Portland Hunt & Alpine Club is OPEN

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The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club, a stylish Old Port craft cocktail bar from Andrew and Briana Volk, is having its Grand Opening tonight. Here's a look inside and five things you need to know about the Scandinavian-influenced bar, which will be open from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., all days of the week.

1. Andrew is a Vermont native and Colby alum. After college "I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up," he says, so he hopped in his car and ended up in that other Portland. He spent eight years tending bar there, including two at Clyde Common, and made quite a name for himself in the craft cocktail community.

2. The bar is open to all, but it also has an exclusive Lodge, open to members only. Membership is capped at 50 and only a few spots remain. The membership fee is $2,500, which gets you a $2,000 bar tab and member benefits through the end of 2014. Members can make reservations, while non-members may not.

3. The leather drink menu covers and the bar aprons were handmade by former Portland chef and restaurateur Erik Desjarlais (Evangeline, Ladle, Bandol) who now operates Weft & Warp Seamster.

4. Brunswick native Ricky Penatzer is the chef. He's no stranger to the Portland restaurant scene, spending five years at Fore Street and more recently working as sous chef at Grace.

5. The food is served on boards made of walnut from a local lumber company. The "Bords" include a smoked seafood sampler and cured meats from Olympic Provisions (other Portland). There are also opened-faced sandwiches served on Danish rye baked by Sorella's Bakehouse (this Portland).

For more, check out this post from Map & Menu bloggers Michael and Meredith. They've already sampled the wares and urge you to do the same.
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{Photos: Tom Minervino]