A Wisconsin brewery is attracting controversy for its offer to sell half-price beer if Sen. Mitch McConnell dies, in a nod to the Kentucky Republican’s lengthy absence from Congress due to health issues.
“Given that Mitch McConnell is responsible for AT LEAST 50% of what’s currently wrong with America, we’ve decided to give 50% off of all of our beer at both taprooms in Minocqua and Madisonthe day he kicks the bucket—which in all honesty was probably three weeks ago,” Minocqua Brewing Company wrote on Instagram in July.
McConnell was hospitalized in June and little information has emerged about his condition.
The brewery, known for its progressive stances and previous offer of free beer if President Trump dies, sharply criticized Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in a subsequent post on Monday. Minocqua blasted Beshear for not calling a special election to replace the “ghost from Kentucky,” claiming he missed an early August deadline to call a vote.
Beshear’s office pointed to a statement on X from the governor on Monday. The Democrat has demanded that McConnell directly and vocally address the public about his health or resign.
“I know there are a lot of folks wondering about the significance of August 3 regarding a potential Senate vacancy,” he wrote. “I want everyone to know that this date has no legal impact on my options should there be a vacancy this year. Worth a reminder, right now, there’s one less vote for the SAVE Act, Trump’s war with Iran, or the potential replacement of a SCOTUS justice.”
Minocqua was soon deluged with negative comments about its McConnell-related promotion.
“Even if this was Biden this is gross,” one Instagram user wrote. “To think…a brewery only known for running tasteless ads vs actually having good beer. We’ll see how that turns out for ya.”
“I pray that you obtain more wisdom, love and compassion,” another wrote in to Minocqua in a direct message. The brewery then reposted it the response, “We pray you obtain more self awareness, humility,and a better knowledge of world history.”
The Independent has contacted Minocqua and McConnell’s office for comment.
The brewery, known for eye-catching, politically themed flavors such as Antifa Oktoberfist and Fascist Tears, is facing the potential loss of its alcohol permit.
Minocqua owner Kirk Bangstad wrote in July that the Wisconsin Department of Revenue was seeking to revoke the permit by August 4.
In a Substack post, he wrote that the state is trying to “make an example” out of Wisconsin’s “most progressive brewery for violations that can only be described as laughable.”
He has vowed to fight the agency “tooth and nail.”
“Minocqua Brewing Company has filed an administrative appeal, and, therefore, the permit will not be revoked, pending the outcome of the administrative appeal,” the Department of Revenue told The Independent.
State officials seized all canned beer from the company in June, arguing it was illegally imported from Illinois without the proper permits or tax payments. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The brewery argues it has legally contracted with an Illinois company to produce some of its beer.
FBI and Secret Service agents reportedly interviewed Bangstad in April after his company’s Facebook account shared a post suggesting someone should assassinate the president an armed intruder breached the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“Well, we almost got #freebeerday,” the post read. “Either a brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship or he faked another assassination to get a positive news cycle.”
