![Former school mates Ryan Rahinel, left, and Noelle Nelson enjoyed beers over lunch at Town Hall Brewery Wednesday, March 7, 2012, in Minneapolis, MN. Rahinel enjoyed a 342 and Nelson a Twisted Jim - both specialty beers brewed at Town Hall.] DAVID JOLES*djoles@startribune.com - Microbreweries are gearing up for a legislative fight. They want to be able to sell their products wholesale. The state's liquor lobby is likely to put up a fight. Last year, Minnesota breweries won the right to open on-s](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/SBHIPEP2IBEDH5LEJR52V3GN2Q.jpg?&w=1080)
Even in nightclub years 17 months is fairly young. But less than a year and a half after opening, Marquee — the basement LED cave beneath downtown Minneapolis' Union — is rebranding. And not without its hiccups. Last week the house- and EDM-charged club announced it would change its name to Hush731 (731 Hennepin Av. S. being the address) beginning this weekend. The eyebrow-raising name was nearly identical to the Hush tag used by local techno titan DVS1 for various endeavors since the mid-1990s.
After some online backlash, the club, which is operated by Kaskaid Hospitality (Crave, BoneYard and others), scrapped the proposed name and will instead debut as Rev Ultra Lounge on Saturday. While the music format will remain the same, a Kaskaid spokesman promised a "softer, more feminine feel" with an expanded bar, added sofas and other physical changes.
More than Four
After slinging bottles from its modest St. Louis Park location for nearly six years, craft beer emporium the Four Firkins is looking to expand. Last week the destination suds store announced plans to open a sister shop in Woodbury and eventually operate a total of five locations. Founder Jason Alvey has launched an Indiegogo campaign to help fund the Firkins' growth spurt, aiming to raise $50,000 by April 25. The expansion plans come as a number of big-box liquor stores such as Liquor Boy (also in St. Louis Park) and Total Wine & More are hitting the Twin Cities.
5630 W. 36th St., St. Louis Park, 952-938-2847, www.thefourfirkins.com
Whiskey-centric
Alvey isn't the only liquor store owner spreading his beer-soaked wings. Louis Dachis, proprietor of Merwin Liquors, has opened whiskey and craft-beer boutique Ace Spirits in Hopkins. The sub-2,000-square-foot store boasts that it sells "every whiskey available in the state" — yes, even Pappy. While the coveted bourbon fetches beaucoup bucks in the aftermarket, Ace is giving away two bottles of Pappy Van Winkle's 20-year-old expression (see website for details). The new shop will also host beer and whiskey tastings and feature an in-house cellaring program.
4 Shady Oak Rd. #18, Hopkins, 952-960-8014, www.acespirits.com
No more Belmore
The curtain has finally closed on what was perhaps the most inconspicuous music venue/restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. The promotionally challenged Belmore/New Skyway Lounge has quietly shuttered its Warehouse District location, once home to City Billiards. The space is for lease. Despite some decent reviews and a few cool shows, the sort-of-rock-club, kind-of-diner seemed to fly a little too off the radar.
Town Hall renovation is nearly done
Get your calendars out, beer geeks. Beloved brewpub Town Hall Brewery is reopening April 11 after undergoing significant renovations. The Seven Corners staple has been closed for three months for remodeling, which will boost the brewery's production capacity and allow founder Pete Rifakes to open more Town Hall locations in the future (though nothing is imminent, he says). The brewpub already has a pair of satellite bars in south Minneapolis. Its annual barrel-aged week kicks off April 14.
