“Free beer, all day long the day he dies,” the post said. “Show us this post when it happens in a few months and we’ll make good on that promise.” The post was later updated to clarify, “we meant the Madison Taproom because that’s open all year, if he dies in the summer, then it’s gonna be the Minocqua Taproom.”
After shots were fired while Trump was present at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April, the brewery’s Facebook said, “Well, we almost got #freebeerday.”
Very poor article. Fuck Trump, hope he dies tomorrow. But I'm also not willing to give a business owner an automatic pass just because they're on my side.
No where in this article do they actually list WHY their alcohol permit is being revoked. What exactly are they being accused of? Because I could absolutely see some slimy owner with a rat-infested kitchen latching onto politics as a means of shielding their crooked operation. "I'm innocent, they're just trying to silence me!"
Is it possible this is politically motivated? Sure. But the fact that they never actually list the specific reasons why the permit is revoked is damning.
Bangstad provided a chart explaining what violations were allegedly in the document from the DOR. Those include unauthorized running of a retail outlet, violation of shipping laws and untaxed beer possession in an unpermitted warehouse.
Are these reasonably defined laws that most businesses abide by and this guy was just playing fast and loose, or is this a case of laws drafted so that everyone’s breaking something, and then selectively enforced?
I've actually visited the Minoqua location multiple times. The staff seemed happy, and the food and drinks were great.
Kirk has been very vocally far left in a deeply red area for a long time. He's also done amazing work in bringing together the downtown small business community. It would surprise me if it turned out he was a slimy shit bag.
That doesn't really have any relevance to the case here though. He's not being accused of serving bad food. And the worst companies for legal compliance and worker treatment often treat their customers great. It's generally not profitable for non-monopolies to anger their customers.
That's fair, I agree that the level of service is not always an indication of how the restaurant is run.
I do feel it's relevant, however, and I should have elaborated. I lived in the area and worked as a bartender at a resort nearby at the time. We always sat at the bar and talked shop with the employees whenever we went out. Not only that, but it's a tourist area with a very small local, year round population. Everyone knew everyone, and gossip was rampant.
MBC had a good reputation as a workplace with not a lot of turnover. Their employees seemed like they were genuinely having fun, which isn't common if your work environment sucks in my experience.
It's generally not profitable for non-monopolies to anger their customers.
Haha, then I highly encourage you to learn more about this company. Kirk has done plenty to alienate a lot of potential customers and his community. I left that area because the racism was batshit insane. If you're not white, straight, and cis, it's not a comfortable place to live. I respect him for staying and actively fighting against it.
From ProBrewer (with link to original Facebook post by Bangstad):
Minocqua Brewing Company in Minocqua, WI, has had its brewing license revoked by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for allegations of violating the state’s beer shipping laws and untaxed beer possession in an unpermitted warehouse
And his quote in The Independent's article:
Everyone reading this, Democrat or Republican, should recoil at the thought of a small and thriving business being destroyed by their state government over such small violations—especially a brewery in the state of Wisconsin!
Reads like an entitled small business owner(TM) who's upset they have to follow the law and don't get an exemption even though small businesses are just so great and beautiful and perfect and god's gift to mankind and practically a public service.
No it doesn't. From what it sounds like, they had beer they hadn't sold in a warehouse, and the federal excise tax hadn't been paid yet, although that can be paid up front, or at the end of the year. Definitely seems like Trump weaponizing federal institutions. Curious what the actual state level violation is, or if there is one.
What state taxes would a brewer in Wisconsin pay? The taxes seems to be aimed at consumers and liquor stores. The brewer just pays the federal excise tax from what it looks like.
Yep, no sympathy for this dude. The revocation has nothing to do with the free beer offer, it's solely because the brewery broke the law. Perhaps the comments brought attention to them that they would have otherwise avoided, but this is just due process.
I'd also imagine that it's a temporary revocation pending review or some sort of deliverable from the brewery, but that's just a guess. Usually having your license pulled isn't a permanent thing.
18 Comments
unmagical@lemmy.ml · 53 pts · 21d
That one "waow based" meme
swab148@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 10 pts · 20d
isleepinahammock@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 30 pts · 21d
Very poor article. Fuck Trump, hope he dies tomorrow. But I'm also not willing to give a business owner an automatic pass just because they're on my side.
