Drone beer delivery to ice fishermen? Grounded.

MINNEAPOLIS — A craft brewer had a plan to deliver beer to thirsty ice fishing anglers on a Minnesota lake until the Federal Aviation Administration stepped in and grounded the idea.

Lakemaid Beer would deliver a 12-pack of its lager to anglers on central Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs using a drone. It would take orders using GPS coordinates.

Lakemaid president Jack Supple tested the idea on Lake Waconia and then posted a video on the brewer’s Facebook page. The Star Tribune says that’s when the FAA caught wind of the business plan and told Supple his commercial use of an unmanned aircraft isn’t permitted.

So for now, the company which brews its beer in Stevens Point, Wis., will deliver to retailers by land. Lakemaid’s promotional tagline is “great fishermen need great beer.” It just won’t be delivered by air.

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