Central Standard Brewing is brewing up success

Brian Hayes, Reporter/Photographer|December 2, 2016

Central Standard Brewing’s inside is packed on a chilly Wednesday evening. CSB offers indoor and outdoor seating, weather permitting.

Ian Crane and Andy Boyd started home brewing beer more than 10 years ago with a kit they bought together.

They never expected to achieve what they have since.

They’re the co-founders of one of Wichita’s top breweries, Central Standard Brewing (CSB).

“What started as me and my good buddy brewing beer together to just kind of pass the time,” Crane said. “Making our own beer turned into brewing more beer and more beer and taking it a bit more seriously.”

After honing their skills, the two decided to showcase their product for friends and family. Crane stayed up all night roasting a 120-pound pig and they had their beers in swing-top bottles alongside other craft beers.

Every year afterward they’d host a party or two to showcase their beers, and the idea of a brewery started gaining momentum.

In 2010, they began creating a business plan. Their original concept developed into what the brewery is today. They initially envisioned a restaurant/brewery with a chef.

The concept changed and in 2012 they started looking for a building for their boozy endeavor. By December 2013, they had bought the building at 156 S. Greenwood St. in Wichita.

That wasn’t the end of their struggle. They faced zoning issues that conflicted with the park across the street. They had to get approval from the Wichita City Council. Crane said the outpouring of support from local businesses and craft beer enthusiasts is what persuaded the council’s vote and allowed them to open their brewery on South Greenwood Street.

“It wasn’t easy it took a long time, but we finally got it going,” Crane said.

The zoning change delayed opening CSB by six months before it opened in August 2015.

“It’s been a tremendous success from what we thought it would be and then how successful it’s been,” Crane said.

Shortly after their first year in business, CSB won national notoriety at the Great American Beer Fest in Denver.

Their Standard Issue grissette won a silver medal in the Belgian “other” category.

That beer is special for CSB.

“One of the first beers we brewed that had a lot of inspiration,” Crane said.

He passionately recounts the story of the nearly forgotten style of beer that won them a medal.

“It’s an old world Belgian French style. It’s a working man’s beer, a farmhouse ale, low alcohol,” Crane said. “The word ‘grissette’ means ‘grey’ in French. Ladies in white aprons would deliver this beer up and down the coal mines, and as the story goes the dresses would change from white to grey.”

He admits the likelihood of winning their first year entry in the GABF was almost nil.

“We were blown away and thrilled that we were able to come home with something,” Crane said. “We did it for our loyal patrons and Wichita, Kansas, as well.”

Less than two years after opening the doors at the retro-decorated brewery, CSB has put Wichita on the map. No other Kansas breweries won at this year’s GABF.

Crane and Boyd attribute their success to support from their wives, Sumer Crane and Emily Boyd, additionally Nathan Jackal, head brewer at CSB.

“They put up with our home brewing for years,” Crane said with a laugh. “They always stood behind us, believed in us, and (were) there right beside us as we were wanting to get this thing going.”

Central Standard Beers to try:

All beers are available by the glasses or in crowlers (32oz) and growler (64oz) to enjoy at home.