Brewery stripped of alcohol allow after promising free beer when Trump dies
A brewery vowed to hand out free pints to patrons when the serving US President pops his clogs and has now lost its alcohol permit after council bosses saw the promotion
The brewery offered free beer for fans(Image: Getty Images)
A pub that promised free beer when Donald Trump dies has lost its licence. The brewery vowed to hand out free pints to patrons when the serving US President pops his clogs and has now lost its alcohol permit after council bosses saw the promotion.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue, in the US, is planning to shut down the Minocqua Brewing Company in the state within the next week. But brewery bosses have vowed to fight the closure all the way.
Owner Kirk Bangstad, who described the business as “the state’s most progressive brewery”, said there is no freedom of speech and has vowed to fight the threat.
The brewery said they would offer free pints if Trump dies(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He is asking locals to help fund the defence fees as they prepare for a legal fight through the courts. Bangstad, a liberal activist who often posts anti-Trump messages on the company’s social media accounts, said he plans to fight against the decision “tooth and nail” after receiving a letter from state officials dated July 15.
The pub landlord said: “We need all the money we can get to sue the Department of Revenue and stay in business.” “As you can imagine, I’m not taking this lying down,” he added 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.”
He went on to explain how he had been sent a list of rules they had apparently broken, and explained why he believes the minor violations do not warrant the shutdown. The company, which has locations in Madison and Minocqua, has until August 4 to appeal the revocation.
Minocqua Brewing Company has until August 4 to appeal its alcohol permit being revoked (Image: Minocqua Brewing Company)
Wisconsin officials said: “The Division of Alcohol Beverages is dedicated to the fair and consistent enforcement of alcohol beverages regulations in Wisconsin. 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.
“We can confirm that the Department of Revenue has issued notice of a Brewer’s permit revocation for two Minocqua Brewing Company locations and notice of an Alcohol Beverage Warehouse permit revocation for one location. The business has until August 4th to appeal and can operate during the appeal process.”
Bangstad said he believes he is getting pushed out of business due to his vocal political views rather than the reported violations.
“Everyone reading this, Democrat or Republican, should recoil at the thought of a small and thriving business being destroyed by their state government over such small violations—especially a brewery in the state of Wisconsin!” he said.
The post promoting free beer if Trump died, read: “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.” The post was later updated to clarify, “we meant the Madison Taproom because that’s open all year, if he dies in the summer, then it’s gonna be the Minocqua Taproom.”
After shots were fired while Trump was present at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April, the brewery’s Facebook said, “Well, we almost got #freebeerday.”
