I love Bier Station.  I don’t like beer.  But I will support this new local business in Armour Hills by drinking a brew there every so often…and my husband will be a frequent visitor!  When we stopped by on New Year’s Eve to check it out, the bartender poured me a beer sample that I actually liked, after I told him I wasn’t a beer drinker.   Now that’s customer service!

John Couture (left) and beer manager Brad Isch

All of Brookside is welcoming this new bar at 120 E Gregory.  Business has been great, especially on the weekends.  Local owner (and Rockhill Gardens resident) John Couture is very excited about his new beer crib and so thankful for the enthusiastic reception from the neighborhood. It’s not a huge bar, but that works to it’s advantage–just the right size to mingle with those you don’t know, strike up new friendships and talk about the ever-changing beer product. I think eventually it will be like Target–every time you stop in, you see someone you know!

This is a craft beer/tasting bar/bottle shop operation where the big attraction is the rotating inventory.  Sign up for their updates on Twitter and Facebook to stay on top of what’s new and fresh–it changes daily, several times a day.  The bar offers 21 taps, including a ‘wild’ tap that specializes in sours and wild ales.  John has hired people who know the product and you might recognize their faces:  employees  from SRO Video and Waldo Pizza.  Sitting at the bar, you’ll see many style of glasses, each one suited for the individual beer’s character, so it’s served in the correct glass for maximum flavor.  Brad Isch is the full-time beer manager. 

There are a couple of things I really appreciate about Bier Station–and I suppose this comes from my female perspective.  The first is the place isn’t overrun with televisions.  There are two posted on either end of the bar–enough to keep up with the game, not too distracting.   In the upstairs beer garden–no TVs!  Just long picnic tables with a relaxed feeling, perfect for conversation (check out the wall mural–it’s a photo  of the Heim Brewery in Electric Park, in KC’s East Bottoms, circa 1900).  During the warmer months, John will open up the large windows, creating an open air second story patio.  And the second thing I like is the vibe:  John or his staff greets everyone, asks patrons for their opinions, children are welcome before 8pm (yep, he stocks juice boxes!) and it has that true neighborhood small bar feel…almost like a corner pub in England or Chicago.  You’ll find beer drinkers of all ages here–John says he sees customers range in age from  25-65, and all fit in.

Upstairs beer garden with mural

A few other quick notes:  local business Farm to Market supplies the fresh pretzels — they are delicious!  Customers can create their own 4 or 6 pack of beer to go from the huge cooler that takes up a full wall–allow plenty of time to check out the selection before you buy.

Welcome Bier Station, to Brookside!  Another home-grown, local business we look forward to supporting!