking in and getting settled in, we headed out for the real fun at Leinie Lodge!
Visiting Leinie Lodge
Photo Credit: Discover Mediaworks
Upon arriving, excitement filled as we made our way to the lodge and we were ready to dive right into the tasty beer selections that Leinie Lodge has! We headed into the lodge and were surprised with beautiful Christmas decorations throughout bringing all of the holiday spirit immediately as we walked in. We started off by heading to the ticket counter and each got a beer flight for our visit.
After grabbing tickets, we walked around the lodge a bit until a table opened up. We happened to stop in right at the heat of the day and tables were filled with many other Leinenkugel beer-lovers enjoying the fresh tastes right from the taps! Eventually, we grabbed a picnic table and filled out our sheets to get our beer flights filled.
For my beer flight, I went with some original flavors as well as a few of the mixed-flavors. For the year-round flavors I tested out Honey Weiss, Berry Weiss, and Lemon Haze IPA. Going into it, I was thinking the Berry Weiss would be my top flavor but after tasting all three my top choice was the Lemon Haze IPA. This citrusy IPA was just enough of the mix between fruity and hops is something that I can definitely see myself sipping on year-round. I also did some mixed-flavor brews in my beer-flight: Berry Weiss & Honey Weiss, Berry Weiss & Lemon Haze IPA, and Honey Weiss & Lemon Haze IPA. These added an extra layer of flavor and fun while also the classic Leinenkugel tastes! I was a large fan of the Berry Weiss & Lemon Haze IPA mix, which I wasn’t too surprised about but now I am definitely looking forward to mixing these up all year long.
We didn’t get to take a tour on this specific day but if you’re making your trip you can plan your tour at the Leinenkugel Brewery here. Or… You can take a virtual tour with Katie Leinenkugel and experience over 150 years of beer brewing history at the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company now:
Exploring Downtown Chippewa Falls
Photo Credit: Discover Mediaworks
Before leaving the lodge, we couldn’t miss out on the shopping experience that was provided. We walked all around the lodge checking out things from specialty Summer Shandy hats to classic Leinenkugel Brewing tee’s. The lodge is home to any and all of the Leinenkugel merch and apparel you could dream of! Luckily, I was able to grab some favorites for myself to take home and some gifts for family and friends this holiday season!
After we finished up at Leinie Lodge, we headed back to the hotel to hit up the happy hour specials at the Wissota Chophouse which is a part of the Cobblestone Inn & Suites. We each got a beer which was extremely hard to choose due to their large selection of craft beers! We also ordered the Bavarian Soft Pretzel and Sautéed Calamari for a quick snack before heading out to explore the downtown area.
We got to window-shop the local stores that had closed for the evening and hop around to different local restaurants, bars and even the bowling alley! Our favorite spot for a bite to eat was at the Fill-Inn Station. It was a quaint little Wisconsin restaurant that had some of the best pizza I’ve got to taste! If you’re in the mood for a classic Wisconsin townie restaurant with great food, Fill-Inn Station is the place to go. After getting full of the delicious pizza, we headed back down the downtown corridor and made our way back to the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites for the night!
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Well, what can I say… This trip to Chippewa Falls is one I definitely won’t forget! Leinie Lodge was more than I could have ever expected. From tasting fresh-brewed beers on site to shopping around the lodge, it was an experience you’ll have to see for yourself! Chippewa Falls is home to cute shopping, many local restaurants and so much more to do while planning a visit so be sure to check it all out while in town!
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Kortnee Hass: Social Media Coordinator for Discover Mediaworks. A Wisconsin ‘now & forever’ transplant with a soft spot for squeaky cheese curds, craft breweries, and all things Wisconsin tourism.
