USA, KS: Tor Brewing hopes to open in Wichita by early September

Back in 2017, Dan Norton quit his longtime job as head brewer at River City Brewing Company so he could open his own downtown brewery. He and his wife, Becky, have since grown a big following at Nortons, 125 N. St. Francis, The Wichita Eagle reported on May 31.

Now, one of Norton’s brewers — Aaron Hill — is about to do the same thing. And he has the support of his boss.

Hill, who has been brewing beer with Norton since his opening day in 2018, will soon open his own downtown brewery. He’s calling it Tor Brewing, and it will take over the former Hungry Heart/ Sorrel’s spot at 222 S. Commerce, which is near the northeast corner of Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita.

Hill said he hopes to have the brewery open in early September. Tor, he said, is the Olde English word for “hill,” his last name.

The new brewery will focus on beer but will also have a limited menu featuring sandwiches and the like. He may also invite food trucks to set up outside, he said.

He’s purchased River City’s old brewing equipment, Hill said, and he plans to use it to keep 10 of his own beers on tap. He’ll also keep one cocktail and one nonalcoholic cocktail on tap, he said.

Hill said he liked the space on Commerce because it was already set up to house a brewery. When the Hungry Heart owners took over, they added the right drainage and other infrastructure to support brewing systems, and that will save Hill money.

He’ll fill the interior’s 1,300 square feet with seating, he said, and he also plans to add seating on the brewery’s front patio.

Hill met Norton, he said, when he was working as a server at River City. Norton taught him how to brew, and when he decided to leave and open Nortons, Hill asked if he could join him. Hill said he plans to keep working at Nortons until he’s ready to go with his own place. In the meantime, he’s training his replacement.

Norton said he was looking forward to Hill’s brewery and to having “another spot downtown to slide to for a beer and great conversation.

“Aaron has the skills to run a successful business,” Norton said. “I’ve worked with him in a brewhouse for six years now, and he has a work ethic like none other. He’s always learning, always striving in all areas.”

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