The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has moved to revoke the operating permits of Minocqua Brewing Company, owned by liberal activist and failed gubernatorial candidate Kirk Bangstad. The brewery drew national attention earlier this year after a social media post that appeared to mock the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
Bangstad said he received formal notice of the permit revocations in a letter from the department, with the action scheduled to take effect.
Background on the dispute
Bangstad, who owns Minocqua Brewing Company locations in Minocqua and Madison, announced the revocation in a newsletter to supporters. He called it an “absurd act of heavy-handedness” over what he described as minor tax violations.
He vowed to continue operating, saying the state would “have to pry me out of my taprooms” before he shut down. Bangstad framed the dispute as the latest chapter in his long-running political battles with Wisconsin Republicans and the state’s alcohol distribution industry.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue confirmed to Newsweek that it issued a notice revoking brewer’s permits for two company locations, along with an alcohol beverage warehouse permit for one site.
A department spokesperson said the brewery has until August 4 to appeal and may continue operating while that appeal is pending. The agency added that its Division of Alcohol Beverages enforces state alcohol laws consistently and takes action when permit holders fail to comply.
According to a chart Bangstad shared, the alleged violations include operating an unauthorized retail outlet, violating state shipping laws and storing untaxed beer in an unpermitted warehouse.
The June beer seizure
The dispute stems from a June enforcement action in which state officials seized canned beer from the company’s Minocqua and Madison locations.
The Department of Revenue alleged the beer had been transported from Illinois without the required permits or tax payments.
Bangstad said the seizure involved about $25,000 worth of beer and has sued the department over the confiscation.
In a Facebook post, he argued the seizure was the first step in an effort to revoke his brewer’s permit entirely. He blamed the action on pressure from Wisconsin’s Tavern League, a politically influential organization representing taverns and alcohol distributors, as well as his criticism of Governor Tony Evers.
When asked about Bangstad’s allegations, Evers’ office referred questions to the Department of Revenue.
The assassination attempt post
Bangstad has long been a controversial figure in Wisconsin politics, known for his progressive activism, unsuccessful 2026 gubernatorial campaign and the brewery’s line of beers named after Democratic politicians.
His company faced bipartisan criticism after an attempted assassination targeting Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Following the incident, Bangstad posted on the brewery’s Facebook page that the would-be attacker needed to “work on their marksmanship.” The post prompted FBI and U.S. Secret Service agents to interview him on April 30, 2026.
He had also previously said he would give away free beer for a day if Trump died.
Bangstad ultimately failed to qualify for Wisconsin’s 2026 gubernatorial ballot after election officials determined he had not submitted enough valid petition signatures.
He has since argued that both the signature review and the subsequent brewery raid were retaliatory and noted they occurred only after his campaign ended. He also said the Wisconsin Democratic Party publicly disavowed him over his social media remark.
