If you aren’t a beer snob, or you just don’t have much experience picking from a massive assortment, Hi-Wire Brewing is the best place to start. The brewery throws snobbish attitudes to the wind, inviting people from all walks of life and tastes to enjoy craft beer without the arrogance. Beer drinkers can unite under a single roof to partake in this labor of love. If it’s your first time to Hi-Wire, don’t miss out on the tap room, which gives you the opportunity to sample some of the finest original and seasonal brews.
When you head inside Hi-Wire, you’ll notice there aren’t any tables by themselves. Instead, the company want to you to mingle with others as you try one of its pints. This provides an atmosphere conducive to friendly conversation, and you never know who you might meet as you partake in a lager, ale, or sour beer. When the weather’s gorgeous, head out to the bier garden, where you can fraternize to your heart’s content.
While many craft beers limit their production to just a handful of beers, Hi-Wire’s dedication to traditional brewing means that it never stops inventing new flavors for patrons to try. Five flagship beers highlight the selection, while a glut of seasonal ales, seasonal lagers, specialty beers, sour beers, and even single-barrel varieties provide some interesting flavors, and it’s almost frustrating to pick what you want to try first.
Hi-Wire has five flagship brews it has perfected over the years. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular:
Hi-Wire Lager
This eponymous lager undergoes a seven-week brewing process to ensure it has the perfect balance of hops and flavor. Reminiscent of a German-style pilsner, the Hi-Wire lager is the ideal beer for those new to the microbrewery scene. It’s light and crisp with hints of grass and wheat.
Lo-Pitch Juicy IPA
With bright citrus and a hoppy bite, Lo-Pitch Juicy IPA is the pale ale for enthusiasts and non-pale drinkers alike. Made with American hops, it still has the undertones of a traditional IPA, but the orange zest brings out a refreshing flavor that’s perfect for a summer day.
Bed of Nails Brown Ale
Modeled after a traditional English brown ale, Bed of Nails combines toffee, caramel, and nuttiness all in one bottle. Adding a bit of hops to the brewing process also gives this beer a certain sweetness, offsetting the roast characteristics found in many brown ales.
Sour beers have invaded American craft brewing, and while many think of them as a fad, Hi-Wire’s assortment of 12 offerings looks like it’s here to stay. Brewed in small quantities, the sour beers sell out quickly, so if you can get your hands on one, consider yourself lucky.
Apricot Sour Ale
Brewed with apricots, this sour beer doesn’t have some of the face-cringing funk you’ll find in other offerings. Fermented in American oak red wine barrels, it has a balance of sweet and sour that’s worth more than one glass.
Blackberry Sour Ale
The beauty of this brew is that it’s fermented in North Carolina rum barrels, imparting a local flavor that makes it different from anything you’ve ever tried.
With an assortment of delicious beers, a social setting, and a delightful staff, don’t miss out on Hi-Wire Brewing, one of Asheville’s best and brightest microbreweries.
Insider Tip:
If you’re in the mood for a bit of entertainment, check out the soccer “pool table.” Similar to traditional billiards, you kick colored soccer balls into the pockets.