Minocqua Brewing Company, a Wisconsin brewery previously noted for controversial promotions tied to the deaths of political figures Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell, has introduced a new seasonal beer called "Antifa Octoberfist."

The release followed Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's win in the state's Democratic primary. In a Wednesday social media post, Minocqua Brewing Company stated it chose to announce the beer after "another card-carrying member of ANTIFA" won a Democratic primary in Michigan.

The brewery described the beer's label as revisiting the question, "Is it OK to punch a Nazi?" and noted references to Captain America and World War II in its promotion. The message on the label reads, "During World War II, America rose up against Nazi Germany and rejected the idea of fascism, which is defined as government lead by a strong man that fetishizes power, uses violence to quash opposition, demands absolute loyalty, and gains power by seducing those who perceive themselves as victims."

Separately, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on July 27 that Wisconsin's Department of Revenue sent a notice to brewery owner Kirk Bangstad, a liberal activist, announcing plans to revoke the brewery’s permit. This action followed a June seizure of canned beer allegedly transported from Illinois without the required permits and taxes.

Abdul El-Sayed's reported 2025 household income is $686,069, significantly higher than Michigan's median income. The brewery is located in an old gas station building in the center of Minocqua, Wisconsin.

Sources