Wisconsin officials are moving to revoke the Minocqua Brewing Company’s liquor license after state authorities alleged the brewery violated tax and transportation regulations related to beer imported from Illinois.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue issued notices of permit revocation on July 26, 2026, with the revocations set to take effect August 4. The business has until that date to appeal and can continue operating during the appeal process. The revocations apply to brewer’s permits at two locations in Minocqua and Madison, as well as an alcohol beverage warehouse permit for one additional site.
State officials seized canned beer from the brewery in June, alleging it had been illegally transported from Illinois without the required permits or tax payments. Owner Kirk Bangstad stated that violations stemmed from a contract with an Illinois brewing partner, which he entered after Wisconsin barred the company from shipping beer directly to out-of-state customers. He characterized the alleged violations as minor, claiming the total value of disputed unpaid taxes amounted to less than $500.
The permit revocation comes amid a backdrop of controversy surrounding the brewery’s social media activity. In previous months, the Minocqua Brewing Company had posted messages offering free beer tied to President Donald Trump’s death, including a post that stated:
“Free beer, all day long the day he dies. Show us this post when it happens in a few months and we’ll make good on that promise”
A later post from the brewery sparked further condemnation after referring to an attempted assassination.
“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.”
Bangstad was previously questioned by the FBI regarding the comments made after an alleged assassination attempt on Trump. The social media posts triggered widespread outrage, boycott calls, and complaints to regulators and local officials.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue emphasized that the revocation is based on regulatory compliance. “The Division of Alcohol Beverages is dedicated to the fair and consistent enforcement of alcohol beverages regulations in Wisconsin,” the department said in a statement. “The division is required to follow and implement state law, including ensuring permit holders and licensees follow all applicable laws and regulations. The division takes appropriate actions when these laws are not followed.”
Owner Kirk Bangstad has rejected the state’s action, calling it an “absurd act of heavy-handedness” and vowing to challenge the revocation. Bangstad has argued that the alleged violations do not warrant the severe penalty of permit revocation and that the state’s enforcement is politically motivated.
“As you can imagine, I’m not taking this lying down,” Bangstad wrote in a Substack post. “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.”
Bangstad also said he believes the brewery is being singled out because of his progressive political views rather than treated the same as businesses aligned with more conservative supporters. He noted that he received the revocation notice two weeks prior and that the brewery had attempted to rectify issues identified by Department of Revenue investigators over the previous six months.
Lawyers for the brewery have argued that the state is overreaching in its enforcement actions. However, courts have historically recognized that state agencies have broad power when it comes to regulating commercial licenses. In a previous dispute, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in November 2025 that county officials would have denied permits even without Bangstad’s political speech, finding that the brewery had admitted to violating permit conditions, ignoring suspension orders, and continuing to operate without approval.
The Minocqua Brewing Company has become known for its politically themed beers named after Democratic figures, including Evers Ale, named for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, and Tammy Shandy, in honor of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Bangstad is also the founder of the Minocqua Brewing Company SuperPAC, which he closed in June 2026.
The brewery has faced multiple regulatory challenges over the years, including a 2023 dispute with the Oneida County zoning committee over outdoor sales violations. With the permit revocation now in motion, the brewery’s future depends on the outcome of its appeal before August 4, 2026.