Minocqua Brewing Company / Instagram
DAILY BS BULLETIN
- Wisconsin’s Minocqua Brewing Company is under fire after announcing it will sell half-price beer whenever Sen. Mitch McConnell’s death is announced, expanding a previous promotion promising free beer upon President Trump’s death.
- The brewery tied the promotion to ongoing speculation surrounding McConnell’s health and blasted Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear over the state’s untested Senate vacancy law, despite McConnell recently releasing a statement that he remains engaged in Senate business while recovering.
- The controversy comes as the brewery is already fighting to keep its brewing permit after Wisconsin regulators moved to revoke its license over alleged tax and permitting violations.
A Wisconsin brewery that has built its brand around left-wing political activism is once again making headlines—this time by promising discounted beer to celebrate the death of Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Minocqua Brewing Company announced this week that it will offer half-price beer on the day McConnell’s death is publicly announced, expanding on an earlier pledge to give away free beer whenever President Donald Trump dies. The latest promotion quickly ignited backlash online and added to the brewery owner’s long history of using partisan politics as a marketing strategy.
In a lengthy Instagram post, owner Kirk Bangstad accused Kentucky officials of hiding McConnell’s condition and ridiculed the 84-year-old senator with nicknames including “Rigor Tortoise” and “the ghost from Kentucky.”
“When they announce that McConnell’s Faustian dance has finally ended, we’re gonna start serving our beer at half price,” the brewery wrote, adding that “half-price beer day” was chosen because McConnell allegedly caused “about half of all America’s current problems.”
The brewery also continues selling T-shirts promoting the event and reminded supporters that its previously announced “Free Beer Day” remains reserved for the eventual death of President Trump.
The longtime Kentucky senator has not returned to Capitol Hill since collapsing at his Washington residence in June. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has publicly urged McConnell to address voters directly and provide proof that he remains capable of serving, arguing that prolonged silence only fuels speculation.
McConnell has since released a written statement saying he did not suffer a stroke or heart attack, explaining that he briefly lost consciousness after a fall and is undergoing intensive rehabilitation while continuing Senate work remotely.
“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky,” McConnell said through his office, adding that he remains involved in legislative business despite not yet being medically cleared to return.
Kentucky’s revised succession law has also become part of the debate.
Because lawmakers changed the law in 2024, Gov. Beshear no longer has authority to appoint a temporary replacement should a vacancy occur. Instead, a special election process would be triggered, although legal experts note the law has never been tested and questions remain about its timing if a vacancy were to occur late in the election cycle.
The latest controversy lands as Minocqua Brewing Company is already battling Wisconsin regulators.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue recently moved to revoke the company’s brewer’s permit, alleging violations involving beer transported from Illinois without proper permits or taxes. Bangstad has appealed the decision, allowing the brewery to continue operating while the case proceeds. He has argued the enforcement action is politically motivated.
The brewery has become well known nationally for blending beer sales with progressive political activism through both its business and affiliated political action committee, regularly launching campaigns aimed at Republican elected officials.
