Kirk Bangstad
Kirk Bangstad is an American brewer, commentator, and political candidate. He is the owner of the Minocqua Brewing Company in Minocqua, Wisconsin. He is known for his liberal political activism, and his involvement in feuds and legal disputes with state and local government officials and business leaders.
Biography
[edit]Bangstad was born in Steven's Point, Wisconsin.[1] He attended Harvard, and worked as a opera singer and marketing consultant before moving to Minocqua, Wisconsin in 2015. He bought the Minocqua Brewing Company, a restaurant and bar in a historic building in downtown Minocqua, in 2016.[2] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangstad shut down the business for the summer of 2020 out of concerns for the health of employees and customers.[3] He also mounted a large sign promoting the 2020 Joe Biden campaign for president outside his business, in defiance of local ordinances. He then ran for state Assembly seat 34 against Ron Swearingen in the 2020 elections, earning the Democratic nomination, but losing in the general election.[4][5] He began marketing new beers with progressive themed names, such as 'La (themed for Kamala Harris), Bernie Brew (for Bernie Sanders), and Biden Beer (for Joe Biden).[6]
In 2021, Bangstad started the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC and committed to donating 5% of brewery profits to the super PAC.[1] The PAC was involved in a number of lawsuits, including attempts to mandate masking in public schools,[7] end voucher schools, and block Republican candidate Donald Trump from the Wisconsin ballot. All three lawsuits were unsuccessful.[8] The PAC also rented billboards across the state condemning Republican politicians.
In 2023, Bangstad was sued for criminal defamation by Gregg Walker, editor of a local newspaper, after Bangstad posted that Walker had committed crimes against his own family members. Bangstad lost, and was ordered to pay $750,000 in damages, a record high amount for Wisconsin defamation cases.[9] The case was later dismissed, but he continued to face civil charges for the post.[10]
In May 2026, Kirk was investigated by the FBI and Secret Service after posting an offer for "Free Beer Day" once President Donald Trump died, prompted by a failed assassination attempt on the President.[11] Shortly after, he declared he was running for Governor of Wisconsin as a Democrat.[12] He was later denied ballot access for failing to collect sufficient signatures.[13]
In June 2026, Kirk dissolved the Minocqua Brewing Company Super Pac.[14]
In July 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue announced it would revoke permits from Minocqua Brewing Company, including Brewer’s permits and an Alcoholic Beverage Warehouse permit.[15]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Murphy, Bruce. "Murphy's Law: Brewery Super PAC Targets Johnson, Tiffany". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ "About Us". Minocqua Brewing Company. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Mentzer, Rob (2020-09-11). "Wisconsin Brewery Owners Fault Trump's Pandemic Response". WPR. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Epstein, Reid J. (2020-10-29). "How Virus Politics Divided a Conservative Town in Wisconsin's North". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ "Wisconsin State Assembly District 34". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Murphy, Bruce. "Back in the News: Tammy Baldwin Is All About The Beer". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Thorbecke, Catherine (October 14, 2021). "Why a Wisconsin brewery is crowdfunding lawsuits over the axing of school mask mandates". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Mentzer, Rob (2025-02-20). "Minocqua Brewing Company owner courts controversy, donations around rare criminal defamation charge. It's part of a yearslong pattern". WPR. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Bice, Daniel. "Progressive 'Bernie Brew' owner ordered to pay record $750,000 for defaming conservative publisher". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Mentzer, Rob (2025-08-25). "Criminal defamation charges dropped against Minocqua Brewing Company owner". WPR. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Wisconsin brewery owner questioned by FBI after social media post". CBS58. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ Bayatpour, A. J. "Minocqua Brewing Co. owner announces he's running for governor". CBS58. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ Schulz, Joe; joe.schulz (2026-06-09). "Controversial liberal Kirk Bangstad denied ballot access in bid for Wisconsin governor". WPR. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ Jones, Kyle (2026-06-30). "Minocqua Brewing Co. owner ends super PAC". Channel3000.com. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ Guidice, Rachel del (2026-07-28). "Wisconsin brewery that offered 'free beer' when Trump dies says alcohol permit revoked". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-07-29.