Brewery that offered free beer if Trump died loses liquor licence
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is revoking the liquor licenses of Minocqua Brewing Company, citing tax and permit violations. Owner Kirk Bangstad, who previously courted controversy with anti-Trump rhetoric, plans to appeal the decision and continue operations.
Why it matters
This case highlights the intersection of political speech and regulatory enforcement, raising questions about whether state agencies are using administrative power to target politically outspoken business owners.
Kirk Bangstad, the owner of Wisconsin-based Minocqua Brewing Company, has said he will 'fight tooth and nail' after the state moved to revoke his brewery's licence to operate, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Bangstad, who promised free beer if US President Donald Trump died, called the state's action an absurd act of heavy-handedness.The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has issued notices revoking brewer's permits for two Minocqua Brewing Company locations and an Alcohol Beverage Warehouse permit for one of its facilities. The revocation is due to take effect on Tuesday. Bangstad can continue operating if he files an appeal before then.The dispute began in June, when state officials seized all canned beer from the brewery.
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