Sturgeon Spirits Opens 'Ice Bar' on Lake Winnebago

The pop-up bar offers specialty cocktails to sturgeon spearers and other visitors during the season.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Sturgeon Spirits, a local business in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has opened the first 'ice bar' on Lake Winnebago to cater to sturgeon spearers and other visitors during the season. The fully legal pop-up bar is set up a mile out from the shore and will be open for the next two sturgeon spearing weekends, offering seven specialty drinks to those brave enough to make the journey.

Why it matters

The opening of the 'ice bar' on Lake Winnebago highlights the growing popularity of sturgeon spearing as a winter tradition in Wisconsin, as well as the entrepreneurial spirit of local businesses looking to cater to this niche market. It also showcases how changes in alcohol laws have enabled creative new business models, like operating a bar on a frozen lake.

The details

Sturgeon Spirits, founded by Karl Lowenstein, was able to open the 'ice bar' thanks to a change in alcohol laws in 2024 that allowed for a second retail license. The bar is set up on two feet of frozen ice and offers seven specialty cocktails, including one featuring a gummy sturgeon. Visitors to the bar have included both sturgeon spearers, like Jordan Kurkowski who has been celebrating the season on the ice for 22 years, as well as those just looking to enjoy the experience, like Alia Swingle.

  • The 'ice bar' opened on February 13, 2026.
  • The bar will be open this weekend (February 14-16, 2026) and next weekend (February 21-23, 2026) from 6 AM to 2 PM.

The players

Sturgeon Spirits

A local business in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that founded and operates the 'ice bar' on Lake Winnebago.

Karl Lowenstein

The founder and president of Sturgeon Spirits, who came up with the idea for the 'ice bar' and was able to open it thanks to changes in alcohol laws.

Alia Swingle

A visitor to the 'ice bar' who caught her first sturgeon and showed it off in a drink.

Jordan Kurkowski

A visitor to the 'ice bar' who has been celebrating the sturgeon spearing season on the ice for 22 years.

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What they’re saying

“It was a little scary at first driving out, but it's been so much fun. Everybody that's been here so far has stopped by, had a couple drinks, talked. I met a few people who are sturgeon spearers, I caught my first sturgeon, yay!”

— Alia Swingle (Instagram)

“It's pretty neat. It's cool that it's a local business and everything. Lot of people have always talked about someone should put a bar and sell drinks out here, they'd probably make a killing. Now someone's doing it.”

— Jordan Kurkowski (Instagram)

What’s next

The 'ice bar' will continue operating on the next two sturgeon spearing weekends, closing up shop on February 22nd.

The takeaway

The opening of the 'ice bar' on Lake Winnebago demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit of local businesses in Wisconsin, as well as the growing popularity of sturgeon spearing as a winter tradition. It also highlights how changes in alcohol laws can enable creative new business models that cater to niche markets.