A Wisconsin brewery known for its progressive branding has reportedly had its liquor license revoked, months after a Facebook post that appears to be about giving away free beer when Donald Trump dies drew widespread attention.
Minocqua Brewing Company, which sells products such as Biden Beer, Bernie Brew, and AOC IPA, said Wisconsin’s Department of Revenue plans to revoke its permit to operate starting August 4.
Owner Kirk Bangstad said he believes the move is connected to the January Facebook post promoting free beer. The post, shared on January 22, read: “Free beer, all day long, the day he dies.”
Owner says the license revocation is politically motivated
Bangstad described the revocation in a Substack post as a politically motivated move targeting what he called “the state’s most progressive brewery.” He said he consulted his liquor license lawyers, who called the action “ridiculous.”
“They both believe that someone in Wisconsin’s government is trying to make an example out of me, and they’ve told me to fight this with everything I’ve got,” Bangstad wrote in the post.
Bangstad has asked fans to donate to the company’s legal defense fund. He said he plans to challenge the state’s decision. “As you can imagine, I’m not taking this lying down,” he wrote. “We’re going to fight the state of Wisconsin tooth and nail, and once again, they’ll have to pry me out of my taprooms before I stop selling beer to thirsty progressives who come to visit us.”
The license revocation follows an earlier incident about a month prior, when the state seized all of the company’s canned beer. Officials said the beer had been illegally transported over state lines from Illinois without the required permits, and also alleged the company had unpaid taxes, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Bangstad called that action excessive at the time.
The Wisconsin Division of Alcohol Beverages confirmed the revocation of multiple permits, including a warehouse permit, to Fox News. In a statement to Fox News Digital, the division said it is “dedicated to the fair and consistent enforcement of alcohol beverages regulations in Wisconsin.”
“The division is required to follow and implement state law, including ensuring permit holders and licensees follow all applicable laws and regulations,” the statement continued. “The division takes appropriate actions when these laws are not followed.” The division also said Bangstad has the right to appeal and can continue operating the brewery while the appeal is pending.
The brewery’s January post went viral after it appeared to offer free alcohol to customers, apparently if Trump died. The post did not name Trump directly, but many people online believed it was referring to the 80-year-old president. “Show us this post when it happens in a few months and we’ll make good on that promise,” the company wrote at the time.
The post drew 7,400 comments and hundreds of shares, with some users criticizing the brewery for what they called an “unacceptable viewpoint.” The brewery also faced scrutiny over a separate Facebook post following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The brewery’s post is one example of anti-Trump social media posts prompting official scrutiny, as seen where a former Michigan nurse’s video that led to Secret Service involvement.
On April 25, the company wrote: “Well, we almost got #freebeerday. Either a brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship or he faked another assassination to get a positive news cycle. We’ll never know.” The post continued, “Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens.”
The company has said in a post that it has been boycotted by distributors in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. “We’ve been boycotted by distributors in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois – so we rely on a ragtag crew of supporters to help us self-distribute in those three states,” the company said.
In the post shared the day after the license revocation news, the brewery said its sales have increased since news outlets began covering the story. Public criticism of Trump can draw intense reactions, as a biker says a woman threatened to call police over his anti-Trump motorcycle decals.
Published: Jul 30, 2026 08:40 am