A Wisconsin brewery owner who promised free beers to mark the day President Donald Trump dies is defiant after the state planned to revoke his alcohol permit.
According to The Independent, "The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is planning to shut down the Minocqua Brewing Company by August 4, according to a newsletter published Sunday by brewery owner Kirk Bangstad, who described the business as 'the state’s most progressive brewery.'" Bangstad frequently attacks Trump in posts on his company's social media account, and has released beers in honor of liberal politicians.
The Department of Revenue insists the shutdown is not politically motivated and cites violations at the company's locations. Bangstad, however, argues that these citations are pretextual, and has vowed to cobble together a legal defense fund to fight.
"I think ... either the beer distributors in the Republican Tavern League have an 'in' at the Department of Revenue and are trying to work us over, or someone in [Democratic Governor Tony] Evers’ office is trying to shut me up," wrote Bangstad in a Substack post.
He noted that Nicole Zautner, an agent with the Department of Revenue, investigated his brewery last year "predicated on fake MAGA complaints to the Department of Health that we put Covid vaccine in our beer, among other ridiculous claims."
Bangstad also proudly displayed his email reply to the New York Post seeking comment on the controversy.
"Given that your organization was forced to pay $787 million to Dominion Voting Systems for pushing a lie that American elections weren't secure, we're not inclined to give you a quote for our story," he wrote. "We do invite you to come to #halfpricebeerday, when we'll celebrate the life of Mitch McConnell, who died months ago but whom you've reported is still alive today."
"Alternatively, you're invited to #freebeerday, our celebration of life for the Orange (expletive) gibbon, which will occur the day that his McDonald's-induced blood clot finally moves," he continued.