ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Asheville’s thriving beer and brewing culture, a major draw for visitors, is currently facing significant challenges due to water system issues in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
The storm caused substantial damage to many riverside locations, leaving local brewers unable to produce their signature craft beers. At Hi-Wire Brewing’s River Arts District (RAD) location, the air is heavy with the scent of stale beer, while the once-bustling storage container beer garden lies in disarray.
This RAD site, crucial to Hi-Wire’s operations, now hosts over 1.5 million empty beer cans that are scattered and awaiting packaging for shipping.
Adam Charnack, Co-Founder and CEO of Hi-Wire, expressed the impact of the storm on their business. “This was really the beating heart of our operation, and it’s just gone,” he lamented. Hi-Wire, which has been a staple in Asheville for over a decade, operates three locations but has not brewed beer for a month due to the lack of potable water.
“We’re in a little bit of a holding pattern until we get that,” Charnack explained. To maintain operations, they have begun brewing with friends at a brewery in Charlotte, ensuring that their taps remain flowing. Additionally, they plan to bring in a tanker of water, not for brewing, but to assist with packaging the beer already in their tanks.
As they navigate this crisis, Hi-Wire is working with their insurance and the Small Business Administration to secure funding for recovery. However, delays in Congress could extend their financial woes. “If it gets pushed back, it could be a whole ‘nother month without funding for us, which would be pretty cataclysmic,” Charnack cautioned.
Despite the uncertainty, Charnack remains committed to the long-term future of Hi-Wire Brewing. “We’re Asheville made, Asheville born, Asheville brewed — we’re not going anywhere,” he asserted, reiterating their dedication to the community. Their motto, “Good Beer and Good Times,” reflects their resilience amid adversity.
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