No where in this article do they actually list WHY their alcohol permit is being revoked. What exactly are they being accused of? Because I could absolutely see some slimy owner with a rat-infested kitchen latching onto politics as a means of shielding their crooked operation. "I'm innocent, they're just trying to silence me!"
Is it possible this is politically motivated? Sure. But the fact that they never actually list the specific reasons why the permit is revoked is damning.
lakemalcom@sh.itjust.works · 24 pts · 21d
https://www.wpr.org/news/state-revokes-brewing-license-kirk-bangstad
Something about not paying taxes
Bangstad provided a chart explaining what violations were allegedly in the document from the DOR. Those include unauthorized running of a retail outlet, violation of shipping laws and untaxed beer possession in an unpermitted warehouse.
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 12 pts · 20d
Are these reasonably defined laws that most businesses abide by and this guy was just playing fast and loose, or is this a case of laws drafted so that everyone’s breaking something, and then selectively enforced?
lakemalcom@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 20d
No idea that was as much as I could find
DmMacniel@feddit.org · 3 pts · 21d
probably inciting violence against Dear Leader.
GiantChickDicks@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 20d
I've actually visited the Minoqua location multiple times. The staff seemed happy, and the food and drinks were great.
Kirk has been very vocally far left in a deeply red area for a long time. He's also done amazing work in bringing together the downtown small business community. It would surprise me if it turned out he was a slimy shit bag.
isleepinahammock@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 0 pts · 20d
That doesn't really have any relevance to the case here though. He's not being accused of serving bad food. And the worst companies for legal compliance and worker treatment often treat their customers great. It's generally not profitable for non-monopolies to anger their customers.
GiantChickDicks@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 20d
That's fair, I agree that the level of service is not always an indication of how the restaurant is run.
I do feel it's relevant, however, and I should have elaborated. I lived in the area and worked as a bartender at a resort nearby at the time. We always sat at the bar and talked shop with the employees whenever we went out. Not only that, but it's a tourist area with a very small local, year round population. Everyone knew everyone, and gossip was rampant.
MBC had a good reputation as a workplace with not a lot of turnover. Their employees seemed like they were genuinely having fun, which isn't common if your work environment sucks in my experience.
Haha, then I highly encourage you to learn more about this company. Kirk has done plenty to alienate a lot of potential customers and his community. I left that area because the racism was batshit insane. If you're not white, straight, and cis, it's not a comfortable place to live. I respect him for staying and actively fighting against it.
yeahiknow3@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 20d
TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 21d
From ProBrewer (with link to original Facebook post by Bangstad):
And his quote in The Independent's article:
Reads like an entitled small business owner(TM) who's upset they have to follow the law and don't get an exemption even though small businesses are just so great and beautiful and perfect and god's gift to mankind and practically a public service.
Fishnoodle@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 21d
No it doesn't. From what it sounds like, they had beer they hadn't sold in a warehouse, and the federal excise tax hadn't been paid yet, although that can be paid up front, or at the end of the year. Definitely seems like Trump weaponizing federal institutions. Curious what the actual state level violation is, or if there is one.
TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 21d
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is famously a federal institution, I agree.
Fishnoodle@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 21d
What state taxes would a brewer in Wisconsin pay? The taxes seems to be aimed at consumers and liquor stores. The brewer just pays the federal excise tax from what it looks like.
TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 20d
> The Wisconsin Department of Revenue revokes their license.
> "A federal institution did this."
> "The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is not a federal institution."
> "Oh yeah?? Well try citing the relevant Wisconsin state taxes that apply to breweries! Bet they don't exist!"
Is this a prank?
Anyway:
BassTurd@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 21d
Yep, no sympathy for this dude. The revocation has nothing to do with the free beer offer, it's solely because the brewery broke the law. Perhaps the comments brought attention to them that they would have otherwise avoided, but this is just due process.
I'd also imagine that it's a temporary revocation pending review or some sort of deliverable from the brewery, but that's just a guess. Usually having your license pulled isn't a permanent thing.
altphoto@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 20d
Oh there will be yellow liquid on that thing once people move on to some other asshole. You'll know when you're too close 😜.
GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 19d
The licenses were revoked for completely unrelated offences. It’s just a guy claiming it’s because of a post he made 6 months ago with no proof.