King Coil Distillery and Lake Monster Brewing

Cuningham began working with Lake Monster Brewing as the craft brew craze in the Twin Cities rose in popularity. Cuningham (along with architect R.J. Marco of Little Canada, Minnesota) assisted Saint Paul-based Lake Monster with its new taproom that opened in 2015. Design choices maintained the vintage feel of the warehouse setting, and the space was programmed to include a 3,000-square-foot taproom with 12 taps, an outdoor patio, a private event space for up to 100, a large parking lot to accommodate daily food truck visits, and an iconic water tower that highlights the brewery from the nearby highway. The company’s new brew works helped the business more than double its annual production capacity.

Following the success with craft brewing, Lake Monster turned its attention to the craft cocktails and distilling. Cuningham once again teamed with the client to convert a neighboring building into a new craft distillery, cocktail room and pizza restaurant. Located across the courtyard from its sister brewery, the distillery has the capacity for 5,000 proof gallons per year.