We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: West Allis rules. The misunderstood and maligned Milwaukee suburb has always had its charms and enjoyable amenities, but the city really seems to be hitting its stride in recent years. Part of the reason for the ongoing ‘Stallis upswing is a great bar on Becher Street that’s quickly become one of the city’s favorite new hangouts.
Since opening in 2019, Station No. 6 (6800 W. Becher St., 414-543-4230) has made a name for itself with its inventive cocktails, an impressive craft beer list, sporadic food pop-ups, an outstanding patio, and legendary meat raffles to raise money for charitable causes. On Saturday, August 17, the bar will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a winning blend of live music, rare beers, specialty cocktails, food, and fun. Station No. 6’s “Five Year Anniversary Party” will run from 11 a.m. through 11 p.m. During that 12-hour span, there will be a lot happening, so—with the help of Station No. 6 Operator and Partner Miles Patzer—we’ve taken the liberty of breaking it into sections for you.
Music
Much of the Five Year Anniversary Party will feature live music from some of the region’s finest folk- and country-tinged acts. Here’s the schedule:
Kid Elephant — 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Dandy L. Freling — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Ladybird — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Exclusive Beers
The beer list at Station No. 6 is always on point, but they’ll be going the extra mile on August 17 by offering a bunch of rare beers, as well as some options that are typically only available at the actual taprooms of the breweries. Some of the anniversary exclusives include:
• Trillium DDH Summer Street IPA
• Surly Mole Darkness Stout
• Half Acre Lodi IPA
• Young Blood Pink Lexus Watermelon Sour
• 3 Sheeps Taco Cerveza
• New Glarus Strawberry Rhubarb
• Hinterland Thai Fried Banana Hefeweiss
• Perspective Hoppollo 11 IPA
And more TBA as the event draws closer!
Special Cocktails
In addition to the “Station Staples” like the Wisconsin Old Fashioneds, Tom Collins, Margaritas, Cold Brew Irish Coffees, and Negronis on the menu, the bar will be serving up some house favorites and reviving recipes they’ve offered in the last five years. Some of the cocktails you can expect include:
• Allis Old Fashioned
• McCarty Park Daiquiri
• Irish Style G&T
• Strawberry Rhubarb Frozen Paloma
Food
Station No. 6 has asked chef Brian Dubowski to put together a special food menu for the occasion, so while the menu isn’t known yet, you can expect the anniversary eats to be more than just the usual festival fare. Outside of Mr. Dubowski’s offerings, Patzer tells us there will be some “fan favorites” from past pop-ups the bar has done over the course of its existence. There will also be selections on-site from Becher Meats and The Bake Sale. Plus, the affiliated Archie’s Flat Top will be slinging smash burgers just down the block.
Parting Thoughts
In honor of the anniversary, we asked Patzer to reflect on the last five years, what they’ve meant to him, and what he hopes Station No. 6 means to West Allis (a place where he grew up and still lives). Here’s what he had to say:
“If there is one thing I think we have helped accomplish, along with many other great businesses in this city, is [showing] that West Allis is no longer deserving of that stigma that it once held. We fought hard through the woes that come with opening a new business, and fought harder when we closed due to the pandemic—trying to remind people that we were just getting started. We owe these awesome five years to the wonderful people that support us every week, the excellent vendors and partners that we do events with, and most of all our amazing staff—many of whom have been with us since the very beginning. Thank you all so much for an outstanding five years, and cheers to many more!”
Hear! Hear! If you want to show your love for Station No. 6 or stop in for the very first time, make your way to the Five Year Anniversary Party on Saturday, August 17.
