Kirk Bangstad
Wisconsin brewer and political figure
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
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]