--- title: "Wisconsin brewery faces permit revocation over alleged violations" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/wisconsin-brewery-faces-permit-revocation-over-alleged-violations" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/wisconsin-brewery-faces-permit-revocation-over-alleged-violations" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/wisconsin-brewery-faces-permit-revocation-over-alleged-violations.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/wisconsin-brewery-faces-permit-revocation-over-alleged-violations" category: "Business & Economy" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-26T00:45:48.826Z" source_reported: "2026-09-26T00:31:48.126Z" updated: "2026-09-26T01:45:16.574Z" trust_score: 78 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 30 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-26T06:15:22.111770+00:00" --- # Wisconsin brewery faces permit revocation over alleged violations *Minocqua Brewing Co. owner says Madison taproom likely to close pending appeal hearing.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 78 of 100, higher is better. Trust 78: multiple named sources (owner, DOR), official statement, and two independent outlets corroborate permit revocation. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: explains relevance, quotes owner and DOR, provides dates, names, and next hearing details. - Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Hype 30: headline is sensational but article remains factual with limited exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Wisconsin's Department of Revenue has revoked alcohol permits for Minocqua Brewing Co.'s two locations. - The revocation is due to alleged tax and licensing violations involving beer transported from Illinois. - Owner Kirk Bangstad stated the Madison taproom will likely close by the end of the year. - The permit revocation is on hold until an appeal hearing on November 18. Wisconsin officials have revoked the alcohol permits for Minocqua Brewing Co.'s locations in Madison and Minocqua. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue cited alleged tax and licensing violations, including issues with beer transported from Illinois. Owner Kirk Bangstad has indicated that the Madison taproom is likely to cease operations by the end of the year. The revocation is not yet in effect, pending an appeal hearing scheduled for November 18. ## Disagreement on timing of revocation The Wisconsin Department of Revenue stated that the permit revocation does not take effect until the appeal process is completed. However, the New York Post reported that the brewery "could shut its doors after losing its alcohol license," and Next News Network stated the brewery is "bracing to lose its Madison taproom after the state moved to revoke its alcohol permits." ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports mention the specific dollar figure or the exact time period involved in the alleged tax and licensing violations. The reports also do not detail the brewery's formal response to the allegations beyond owner Kirk Bangstad's statement about the taproom closure and the company's dispute of the state's action, accusing officials of targeting it due to its political views. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 13% (1) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 87% (7) 0 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-26T06:15:22.111770+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 24 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-26T06:45:07.490Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Right-rated reports consistently highlighted Minocqua Brewing Co.'s pledge to offer free beer on the day President Trump dies. Several outlets, including Next News Network and the Washington Times, used this promise as a central element in their headlines and opening paragraphs. The New York Post and other reports also mentioned the free beer offer as a key aspect of the brewery's public profile. The New York Post provided extensive detail on the brewery's political messaging, including past social media posts about Trump and Senator Mitch McConnell, and the founder's Super PAC. Next News Network included an editorial section discussing the situation as a consequence for the brewery's marketing and political stances, rather than persecution. All reports mentioned the alleged tax and licensing violations and the potential closure of the Madison taproom. The New York Post and Next News Network reported that owner Kirk Bangstad said the Madison taproom is likely to shut down by the end of the year. The New York Post also included a statement from the Department of Revenue regarding the appeal hearing on November 18 and the condition that the revocation does not take effect until appeals are concluded. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 6 - high: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [La Opinion](https://laopinion.com/2026/09/25/cerveceria-que-prometia-bebidas-gratis-cuando-muriera-donald-trump-esta-condenada-a-cerrar) — Beer that Promised Free Drinks when Donald Trump Died Is Doomed to Close - [Next News Network](https://nextnewsnetwork.com/2026/09/26/brewery-that-pledged-free-beer-when-trump-dies-faces-permit-revocation-as-wiscon) — BREWERY THAT PLEDGED FREE BEER WHEN TRUMP DIES FACES PERMIT REVOCATION AS WISCONSIN MOVES TO SHUT MADISON TAPROOM - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/25/media/brewery-that-offered-free-beer-when-trump-dies-could-shut-its-doors-after-losing-alcohol-license) — Brewery that offered free beer when Trump dies could shut its doors after losing alcohol license - [capitalisminstitute.org](https://capitalisminstitute.org/wisconsin-brewery-that-promised-free-beer-when-trump-dies-faces-closure-after-state-pulls-alcohol-permits) — Wisconsin Brewery Loses Permits After Trump Death Pledge - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/25/wisconsin-brewery-taunted-trumps-death-faces-permit-closure) — Wisconsin brewery that taunted Trump's death faces permit closure - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/brewery-that-offered-free-beer-when-trump-dies-faces-possible-closure-after-state-revokes-alcohol-permits) — Brewery that offered free beer when Trump dies faces possible closure after state revokes alcohol permits - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/09/25/brewery-that-offered-free-beer-when-trump-dies-faces-possible-closure-after-state-revokes-alcohol-permits) — Brewery that offered free beer when Trump dies faces possible closure after state revokes alcohol permits - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/media/brewery-offered-free-beer-when-trump-dies-faces-possible-closure-after-state-revokes-alcohol-permits) — Brewery that offered free beer when Trump dies faces possible closure after state revokes alcohol permits ## Questions **Why did Wisconsin revoke Minocqua Brewing Co.'s alcohol permits?** Wisconsin officials revoked the permits due to alleged tax and licensing violations. These issues reportedly involved beer transported from Illinois without the required permits and tax payments. **When will the permit revocation take effect?** The revocation is not yet in effect. It is on hold pending the outcome of an appeal hearing scheduled for November 18, according to the Department of Revenue. **What is the status of the Madison taproom?** Owner Kirk Bangstad stated that the Madison taproom is likely to shut down by the end of the year. This is expected to occur while the company continues to fight the state's decision through the appeals process. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/wisconsin-brewery-faces-permit-revocation-over-alleged-violations. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Wisconsin brewery faces permit revocation over alleged violations", https://mediabias.news/business/wisconsin-brewery-faces-permit-revocation-over-alleged-violations