Controversial Brewery Offers Beer Discount When Mitch McConnell Dies
A Wisconsin brewery already fighting to keep its state alcohol permit has drawn fresh controversy after announcing a "half-price beer day" promotion tied to the eventual death of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Minocqua Brewing Company, run by liberal activist Kirk Bangstad, published the announcement on Instagram Monday, saying it would cut beer prices in half "on the day they unplug the ventilator," a reference to McConnell's ongoing absence from the Senate following a fall at his home.
The company said it chose "half price" because it blamed McConnell for "about half of all America's current problems," while noting the brewery's previously announced "free beer day" promotion, tied to the eventual death of President Trump, remained reserved "for someone more special." The 84-year-old senator has not appeared in the Senate for more than a month, and the Office of the Attending Physician has said he has not yet been medically cleared to return, though there is no public indication he is on life support or that his death is imminent.
A Business Built Around Political Activism
Minocqua Brewing has positioned itself as more than a typical business with political opinions. Bangstad founded the Minocqua Brewing Company SuperPAC, registered with the Federal Election Commission, with a stated mission of removing "Republican federal and state elected officials who perpetuated the election lies that caused the Insurrection of January 6, 2021," according to the brewery's own website. The brewery has also sold "half-price beer day" and "free beer day" merchandise tied to the promotions.
This isn't the first time the brewery's death-related promotions have drawn backlash. In January, it posted about offering "free beer, all day long" on the day Trump dies, later clarifying which of its taprooms would honor the offer depending on the season, though the post didn't name Trump explicitly. Bangstad has said the brewery received a wave of hostile messages following that post, and has argued the resulting controversy has actually boosted sales of both beer and merchandise.
Facing a Separate Permit Fight
The McConnell promotion comes as Minocqua Brewing separately battles a Wisconsin Department of Revenue notice seeking to revoke its state alcohol permit, an action state regulators announced in late July citing alleged violations of Wisconsin alcohol regulations unrelated to the political promotions.
The brewery has filed an appeal challenging the revocation, which allows it to remain open while the legal process continues. "Today was the day that Wisconsin's Department of Revenue was supposed to shut us down," the brewery wrote in a subsequent post announcing it remained in operation.
Reaction Has Split Sharply
Critics have argued that publicly celebrating the anticipated death of a sitting senator crosses a line regardless of political affiliation, while supporters of the brewery have defended the promotions as a form of protected political speech and satire. The brewery has continued its pattern of politically charged promotions since, including releasing a beer called "Antifa Octoberfist" following a recent Michigan Democratic primary result.
Representatives for Sen. McConnell's office have not issued a public statement addressing the brewery's promotion.
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