Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company in Minocqua, Wisconsin, faces the revocation of his business permits following allegations of repeated violations of state alcohol regulations.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue announced in a letter that Bangstad’s permits for two locations and a warehouse would be terminated August 4th. The action followed June seizures of beer cans allegedly transported from Illinois without proper permits and taxes.
Bangstad publicly condemned the revocation, vowing legal action. In a Substack post, he pledged to “fight the state tooth and nail,” insisting the brewery would continue operating until authorities intervened. He shared a screenshot of the revocation notice, which includes a deadline for appeals.
Department of Revenue spokesperson confirmed the revocations and outlined the appeals process, stating the business may operate during proceedings. A hearing examiner would review the case if Bangstad proceeds with an appeal.
This development comes after Bangstad’s public reactions to political events, including social media posts criticizing an assassination attempt on former President Trump and promoting a deleted Facebook campaign offering “free beer” following the incident. His brewery previously funded Democratic candidates and opposed Trump’s ballot access in Wisconsin elections.
Legal experts note permit revocations require proof of regulatory noncompliance, though Bangstad’s history of political activism adds complexity to the case. The situation highlights tensions between business operations and state enforcement protocols.
