A blueberry wheat became a state legend, but the real story starts in a classroom. We sit with Flyway’s founder, an English teacher turned brewer, to unpack how a garage hobby grew into Arkansas’s bestselling Blue Wing and a new taproom on Walmart’s cutting‑edge campus. It’s a ride through fate, focus, and the Mississipi Flyway that inspired the brand’s identity.

We get into the early batches, the community garden, and the moment a random gas station cooler confirmed the beer had a life of its own. From there, the playbook is all execution: approachable craft over gimmicks, a malt backbone that quiets bitterness, and flavors that feel like memories, think cream soda in a vanilla blonde and a blueberry finish that reads like summer. The conversation widens to real growth mechanics: canning with New Province, a Fayetteville taproom on the trail that turns cyclists into regulars, and a Memphis partnership that keeps quality tight from brewhouse to shelf.

Then comes the email that changed everything, an invite that led to a seat on Walmart’s new campus. We talk precision, timelines, and why relationships move mountains: a former student in real estate, smart collaborators, and a service-first posture that keeps doors open. Food matters too. Detroit‑style pizza, burgers, wings, and a gumbo with Guy Fieri provenance round out a menu built for lunch crowds and late afternoons. Looking ahead, Flyway’s non‑alcoholic line will match the brand’s voice, not hide from it, with likely Blue Wing variants that honor the can on your shelf and the pint in your hand.

If you care about craft beer, Fayetteville food, Bentonville business, or how a local brand scales without losing its soul, this one’s for you. Tap play, share it with a friend who loves Blue Wing, and leave a quick review to help more Arkansas stories take flight.