TV star Kelsey Grammer will spend four days hanging out in Wichita, sharing his beer
If you’ve ever wanted to live out your “Cheers” fantasies by having a beer with Frasier Crane, you’re about to get your chance.
And you won’t even have to leave Wichita.
Kelsey Grammer — the actor who portrayed Frasier Crane on “Cheers” on NBC from 1982 to 1993 and on the spin-off show “Frasier” from 1993 to 2004 and then its current revival — will be in Wichita for several days starting at the end of the month and will be serving beer at local bars and meeting fans at local liquor stores.
He’ll be here to help promote a new partnership he’s made with Wichita Brewing Company, which has two (and soon to be three) breweries in Wichita plus a big production and canning facility at 727 E. Osie.
WBC has made a deal with Grammer, who since 2015 has owned a brewery called Faith American Brewing Company in the Catskills of New York state. Grammer has been wanting to expand his distribution to other parts of the country, said WBC co-owner Jeremy Horn.
Back in April, Grammer was in Wichita performing as part of Wichita Grand Opera’s production of “Candide.” While Grammer was here, he was spotted all over town.
And he also was introduced to WBC owners by Fred Gorges, a Wichita native who works at O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. in Minneapolis, Horn said.
One day during his visit, Grammer showed up at WBC’s east-side restaurant with three six packs of his brewery’s beer.
“Kelsey brought samples of his beer, and we really liked the beer, and he seemed to really like us,” Horn said.
Negotiations started, and for most of last year, WBC and Grammer’s brewery were cementing a deal that would make WBC a contract brewer for Faith American.
WBC has already brewed the first batch of Faith American Blue Hazy — a hazy IPA made with blueberries, Horn said.
Starting soon, Wichitans will be able to find it canned in local liquor stores or on tap in local bars and restaurants.
Grammer himself will be in town between Wednesday, Jan. 29, and Saturday, Feb. 1., helping to promote the arrival of his beer in Wichita. During that time, he’ll make 10 different stops at local bars and liquor stores that will be carrying Blue Hazy brewed by WBC.
At the bar events — scheduled for places like The Monarch, Ziggy’s East and Old Chicago East — Grammer will be behind the bar serving up beers for customers. At the liquor store events, he’ll be mingling and talking beer with fans.
Horn said it’s been hard to keep the new partnership a secret. He’s gotten to know Grammer and says he is a “big thinker.
“He just wants to be one of the guys, and he presents himself that way,” Horn said. “I can’t say enough good things about Kelsey Grammer.”
If all goes well, Horn said, WBC will likely end up brewing at least three different Faith American beers over time, Horn said.
Blue Hazy will be on tap at all local Ziggy’s locations starting the week Grammer is in town. It will also be on tap at local Old Chicago restaurants from Jan. 29 through March 17 as one of six beers on the Old Chicago Mini Tour.
House of Schwan will be distributing the beer.
Here’s a list of places Grammer will be while in town:
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2-5 p.m., Jacob Liquor Exchange, 3049 N. Rock Road, tasting and meet-and-greet
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 6-9 p.m., The Monarch, 579 W. Douglas, guest bartending appearance
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2-5 p.m.m R&J Discount Liquor, 3015 E. Douglas, tasting and meet-and-greet
Thursday, Jan. 30, 6-9 p.m., Ziggy’s, Clifton Square, 3700 E. Douglas, guest bartending appearance
Thursday, Jan. 30, 9-11 p.m., Dempsey’s Burger Pub, 3700 E. Douglas, guest bartending appearance
Friday, Jan. 31, 2-5 p.m., Auburn Spirits, 13303 W. Maple, tasting and meet-and-greet
Friday, Jan. 31, 6-9 p.m., Old Chicago, 7626 E. Kellogg, guest bartending appearance
Saturday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Goebel Liquor - Rob’s World of Beers, 352 S. West St., tasting and meet-and-greet
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2-4 p.m., The Anchor, 1109 E. Douglas, guest bartending appearance
Saturday, Feb. 1, 5-9 p.m., Total Wine & Spirits, 2762 N. Greenwich Ct., tasting and meet-and-greet
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM.
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