A Wisconsin brewery that promised free beer when Trump finally kicks the bucket is now fighting to keep its alcohol permits after state officials moved to revoke them. Minocqua Brewing has officially appealed a state decision that could strip the politically outspoken brewery of permits covering two locations.
According to Wisconsin Public Radio, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue issued revocation notices for the company’s brewer permits at its Minocqua and Madison locations, along with a warehouse permit revocation notice for one location.
The department initially gave the company until August 4 to challenge the decision. State officials told Wisconsin Public Radio, “The business has until August 4th to appeal and can operate during the appeal process.”
Owner Kirk Bangstad later published what he described as the company’s official request for an administrative hearing, meaning the locations can continue operating while the appeal moves through the department.
The controversy has attracted national attention because Minocqua Brewing spent months promoting the idea of giving away free beer when Donald Trump dies. However, the public allegations behind the permit action focus on alcohol regulations, not the brewery’s political speech.
Wisconsin Public Radio reported that the alleged violations include operating an unauthorized retail outlet, violating shipping rules, and possessing untaxed beer inside an unpermitted warehouse. The state has not publicly identified the brewery’s posts about Trump as a legal basis for the revocation. Bangstad argues that regulators are using minor compliance issues as an excuse to punish a business that built its identity around progressive politics.
That dispute intensified in June when state agents seized approximately 1,200 cans of beer from Minocqua Brewing locations in Minocqua and Madison. Bangstad claimed the confiscated inventory was worth about $25,000 and that the unpaid excise tax at the center of the disagreement totaled approximately $500.
The brewery’s lawsuit argues that Wisconsin treated its beer differently because it was produced through an Illinois contract brewer. Bangstad also claimed that he attempted to pay the outstanding taxes and work toward compliance before agents seized the products. Those remain allegations from the brewery and have not been established as findings by a judge.
The Department of Revenue has defended its actions as routine enforcement. In a statement, the agency said Wisconsin’s alcohol rules help protect consumers, track products, and prevent businesses from gaining an advantage by avoiding tax or safety requirements. The department also said it had been discussing compliance concerns with Minocqua Brewing and its attorneys for several months before the seizure.
Bangstad sees the situation very differently. In a July 26 statement published by the brewery, he said Wisconsin was targeting the state’s most progressive brewery over “violations that can only be described as laughable.” He has accused beer distributors, conservative activists, and members of Wisconsin’s political establishment of wanting to silence him, though he has not presented public evidence showing that any of those groups directed the permit action.
Minocqua Brewing is no stranger to mixing alcohol, activism, and controversy. According to the company’s official history, Bangstad and his late wife, Elizabeth Smith, purchased the business in 2016. The brand later embraced progressive-themed beverages after Bangstad displayed a large campaign sign supporting Joe Biden during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That political pivot became a major part of the company’s business model. The brewery sold drinks connected to Democratic politicians and promoted merchandise built around resistance to Republican policies. Bangstad also created the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC, although Federal Election Commission records now list the committee as terminated.
The permit fight arrives only months after Minocqua Brewing drew federal attention over its Trump-related posts. The brewery posted that “we almost got #freebeerday” following an alleged attempt to attack Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The message also suggested that someone needed to improve their marksmanship or that the incident had been staged. Federal agents later conducted a voluntary interview with Bangstad. A joint statement from the FBI and Secret Service said, “This is an ongoing matter, and we do not have further comment.” During the recorded encounter, Bangstad denied knowing anyone who wanted to harm Trump or JD Vance.
The language used by Minocqua Brewing was inflammatory and guaranteed backlash. Still, provocative political speech does not automatically prove that a separate regulatory investigation was legitimate or retaliatory. The public record currently shows compliance allegations from the state and political retaliation allegations from Bangstad. It does not establish that the Trump promotion caused the permit decision.
Bangstad has promised to keep fighting. As he told Wisconsin Public Radio, “We’re going to fight the state of Wisconsin tooth and nail.” The brewery has also pursued an emergency injunction related to its warehouse permit and the return of the confiscated beer.
For now, Minocqua Brewing remains open, its legal fight is active, and the controversy has made its political brand more visible than ever.
