In this episode of Around the Corner with John McGivern, the Emmy-Award-winning host explores Chippewa Falls–the birthplace of Supercomputing and Cray Research. Along the way, he makes a stop at the Chippewa Falls Museum of Industry & Technology and the infamous Leinenkugel Brewery.

Separated at Birth? insideHPC’s Rich Brueckner is a dead ringer for John Leinenkugel (second from left).
I started my career in Chippewa Falls as a tech writing intern at Cray Research in 1986. Some of my fondest memories were from the local Leinie Lodge hospitality center, where I would always bring my guests. At the time, the Brewery staff thought I was the perfect doppelgänger for their sales rep, John Leinenkugel. Free beer, shirts, and hats were always the order of the day.
Free beer, hats?! Man you sure had a good good time! May the memories always live on……
Sharan, it was more than just hats. I still have my Leinenkugel canoe paddle signed by Jake himself. In the video, you can see one at the Supper Club in the background.