In Episode 19 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel McVay sits down with BJ Hunt, co-founder of Walnut River Brewing Company, to unpack what it really takes to build a craft brewery from the ground up and sustain it for over a decade. BJ's journey is anything but conventional-from getting kicked out of Wichita State his freshman year for skipping algebra to working full-time while completing his degree at Butler Community College with honors, to walking away from an 18-year family daycare business to bet on himself in an industry he didn't know. The turning point came when a friend introduced him to Rick, a brewing expert with credentials from brewing school and BJCP certification. Instead of pursuing Rick's full-service restaurant vision, BJ insisted on proving the concept first with a modest two-barrel system in the back of an El Dorado flea market. Six weeks later, they doubled capacity. Six weeks after that, they doubled again. Today, Walnut River operates a 30-barrel system and has distributed over 10,000 growlers across Kansas. BJ reveals the non-negotiable decisions that kept the brewery authentic, the power of having complementary business partners, and why water quality in El Dorado made all the difference.
BJ Hunt's path to founding Walnut River Brewery wasn't mapped out in a business school textbook. Growing up on Wichita's South Side with both parents working, he had too much unsupervised time and not enough direction. When he enrolled at Wichita State to study business, he discovered that algebra and beer sales were both on offer-and he chose the latter. One failed semester landed him on academic probation before he was asked to leave.
That humbling moment changed everything. Instead of wallowing, BJ pivoted. He drove 19 hours to return home, enrolled at Butler Community College while working 40 hours a week, made the Dean's List, and graduated with honors. Wichita State welcomed him back. After graduating, he spent 18 years running his family's daycare business, learning hospitality and how to lead a team of 35. But at some point, ambition called again. He told his parents he loved them-and had to do his own thing.
Enter Jeremy Johnson from Johnson's Garden Center, whom BJ met in grad school. Jeremy introduced him to Rick, a brewing expert in El Dorado who'd attended brewing school and was a BJCP beer judge. When BJ tasted Rick's beer, he knew it was good. The conversation that followed wasn't about opening a restaurant (Rick's initial vision) but about proving a concept with minimal risk. They started with a two-barrel system in the back of an El Dorado flea market-the kind of scrappy beginning that feels like a backdoor deal.
Within six weeks, demand forced them to order a seven-barrel fermenter. Six weeks later, another one. The strategy wasn't complicated: focus on quality, avoid the restaurant model (which has a notoriously high failure rate), and let distribution drive growth. Rick had already chosen El Dorado based on 35 water quality reports. The limestone, pH levels, and pasture drainage made it the ideal location for brewing-something that won't change, despite periodic rumors they're moving to Wichita.
Over 13 years, BJ's best decision has been staying authentic. "Not to sell out," he says, "and what I mean is not your morals." He's built something that reflects values: a place where people actually want to work, where the three partners complement each other's weaknesses, and where legacy matters more than a quick exit. Each of the three founders brings different skills-BJ's gift for talking to people, Rick's scientific brewing precision, and Travis's quiet voice of reason-and none of them can easily leave. An investor once asked if any of them could walk away. "No," they said. "Perfect," the investor replied. "I'm in."
What does it take to build a successful brewery from scratch in Kansas?
According to BJ Hunt, co-founder of Walnut River Brewery, success requires community focus, craft quality, and strategic growth planning. BJ's journey from South Side Wichita to founding a brewery shows that passion for your product, learning from early mistakes (like his college years), and building strong local relationships are essential. The brewery model thrives on local loyalty and word-of-mouth, making community engagement the foundation of growth.
How can breweries and craft beverage businesses use digital marketing to grow?
Breweries benefit from local SEO, Google Ads targeting local customers, and social media management to drive foot traffic and build brand awareness. Most brewery customers search locally for 'craft breweries near me' or 'breweries in Wichita,' making local SEO critical. Google Ads can target people actively searching for brewery events, taproom hours, and craft beer, while social media showcases new releases and community events that keep customers engaged.
How does KillerGrowth help breweries and hospitality businesses get more customers?
KillerGrowth specializes in local SEO to get breweries ranking for location-based searches, Google Ads campaigns to drive foot traffic, website design optimized for reservations and event bookings, and social media management to keep followers engaged with new beers and events. We also implement GoHighLevel CRM to track customer relationships and automate email campaigns for repeat visits and loyalty programs-critical for hospitality businesses.
What makes KillerGrowth different from other Wichita digital marketing agencies?
KillerGrowth focuses exclusively on local service and hospitality businesses, not one-size-fits-all clients. We combine local SEO expertise with paid ads (Google & Meta), custom website design, and CRM automation-not separate vendors. Samuel McVay leads strategy calls personally to understand your business goals, like a brewery's need for event promotion and local community building. We measure success by real foot traffic and customer acquisition, not vanity metrics.
How do I get started working with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call with Samuel McVay at killergrowth.com/booking. We'll discuss your current marketing challenges, local competition, and growth goals. For breweries, we'll review your local SEO standing, Google Ads opportunities, and social media strategy to create a custom plan that drives real revenue.