Walnut River Brewing Company

What Walnut River Brewing Company does

Walnut River Brewing Company (WRBC) is a privately held craft brewery headquartered in El Dorado, Kansas, that has produced craft beer since July 2013 from a renovated 1917-1920 building at 111 W. Locust Ave. The company's core product is a portfolio of five flagship beers — Warbeard Irish Red, HighBeam IPA, Teter Rock Kölsch, Have More Fun Blonde, and Dia de las Cervezas Mexican Lager — supplemented by roughly 15 additional seasonal and limited-release SKUs annually spanning sours, stouts, lagers, and IPAs, plus a formal product line shared with alliance partner Wichita Brewing Company.

The company generates revenue through three channels: direct-to-consumer beer and merchandise sales at its 12-tap El Dorado taproom and online store; statewide Kansas retail distribution via four distributors (House of Schwan, Flint Hills Distributing, City Beverage, and Kansas Craft Alliance) selling packaged 6-packs, 12-packs, 4-packs, growlers, and crowlers; and draft placement at partner venues The PourHouse and The Depot (Ziggy's Pizza partnership, launched 2024) in Wichita. Branded merchandise (apparel $17-$40, headwear, gift cards) provides a secondary revenue stream.

WRBC operates as an LLC with approximately 8 known team members across brewing, marketing, delivery, and operations. Ownership sits with founders Rick Goehring (Head Brewer, American Brewers Guild-trained), B.J. Hunt (Business Operations, Executive MBA; Wichita Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree), and Travis Rohrberg (microbiologist, QC/Packaging/Logistics), supported by additional brewers including Ned Vahsholtz (former head brewer at Wichita Brewing Company with GABF/World Beer Cup credentials). Distribution is single-state (Kansas) and the company does not disclose revenue; no institutional funding rounds have been recorded.

Name

Walnut River Brewing Company

Legal name

Walnut River Brewing Company LLC

Website

https://walnutriverbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Walnut River Brewing Company is a private craft brewery founded in 2013 in El Dorado, Kansas, producing flagship and seasonal beers, operating a 12-tap taproom, and distributing statewide through four Kansas distributors and Wichita restaurant partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Craft brewing
• Craft beer production
• Taproom operations
• Beverage distribution
• Brewery merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

El Dorado Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales (Packaged): Sale of packaged beer including 6-packs, 12-packs, 4-packs, growlers, and crowlers through retail stores across Kansas via distributor partnerships.
2. Taproom Sales: Direct beer sales at the El Dorado taproom with 12 taps. Includes draft beer, growlers, and crowlers for on-site consumption and takeout.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, trucker caps, and accessories. Products include Warbeard branded items and general WRBC apparel.
4. The Depot (Food & Beer): Partnership with Ziggy's Pizza in Wichita for food service combined with Walnut River beers at The Depot restaurant location.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Walnut River Brewing Company manufactures craft beer in El Dorado, Kansas, operating a 12-tap taproom at 111 W. Locust Ave. and distributing packaged beer statewide through Kansas Craft Alliance, House of Schwan, Flint Hills Distributing, and City Beverage. The portfolio centers on five flagship beers (Warbeard Irish Red, HighBeam IPA, Teter Rock Kölsch, Have More Fun Blonde, Dia de las Cervezas) supplemented by seasonal and limited-release styles, a co-branded lineup with Wichita Brewing Company, and branded apparel and gift cards sold online and at the taproom.

Product overview

Walnut River Brewing Company is a craft brewery based in El Dorado, Kansas, operating since July 2013. The company offers a portfolio of beer products centered around five core flagship beers (Warbeard Irish Red, HighBeam IPA, Teter Rock Kölsch, Have More Fun Blonde, and Dia de las Cervezas Mexican Lager), supplemented by seasonal releases throughout the year and a partnership with Wichita Brewing Company (WBC) offering additional beer styles. The brewery operates a taproom at its El Dorado location with 12 taps, partners with restaurants (The PourHouse and The Depot with Ziggy's Pizza) in Wichita, and provides statewide Kansas distribution. The company also sells branded merchandise including apparel and hats, gift cards, and a beer finder service. Founded by Rick Goehring (Head Brewer), B.J. Hunt (Business Operations), and later joined by Travis Rohrberg (Quality Control, Packaging and Logistics) and Ned Vahsholtz (brewer), the company employs approximately 8 team members across brewing, marketing, delivery, and operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Warbeard: Flagship beer brand named after a Viking warrior legend. Includes Warbeard Irish Red Ale, Warbeard Unisex t-shirt, Warbeard Trucker Cap, Warbeard Unisex premium mid-weight hoodie, and related merchandise.

