A Wisconsin craft brewery is drawing widespread criticism Sunday after posting a message on Facebook in response to a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that sent President Donald Trump and other officials into emergency evacuation.
On Saturday night, authorities say 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen stormed the lobby of the Washington Hilton armed with guns and knives and opened fire before being subdued by Secret Service agents. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several cabinet members were evacuated from the venue.
Hours later, Minocqua Brewing Company of Minocqua, Wisconsin posted to its Facebook page: “Well, we almost got #freebeerday. 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. We’ll never know. Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens.”
The post has since been deleted but appears on Threads.
The message references a long-running promotion the brewery has called “Free Beer Day” — a standing offer of complimentary drinks at its taproom locations on the day President Trump dies. The brewery has sold merchandise tied to the concept, including a t-shirt reading “I wish it was Free Beer Day at Minocqua Brewing Company” featuring a red necktie widely associated with Trump.
Minocqua Brewing Company is owned and operated by Kirk Bangstad, who also founded the Minocqua Brewing Company SuperPAC, a political action committee that has raised over two million dollars supporting Democratic candidates and causes in Wisconsin. Bangstad ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly and has previously attempted to block Trump from appearing on Wisconsin’s 2024 presidential ballot.
The brewery’s social media accounts have drawn repeated complaints in recent months. In January, an earlier version of the “Free Beer Day” post prompted the U.S. Secret Service to issue a statement: “The U.S. Secret Service is aware of the social media post by the Minocqua Brewing Company. Out of concern for operational security, we do not discuss matters of protective intelligence.”
Reaction to Saturday’s post spread rapidly on social media, with criticism coming from across the political spectrum. Observers who identified themselves as politically left of center were among those expressing discomfort with the message’s timing and tone, noting that celebrating a violent incident — regardless of the target — crosses a line.
Beer Street Journal reached out to Minocqua Brewing Company for comment. This story will be updated if a response is received.
Bangstad has previously defended the Free Beer Day concept publicly.
The brewery operates taprooms in Minocqua and Madison, Wisconsin andand ships direct to consumers nationally.
