Minocqua Brewing Co. is fighting a move by Wisconsin state officials to revoke its brewing permits... Owner Kirk Bangstad argues the action is political retaliation, while the state cites unpaid taxes and permit issues regarding beer sourced from Illinois.
The Department of Revenue's claims over Illinois beer transports
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) has moved to revoke brewing permits for both the Minocqua and Madison locations of Minocqua Brewing Co.. According to Fox News Digital, the state alleges that the company transported beer from Illinois without the required permits and failed to make the necessary tax payments. The DOR maintains that this is a matter of routine enforcement, stating that the agency takes action whenever alcohol beverage laws are not followed.
While the revocation has been issued, it does not take immediate effect. The state has placed the order on hold until the appeals process is completed, allowing the breweries to continue their current operations in the interim. However, the stakes remain high for the business's physical footprint; owner Kirk Bangstad has indicated that the Madison taproom will likely shut down by the end of the year if the dispute is not resolved in the brewery's favor.
The #freebeerday promise and Kirk Bangstad's SuperPAC
This regulatory clash occurs against a backdrop of extreme political provocation from the brewery's leadership. Minocqua Brewing Co. gained significant attention for social media posts promising a "#freebeerday"—offering free beer to patrons upon the death of Donald Trump. The brewery further extended this theme by promising half-price beer on the day Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, were to pass away.. These promotions were paired with a strict "no red hats allowed" policy for the events, as reported by Fox News Digital.
The political activism extends beyond social media marketing. Kirk Bangstad operates a SuperPAC specifically designed to remove Republican elected officials at both the state and federal levels. The group targets politicians who the SuperPAC claims perpetuated lies regarding the January 6, 2021, insurrection or downplayed the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic . By aligning the brewery's brand with aggressive political opposition, Bangstad has positioned the business as a hub for Democratic activism in Wisconsin, including a previous run for the governor's office.
The November 18 appeal hearing and the Madison taproom's fate
The legal survival of the business now rests on an appeal hearing scheduled for November 18. during this proceeding,both the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and Minocqua Brewing Co. will present their arguments regarding whether the permit revocation was a legitimate regulatory action or a targeted political strike. The outcome will determine if the brewery can maintain its legal right to produce and sell alcohol at its two primary sites.
Despite the state's claims of consistent enforcement, several critical questions remain unanswered. It is currently unclear if other Wisconsin breweries have been penalized for similar Illinois beer transport violations, or if the DOR has historically ignored such infractions for businesses with less provocative political profiles. Furthermore, the source reports only the perspectives of the DOR and Kirk Bangstad , leaving a gap in understanding whether any independent auditors or third-party regulators have verified the tax discrepancies.
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