Far-left brewer and Democrat gubernatorial candidate Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company, marked Memorial Day by doubling down on his long-running scheme to hand out free beer the day President Donald Trump dies. He turned a solemn holiday honoring America’s fallen service members into another platform for anti-Trump vitriol.
In a Facebook post shared Monday, Bangstad unleashed profanity-laced hatred toward the president while explicitly tying it to his so-called “Free Beer Day” promotion. “F*** it. I hate this guy with every fiber of my being… We can’t wait for freebeerday, and we hope it happens before our flagship taproom closes for the summer,” the post read, according to records reviewed by conservative outlets. The message came as Bangstad and his company continue aggressively marketing “8647” non-alcoholic beer, a coded reference to “86 47,” shorthand for eliminating the 47th president, along with related T-shirts and merchandise.
The stunt is nothing new for Bangstad, whose brewery has built its brand not on quality beer but on deplorable statements and a Super PAC that funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars through unregistered shell entities. Federal records show Effervescent Blue and NCPS, neither registered as businesses in Wisconsin, with no visible online presence or employees, received more than $460,000 from the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC for supposed advertising and consulting fees. A civil lawsuit filed in Oneida County Circuit Court by local newspaper publishers alleges Bangstad used the entities as sham vehicles to pay himself personal consulting fees. The case remains pending.
Just weeks ago, Bangstad sparked national outrage after posting “we almost got #freebeerday” following a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He sarcastically mocked FBI Director Kash Patel, whom President Trump appointed to crack down on political violence, writing “Eagle-eyed Kash Patel is keeping his eyes on us.” Bangstad also lashed out at “Corporate Dems” and Wisconsin Democrats who condemned his rhetoric, accusing them of weakness for refusing to embrace his brand of “resistance.”
The brewery’s Facebook page continues to feature inflammatory content. Bangstad personally engages followers and promotes the 8647 product line and his long-shot campaign for governor.
Bangstad has shown no remorse despite widespread condemnation, including from some Democrats, and scrutiny from federal authorities. The FBI previously confirmed it was aware of his social media activity tied to the earlier “free beer day” post.