Products and services

• Warbeard Irish Red Ale Flagship Irish Red Ale with caramel and toffee sweetness and a smooth malt-focused finish, sold on draft, in 6-packs, 12-packs, 4-packs, growlers, and crowlers across Kansas and at the El Dorado taproom.
• HighBeam IPA West Coast-style flagship IPA with classic hop aroma, exceptional malt-forward flavor, floral and citrusy hop character, 7.7% ABV and 55 IBU.
• Teter Rock Kölsch German-style Kölsch ale that is clean, light and refreshing with soft sweetness, delicate hop aroma, 4.7% ABV and 26 IBU.
• Have More Fun Blonde Ale Crushable Blonde Ale with crisp malt groove and hop pop in a retro refreshment style, 4.5% ABV and 12 IBU.
• Dia de las Cervezas Mexican Lager Mexican Lager with crisp golden hue, brewed with premium malts and flaked corn for subtle floral hop notes, 5.2% ABV and 17 IBU.
• Seasonal and Limited Release Beer Portfolio Rotating portfolio of seasonal and limited-release styles including Imperial Irish Red Ales, sours (margarita, piña colada, orange cream, peach cobbler, cranberry orange), dry Irish stout, Märzen, dunkel, winter warmer, cream stouts, pilsners, fruit sours, coffee porters, and Russian Imperial Stout, available on draft and in packaged formats across Kansas.
• Wichita Brewing Company Partnership Beer Line Co-developed beer styles offered through the 'Stronger Together' partnership with Wichita Brewing Company, including Buffalo Sweat Oatmeal Cream Stout, Raspberry Jam Sour Berliner Weisse, 8-Bit American Pale Ale, V-6 IPA, 5:02 Amber, WuShock Wheat, Oztoberfest, Yumkin Pumpkin, Caddy Snack Blonde Ale, WBC Light, Key Lime Pie, and Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat.
• El Dorado Taproom Experience On-site taproom at 111 W. Locust Ave., El Dorado, KS offering 12 rotating taps of Walnut River and WBC partnership beers, growler and crowler fills, a food menu through regular food truck programming, and recurring community events such as trivia nights, food trucks, Lazy Sunday Coloring Club, Stitch & Bitch, Bingo, Chess Knight, and Book Schwap.
• Branded Apparel and Headwear Direct-to-consumer online and taproom merchandise including WRBC and Warbeard branded t-shirts ($17-$31), raglan shirts ($25-$27.50), long-sleeve tees ($27-$29.50), sweatshirts ($34.50-$40), hoodies ($34-$39), trucker caps ($19.50-$25.85), and related accessories.
• Gift Cards Gift cards redeemable at the Walnut River Brewing Company taproom and merchandise store, sold through walnutriverbrewing.com and at the brewery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 taps rotating variety of beers plus packaged distribution
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Ziggy's PizzaflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024In 2024, Walnut River Brewing partnered with Ziggy's Pizza to launch 'The Depot' - a restaurant concept in downtown Wichita offering Ziggy's food with Walnut River brews. The Depot has become a favorite destination for the after-work crowd as well as couples and families.
• Wichita Brewing CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal 'Stronger Together' partnership allowing both breweries to work smarter, share resources, and create new opportunities while remaining completely independent. Both companies continue to operate as separate entities with their own personalities, beers, and visions. The partnership enables collaborative brewing projects and strengthens the Kansas craft beer scene.
• Kansas Craft AllianceflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKansas Craft Alliance handles beer distribution across the state and was instrumental in expanding Walnut River distribution from major markets (Overland Park, Hays, Dodge City) to smaller locations (Colby, Coffeyville, Beloit). This partnership proved to be the turning point for statewide presence.
• House of SchwancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst distributor to show interest in partnering with Walnut River. One of the most significant relationships in company history - trusted and loyal partners who helped the brewery survive early challenges.
• Flint Hills DistributingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecond distributor to carry Walnut River beers, based in Osage City, expanding distribution in the Flint Hills region.
• City BeverageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird distributor to carry Walnut River products, based in Hutchinson, expanding western Kansas distribution.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tallgrass Brewing Company: Manhattan, Kansas craft brewery with statewide distribution and taproom. Highly comparable in regional craft positioning, packaged beer formats, and Kansas-only geographic focus.
• Wichita Brewing Company: Wichita-based craft brewery and Walnut River's formal 'Stronger Together' partner. Comparable in scale, taproom operations, and Kansas distribution footprint, with a similarly broad style portfolio.
• Hopping Gnome Brewing Company: Small Wichita craft brewery with neighborhood taproom focus. Comparable in scale and on-premise-led business model, competing in the same Wichita/Kansas craft segment.
• Free State Brewing Company: Lawrence, Kansas — the oldest legal brewery in Kansas — operating a brewpub with a restaurant alongside craft beer production. Directly comparable on taproom-plus-brewpub model and Kansas craft positioning.
• Central Standard Brewing: Wichita craft brewery with taproom and Kansas distribution. Operates in the same Wichita-area market and competes for similar local craft beer enthusiasts and on-premise accounts.
• Martin City Brewing Company: Kansas City-area craft brewery operating a taproom plus regional distribution. Comparable in craft portfolio breadth, taproom-led strategy, and regional packaged distribution model.
• Cinder Block Brewery: Kansas City-area craft brewery with taproom and distribution. Comparable in scale, beer style diversity, and regional Midwest craft positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Boulevard Brewing Company: Kansas City-based regional craft brewer and one of the largest in the Midwest. Competes for the same Kansas retail and on-premise accounts but at vastly greater scale and broader geographic reach; Ned Vahsholtz (now at Walnut River) previously brewed at Boulevard.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WalnutRiverBrew
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WalnutRiverBrewing
• Facebookfacebook.com/walnutriverbrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/walnut-river-brewing-company-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/walnutriverbrew
• TikToktiktok.com/@walnutriverbrewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Walnut River Brewing Company