The Beloved American Beer Brand That Went National After 150 Years

For frequenters of Door County fish boils, or anyone with family in the upper Midwest, the mention of good old "Leinie's" brings out a loving loyalty verging on beer-based tribalism. First brewed in 1867, Leinenkugel's Original is the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company's hero product. While locals have long championed the classic American pilsner, the beer has only been available nationwide since 2017.

The rollout was spurred on by the company's 150th anniversary, which saw the release of the Fall Explorer pack. The seminal explorer collection harkened back to the brand's German roots — it was established by Bavarian Jacob Leinenkugel — and included a Vienna-style lager and two German M­ärzens brewed at the same Chippewa Falls facility where its founder packed barrels in horse-drawn wagons for delivery to neighboring saloons. Parent company Molson Coors turned the legacy space into a pilot brewery in 2025, but Leinenkugel's Original continues to be sold across the country.

Despite a storied history that survived Prohibition and World War II rations, it wasn't craft beer that brought Leinenkugel's widespread attention; it was the success of its Summer Shandy. The seasonal offering was inspired by radler-style brews from Germany that mix beer with lemonade or lemon-lime soda. Molson Coors took Summer Shandy national in the summer of 2010, marking Leinenkugel's first venture outside the Midwest. 

Leinenkugel's Original is a lager that hasn't relied on flourishes to stand the test of time. "It's not a fancy beer, or even a unique beer" was how the blog Dave Drinks Beer summed it up in 2017, adding, "It is a solid utilitarian kinda beer that gets the job done without offending the palate." Expect tasting notes of not-too-sweet maltiness, some toasted grain, and a clean finish.

When it comes to food pairings, Leinenkugel's suggests enjoying the Original with bratwurst and sauerkraut, cheese curds, or cherry pie. As Wisconsinites already know, beer and cheese curds make an ideal food pairing, due to German-style pilsners' ability to hold their own beside fried and salty foods, with a crispness that balances a savory, casual meal. In general, commenters are unanimous that it's the type of beer best suited to food. Leinenkugel's Original would be right at home at a laid-back cookout, and could even stand in for Mexican beer in a tangy Michelada, its light malt playing well with hot sauce and lime.