A tribute to Jeff McKay

June 18, 2025

It’s likely a once-in-a-generation kind of thing. A twenty-something guy opens a craft beer specialty bar and, lo and behold, it becomes an institution. That’s seriously the story of Jeff McKay and Summit Beer Station.

But now, the clock strikes 12 and McKay’s era as one of the nation’s top beer publicans comes to an end. Today, we look back over the years and talk about the many things he accomplished.

How it began

In his case, it’s a career that didn’t start with an elaborate master plan or one financed with a load of cash. It began very modestly in 2013, in a 450 sq. ft. hole-in the wall at which 10 or 15 customers made a full house. A guy just out of grad school with no retail bar managing experience builds out and opens a bar with 15 taps — initially as a sideline to his day job as a college professor.

Who could have guessed that it would grow and mature into one of America’s great craft beer venues.

*We toast West Virginia’s Jeff McKay and Summit Beer Station*

Listen to Episode 99 of the West Virginia Beer Roads podcast to hear Jeff reminisce on the early days and talk about the others who helped make Summit a success.
Podcast Link

From tiny start-up to awesomeness

After a few years as a tiny start-up, McKay moved Summit Beer Station to the heart of downtown Huntington, WV. Business took off, drawing crowds of older craft beer fans as well as training the next generation of younger craft beer enthusiasts. Later, he added a beautiful outdoor beer garden. Still today, it remains a magical and inspirational place.

As the business caught on, McKay helped it along with a string of annual beer-oriented celebrations and special events. In all of these activities he was helped by assembling a wonderful group of employees whose beer knowledge, dedication, and enthusiasm added greatly to the attraction.

*Former long-term Summit employees Ashley Skeen (left) and Mandee Cunningham celebrate with Bill McKay (Jeff’s papa) during an Oktoberfest event in 2019.*

Expanded knowledge

Through the years, along with developing his bar-business acumen, McKay’s beer knowledge also grew by leaps and bounds. He was always happy to share this knowledge with customers.

His keen interest in Belgian and other European beers helped establish Summit as a high level filling station. You could walk into Summit any day and find incredible beers not sold anywhere else in town—or for that matter, not sold anywhere else in the state.

To quench his thirst for beer knowledge, he began taking annual trips to Belgium where he learned so much. There is no substitute for the knowledge that kind of travel gives you—especially about the culture that engenders the beer it offers.

McKay took that knowledge and injected it into Summit’s taps and cold box selections. He did things never done before in our area. He sought out the more obscure, but still great world-class beers and beer brands unknown to West Virginians. He introduced so many to the great beer styles of Europe, those produced by the best breweries of Europe.

On his taps, he’d mix those great Europeans side-by-side with the best beers he could find from West Virginia brewers.

If you know him, you know how deeply he soaked it all up. He loved offering that passion at no extra cost to his customers. The enthusiasm was infectious.

Sam Fonda, co-founder and head of brewing at Weathered Ground Brewing in Cool Ridge, WV, observed that clearly.

“Jeff set the bar high for quality and attention to detail in West Virginia. I’ve always been most impressed by his strong focus to do what he loves instead of whatever trend might be selling the best. That’s hard to do here.”

Additionally, McKay developed events to help introduce new beer to West Virginia. His special observances became important beer lover save-the-dates.

*Craft beer fans attending one of Summit’s past celebrations.*

Gotta get the best beers

McKay became a strong advocate with his West Virginia beer distributors to broaden their ability to obtain and offer top quality beer brands from small foreign and small regional American brewers. He definitely helped accelerate beer distributors’ ability to secure many obscure and hard-to-get, world-class labels.

Also, along the way, he became a very focused and effective advocate for legislative reforms that have helped our craft beer industry grow. He pushed for legislation that would make West Virginia a better beer market—better for brewers, retailers, and for wholesalers.

He worked closely with the state’s top small and independent brewers and supported those who met his high quality standards.

*McKay seeks out small batch, high-quality beer from WV brewers.*

Ross Williams, brewmaster at Charleston’s Bad Shepherd Beer Co, remarked on McKay’s magic formula.

“Jeff has always embraced quality, while at the same time maintaining an ideal beer list—something for the most discerning enthusiast, and also something timeless that really speaks to most beer drinkers.

“Jeff sets an example in the craft beverage world: informed and interested in his community, passionate about his business and its positive impact, and committed to the quality of everything.”

Jeff’s accomplishments are not his alone, and he’s well aware of the help he received along the way. He’s especially appreciative of Summit’s loyal staff members who have provided great service to its customers through the years. (You can hear him name many of them on this recent WV Beer Roads podcast.)

