The politics of brewing | Minocqua Brewing Co.'s fight with Oneida County
The dumpster battle that could spell the end for the politically brewery
To say Minocqua Brewing Co. is no stranger to controversy is, to be frank, quite an understatement.
But the latest controversy could see the brewing company shut down.
On Wednesday the brewery faces the revocation of its administrative review permit, according to an agenda posted online on Oneida County’s website. The brewery is in violation of county ordinances including not covering its dumpster and of permitting outdoor beer sales.
But the brewery says it is being targeted for its liberal views. The brewery’s owner, Kirk Bangstad, ran a failed campaign for congress and has used his brewery to advance liberal viewpoints. Bangstad started a Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC for the brewery, which The Wausonian has reported on before.
He found controversy when he put up a large sign supporting Joe Biden for president on the brewing company’s former location, in violation of town of ordinances around signs.
And a recent line of products bears the name “Woke,” in case there were any doubts about the brewing company’s politics. Beer names include Biden Beer, Tammy Shandy and AOC IPA. It calls itself “progressive beer” on its website.
That’s in a town and a county in the Northwoods that tends to vote conservative. Both the town of Minocqua and Oneida County overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump in 2020.
Bangstad says the current violations alleged by Oneida County officials are the result of political bias. The uncovered dumpster, for instance: Bangstad says he and staff counted at least 10 other businesses with uncovered dumpsters. And he says the serving outside the premise violations are because the town has denied his application for a biergarten, despite issuing similar permits issued nearly 200 times countywide (not specifically for biergartens).
But Wednesday could prove fatal for the brewing company, which opened in its current spot at 329 E. Front Street in 2020 after shutting down its former location (which since became the excellent Oakfire Pizzeria).
In response, Bangstad organized a rally outside Minocqua Town Hall (the county meeting will be at the Rhinelander Courthouse 1 pm Wednesday) and started a petition on MoveOn.org calling for the county to end its war on beer. When this was published, the petition had 4,100 signatures.
Meanwhile, volunteers helped quickly construct and decorate a makeshift dumpster shelter they’re calling a Dumpster Koozie. That came out of Bangstad’s lawyer’s advice to comply with the law prior to Wednesday’s hearing, according to Bangstad’s post.
Politics or personality
Is it just politics, or does personality come into play? The Wausonian’s last piece revealed that Bangstad is a polarizing figure, even among other liberals. He in 2021 called area Democrats weak, which set off a number of area Democrats, including Democrat State Sen. Katrina Shankland. Criticizing him also was his own sister, who is a university professor.
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