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The Great Transition: 5 Shocking Changes Happening At Wichita Brewing Company In 2025

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Wichita Brewing Company (WBC), a cornerstone of the Kansas craft beer scene since its founding, is currently undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history, with major changes rolling out throughout late 2024 and into 2025. This transition is redefining how the company brews its popular beers and where Wichitans can enjoy their famous wood-fired pizzas and unique brews. The key takeaway for fans is a shift in focus: out with the old production facility, and in with a massive, state-of-the-art brewpub in a historic district.

As of late 2024 and early 2025, the company has confirmed a new production partnership, a major new location opening in the heart of the city, and a restructuring of its restaurant ownership. These moves signal a strategic pivot, aiming to streamline beer production while dramatically enhancing the customer experience, particularly with the highly anticipated opening of their two-story Delano location.

Wichita Brewing Company: Founders and New Leadership Profile

Wichita Brewing Company’s journey began with two passionate home brewers and is now evolving under a new structure of restaurant veterans and investors, ensuring the brand’s legacy continues with a fresh operational vision. The following profiles outline the key figures driving this transition:

  • Co-Founder & Owner (Brewery): Jeremy Horn
  • Co-Founder (Original): Greg Gifford
  • Founding Year: 2009 (or 2011, depending on the source for the first brew pub)
  • New Restaurant Partner & Director of Operations: Joe Fernandez
  • New Restaurant Partner: Cole Hesse
  • New Restaurant Partner/Investor: Ben Simon and Jake Ramstack
  • Original Concept: Bringing good beer and good pizza to the people of Wichita.
  • Signature Beers: V.6 IPA, Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat Oatmeal Cream Stout, Valleyview Vanilla Porter.
  • Current Focus: Expanding the brewpub experience while outsourcing large-scale beer production.

The Strategic Shift: Production Facility Closure and New Partnership

One of the most impactful and recent decisions affecting WBC is the closure of its 9-year-old dedicated production facility. This move is not a sign of trouble, but rather a strategic consolidation and a shift in how the company manages its brewing operations. Instead of maintaining an expensive, separate production space, WBC has entered a significant partnership with another respected Kansas brewery.

The company has officially partnered with Walnut River Brewing Co., based in El Dorado, to handle the production of its signature packaged beers. This collaboration allows WBC to focus its resources and energy entirely on its successful brewpub locations and the customer experience, while entrusting the consistency and quality of its beloved packaged brands—such as the V.6 IPA, WBC Wheat, and Valleyview Vanilla Porter—to a trusted partner. This model, common in the craft beer world, ensures that fans will still find their favorites on shelves and taps without WBC bearing the overhead of a large-scale, separate production warehouse.

The partnership with Walnut River Brewing Co. is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Kansas craft beer industry, ensuring that WBC's core lineup, which includes fan favorites like the Seal Team 6 and What Winter, remains readily available. This move effectively streamlines the business, allowing the WBC brand to thrive in a more focused, consumer-facing environment.

The Grand Opening of the Delano District Flagship

While the production side of the business is simplifying, the retail and dining experience is expanding dramatically with the highly anticipated opening of the new WBC Delano location. Set to be one of the premier dining and drinking destinations in the city, this new brewpub is located at 901 W. Douglas in the Historic Delano District.

The Delano location is a massive undertaking, featuring a two-story design that pays tribute to the historic buildings of the area. This brewpub is not just a replacement for an older location; it is a significant upgrade to the WBC experience, designed to draw crowds from across Sedgwick County and beyond. The new space is managed by a team of experienced local restaurant veterans, including Director of Operations Joe Fernandez and partners Cole Hesse and Ben Simon, who are working alongside co-founder Jeremy Horn.

Key Features of the New Delano Brewpub

  • Scenic Rooftop Deck: The most talked-about feature is the expansive rooftop patio, offering scenic views of the surrounding Delano District and the downtown Wichita skyline. This space is perfect for enjoying a Tallgrass Pale Ale or a specialty cocktail on a warm Kansas evening.
  • Two-Story Design: The multi-level layout provides ample seating and a variety of atmospheres, from the main dining floor to the upper-level bar and outdoor areas.
  • Signature Menu: The menu will continue to feature WBC's renowned classic wood-fired pizzas, alongside other awesome menu items tailored for the entire family.
  • Outdoor Beer Garden: Future plans for the location include the development of an outdoor beer garden, further establishing it as a year-round social hub.

The opening of the Delano location, with its focus on a premium dining and social experience, aligns perfectly with the company's decision to outsource production. It allows the new leadership team to concentrate on delivering top-tier service and a memorable atmosphere, cementing WBC’s place as a must-visit spot in the revitalized Delano District.

WBC’s Enduring Craft Beer and Culinary Legacy

Despite the operational changes, the core of Wichita Brewing Company's appeal—the combination of expertly crafted beer and delicious food—remains strong. The company continues to host popular events, such as the annual Wicked Brew Tour and the Kansas Lager Fest, which draw thousands of craft beer enthusiasts.

The focus on quality remains paramount. WBC’s brewers, now working in collaboration with Walnut River, are committed to maintaining the high standards set by Horn and Gifford when they began as avid home brewers. The beer menu consistently features a large selection of Wichita craft beer, rotating seasonal brews, and mainstays like the robust Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat Oatmeal Cream Stout. The culinary side, anchored by their distinctive wood-fired pizzas, ensures a perfect pairing for every pint.

For long-time fans and newcomers alike, the new era of Wichita Brewing Company is an exciting one. The strategic moves in 2025—the new ownership structure, the shift to a production partnership, and the opening of the spectacular Delano flagship—are designed to secure the company’s future, ensuring that the WBC brand continues to be synonymous with great craft beer and great food in Kansas for years to come.

The Great Transition: 5 Shocking Changes Happening at Wichita Brewing Company in 2025
wichita brewing company
wichita brewing company

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