The big reveal coming

*McKay celebrated his pub’s 10th anniversary in 2023.*

Over the coming year, McKay’s next career move will be made known. All we know now is that he is selling Summit Beer Station to his bar manager, Josh Steffey. We, along with the entire Summit community, wish Steffey well.

Matt Kwasniewski, founder and head brewer at West Virginia’s largest craft brewery, Big Timber Brewing, is one who has observed McKay’s prowess for years and appreciates how Jeff supports WV brewers.

“Jeff is a pioneer of beer in West Virginia,” Matt says. “An outspoken advocate, curator, and fair critic, Jeff’s actions not only brought the world of beer to our corner of the globe, but also pushed for modernization of alcohol laws in West Virginia.

“It shouldn’t be lost on us the effort it takes to source the draft list at Summit, and I always appreciated that he promoted West Virginia beers right beside beers from around the world that define their styles. Cheers to Jeff on his next adventure and to Steffey taking the reins of Summit Beer Station.”

Appreciation for McKay flows

Kwasniewski is not alone in his appreciation for McKay’s interest in West Virginia brewers. Barboursville restaurateur and Köerber Beer Co. owner, Jason Beter, has also been helped by McKay.

“Jeff was a huge help and influence on me,” Beter says. “In the beginning when I was opening Oscar’s Breakfast, Burgers & Brews, Jeff and his staff at the time were critical to my learning.

“Over the years Jeff and I have grown into friends, and I’ve always been a huge supporter of everything that he has done from Summit, Rails & Ales Festival, and beyond. I can say the same for Jeff. He’s always supported any venture that I started and has never hesitated to offer advice or knowledge to help me along the way.

“Though I’m sad to see him go, I’m beyond excited to see his next chapter and through it all, I developed a friendship that I hope lasts a lifetime.”

Influence extends to festivals

As you can see in Beter’s and Kwasniewski’s comments, McKay’s influence extends well beyond Summit Beer Station. A good example is his involvement in the Rails & Ales Craft Beer Festival.

Led by his passion for exposing the market to the best craft beers available, Jeff’s influence as head of beer acquisition for Rails & Ales has been immense. He’s led it to offering the best mix of beers found at any West Virginia beer festival.

*McKay (at left) led the beer procurement for this Rails & Ales Festival in 2023*

Mike Vance, one of that state’s more experimental small-batch brewers, brings his Abolitionist Ales annually to Rails & Ales. He definitely noticed the festival’s impact in its early days.

“Being a part of the beer culture that was being created in WV was beautiful,” says Vance. “From the first few Rails to the crazy double session Rails and everything in between, the beer culture was so great back then.

“The time when it seemed everyone had a bottle or two to share. The hyped, the funk, the anything barrel-aged, and anything in a 750ml beautiful bottle. The excitement every time a bottle opener was broken out. The conversation about the beers that always ended in, ‘Man I wish I could get this in WV.’ To which Jeff replied, ‘Hold my beer’.”

A lasting influence

McKay’s impact on craft beer culture in the state has been huge and lasting—in so many ways. He’s trained a generation of beer drinkers in his region, teaching them about the many exciting options that exist in beer from small and independent brewers. He’s done his best to allow us to experience that beautiful world of beer. And, it’s been a lovely thing.

Jeff’s passion keeps Summit in rarified air. Maybe his most impressive overall accomplishment is establishing and maintaining a world-class beer bar in little Huntington, West Virginia. Those of you who travel for beer, you understand the great value Summit Beer Station provides to its community. We probably haven’t loved on it enough.

To find an international beer menu this good, you’d have to go places like the Holy Grale in Louisville, Monk’s Cafe in Philly, or The Brick Store Pub in Atlanta. Rare company, indeed.

*Summit serves its beers in premium glassware that enhances the aroma, the taste, and the visual experience.*

Sam Fonda’s thoughts on McKay’s impact sum it up well, when he says, “At Summit, Jeff’s been dedicated to both educating consumers and providing the best atmosphere for those that want the best experience. I’m so glad he welcomed us with open arms. He has influenced us and made a big impact on our brewery, and I know his local community will especially miss him.”

Yes, we will miss Jeff McKay, but love that he’s left us in a better place. There’s so much more to the story, but I hope you enjoyed these few career highlights recounted above. One thing is for sure. He’s led us to become a bigger community of better-beer appreciators. He’s raised our bar significantly, and for that, we are forever grateful.

Now, we await Jeff’s next adventure.