Voliere Spirits has opened CrowBar, a pop-up cocktail bar located in the former blacksmith shop at the original Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul, Minnesota. The venue at 704 Minnehaha Avenue East marks the first preview of Voliere’s upcoming distillery, which will become Minnesota’s first all-women-owned whiskey distillery.
Partners ReGina and Liza have transformed the historic space into what they describe as “equal parts mystery, nostalgia, and the glow of a neighborhood bar with soul.”
The location sits at the southeast corner of the historic Hamm’s Brewery site, across from Saint Paul Brewing.
“Voliere means ‘aviary’ in French and also understood in German, an image of a nest carefully woven from what surrounds us,” explained Voliere Spirits in an announcement. “That is exactly how we are building: one branch, one idea, one spirit at a time. A place to gather, share, and belong.”
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The CrowBar name references both the blacksmith tools once forged in the building and the birds that inspire Voliere’s brand identity.
Cocktail designer Grete Bergland has created a menu that pays tribute to beloved closed bars and restaurants.
“These drinks are not replications, but inspirations drawn from the memories and moments that made those places unforgettable,” according to the company.
The bar also features zero-proof selections alongside its alcoholic offerings.
CrowBar serves as the debut tasting room for Voliere’s spirits portfolio, which includes rum, gin, rye whiskey, bourbon, vodka, and coffee liqueur.
The company emphasized its commitment to accessibility, stating: “We believe world-class spirits can belong on neighborhood shelves. Ours are priced to welcome, never to exclude, while still carrying the craftsmanship and creativity we are proud to share.”
The Hamm’s Brewery site, purchased by Theodore Hamm in 1865, later fell into disrepair when Stroh Brewing closed operations in the late 1990s.
Both Voliere Spirits and neighboring Saint Paul Brewing now occupy restored buildings from the original brewery complex.
The pop-up represents a significant milestone for craft distilling in Minnesota, particularly as the state’s craft spirits industry continues expanding beyond its established brewing sector.
