Warm drinks, chilly atmosphere: Ice Bar opens at The Wicked Hop in Milwaukee's Third Ward

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- This year's Ice Bar is officially open at The Wicked Hop in Milwaukee's Third Ward.

This marks the 5th year of the restaurant's ice bar, with a bar top and sculptures specially crafted by sculptors from Art Below Zero.

The team used Friday morning to put all of their pre-cut and drawn pieces together.

"About two months that we've been working on this project, and then today is just like playing LEGOs," said sculptor, Max Zuleta.

This year's theme is "Fire and Hops," and the drink list includes plenty of warm cocktails, like boozy hot chocolate and cider.

The Ice Bar was a bit delayed due to a mild start in January.

It was supposed to open on Jan. 13, but the folks at The Wicked Hop said it was worth it to wait.

"It's such a spectacle to look at. We didn't want to have to cover it the first weekend that it's out here, or have the weather affect it in any kind of way," said bar manager, Danielle Cooper.

The Ice Bar also includes outdoor games like cornhole, flip-cup, and shot toss.

Last year, cold weather helped, and the Ice Bar was able to last for six weekends. They're hoping to see a similar result this year.