A Wisconsin-based brewery that drew national attention after promising free beer on the day of U.S. President Donald Trump’s death has had its operating license revoked by state authorities.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue informed Minocqua Brewing Company that its permit would be cancelled effective August 4. The decision prompted a strong response from the brewery’s founder, Kirk Bangstad, who accused the state of targeting the business over its political views.
In a post on Substack, Bangstad said he would continue fighting the decision and insisted he would not stop serving his progressive customer base without a legal battle.
However, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the revocation was primarily due to regulatory violations, including operating without required permits and failing to pay taxes on canned beer brought in from Illinois. Bangstad has also appealed to supporters for financial assistance to challenge the decision in court.
The brewery sparked controversy earlier this year after announcing it would offer free beer for an entire day following the death of an unnamed “high-profile individual”—a post widely interpreted as referring to President Trump. In April, following an incident at the White House, the company wrote on social media that it had “almost reached Free Beer Day.”
The brewery has also frequently posted criticism of U.S. immigration enforcement policies.
