Unregistered organizations at the heart of a pending lawsuit in Oneida County
As the political world and the FBI become acquainted withhate-filled leftist brewery owner Kirk Bangstad, a spotlight is being shown on his allegedly scam PACs and sham shell businesses. Bangstad’s Minocqua Brewing Company markets itself as “Progressive Beer” and frequently uses its products and advertising to support progressive causes and wish death upon the president.
Bangstad also controls the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC, a political group that can raise and spend unlimited money on independent political ads. Federal records and a recent civil lawsuit now focus on two little-known organizations tied to that Super PAC: Effervescent Blue and NCPS.
Effervescent Blue and NCPS have received $460,549.74 from the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC since 2021, according to federal campaign finance records. Payments were reported for advertising, billboards, and consulting fees. Neither organization is registered as a business in Wisconsin or any other state, and neither has a website, storefront, publicly listed employees, or a visible online presence.
The money came from the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC, a federal political committee founded and led by Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company. A Super PAC can raise and spend unlimited amounts on political advertising and activities, provided it does not coordinate directly with candidates or political parties. Bangstad is the treasurer of the Super PAC, which has raised over $2 million and states its mission is to support liberal and progressive causes in Wisconsin and nationally.
Federal records show the Super PAC raised approximately $1,022,651 and spent about $950,267 in the 2021–2022 election cycle. In 2023–2024, payments to Effervescent Blue and NCPS totaled $333,890, representing about one-third of the committee’s disbursements.
In 2021, the two entities received a combined $56,335.74. The Super PAC reported over $363,000 in disbursements in the first quarter of 2025–2026, though available summaries do not detail amounts paid to Effervescent Blue or NCPS for 2025.
Effervescent Blue has a listed address of 1306 Regent Street #113, Madison, Wisconsin, which is the address of Studio Jewelers Ltd., a jewelry store. However, transposing the numbers leads to 1360 Regent Street, a UPS Store. NCPS has a listed address of 1345 N. Jefferson Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; a UPS Store offering private mailbox services.
On February 19, 2025, Gregg Walker, publisher of The Lakeland Times, and Heather Holmes, general manager, filed a civil lawsuit in Oneida County Circuit Court against Kirk Bangstad, Minocqua Brewing Company LLC, and the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC. The suit alleges Bangstad used the Super PAC to pay himself personal consulting fees by routing money through the two unregistered entities.
The complaint states: “Upon information and belief, the MBC Super PAC has paid Bangstad for alleged ‘consulting fees’ through sham entities known as ‘Effervescent Blue’ and ‘NCPS.’” It further describes the organizations as “unregistered d/b/a business entities maintained, controlled, and operated by Bangstad.”
Regarding Effervescent Blue, the filing notes: “Effervescent Blue has a mailing address of 1306 Regent Street, #113, Madison, Wisconsin. Upon information and belief, 1306 Regent Street in Madison is the location of a jewelry store.”
The lawsuit further claims Bangstad used Super PAC funds for personal legal expenses and that the brewery donated less than $10,000 to the Super PAC, despite earlier public promises to contribute a percentage of profits.
The suit also accuses Bangstad of violating Walker’s and Holmes’ privacy by using manipulated images of them on brewery products and in advertising.
In February 2025, Wisconsin Public Radio reporters contacted Bangstad about Effervescent Blue and NCPS. According to WPR, Bangstad called the questions “out of bounds” and accused the outlet of participating in a Republican effort “to hurt my super PAC and hurt my activism.” He declined further comment and has not publicly addressed the specific allegations about the two entities on social media or the brewery’s website.
No criminal charges have been filed regarding the Super PAC payments or the entities. The civil lawsuit by Walker and Holmes remains pending as of April 2026. The Super PAC was previously the subject of a Federal Election Commission complaint (MUR 7930) filed by state Republicans, but those allegations were dismissed.
These are the only public documents and reports that mention Effervescent Blue or NCPS in connection with the Super PAC. No business registration records, tax filings, or operational documents for either entity appear in any state or federal database. According to FEC data, the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC is the only political committee that has paid Effervescent Blue or NCPS.
