The remnants of hurricane Helene hit Asheville, NC breweries hard. I checked a few IG accounts and news sites for info. New Belgium, Hi-Wire, Hillman Beer, and Zillicoah are among those hit pretty hard. Some of the most recent news from the area: https://news.yahoo.com/news/asheville-breweries-devastated-helene-flooding-223628680.html
I'm compiling a list elsewhere of what I see on the ground & through social media but gas is limited, no power to charge & lots of roads are still closed. Lots of places haven't posted since the storm. New Origin, Curses, Hi-Wire RAD, Hi-Wire Biltmore, French Broad, Hillman, Zillicoah were all under water at some point. Stay dry.
If you have been to New Belgium and remember how high above the river they sit. Yea, they got hit also. Many of my favorite breweries may never return, and those that do will take a long time. So many businesses of all types may never be able to recover. Some only have the land they sat on left. Some large employees were devastated, and long term unemployment for many, even if they rebuild.
My heart goes out to Asheville. Our apocalypse here (south central PA) occurred on June 22, 1972, when Hurricane Agnes dropped 22 inches of rain in a 48-hour period. The resulting flooding changed the face of our county forever. But we still had our Interstates open, the power grid stayed on (mostly), and connectivity wasn't an issue because it hadn't been invented yet. By all reports, the Asheville area has sustained incredible losses, and not just in the beer sector. Hang in there. Be safe.
I have seen pics of Wedge Studios, the original, with water probably waist deep. I suspect Wedge Foundation is worse as it is below the railroad tracks, where Studios is slightly above them. Heard from a firefighter that Hillman Old Fort is gone. Suspect much the same for Hillman Asheville. Curses Keme, New Origin, both right on the Swannanoa River, probably had 12+ feet of water. Downtown, South Slope should be OK, as that area is way above the rivers. I've lived in Asheville for almost 80 years, nothing comes close to this. My rain gauge captured 18" of rain in less than 40 hours.
Asheville had 29" of rain over four days because of the storm sitting in the area before the hurricane. Outlining areas got more. Then the wind came. Confirmed that south slope is okay, downtown is okay, West Asheville is fine. Cellarest is serving beer already. I live right above Hillman. Both their places are wrecked. No news from Whaley in Old Fort. Almost everything in Black Mountain was hit hard. In RAD... Wedge, Pleb wine, the Grail movie house, all completely totalled. Doing more recon as we find gas.
My heart goes out to the residents of Asheville and the surrounding communities. Work together. You can pull through and rebuild. XXOO
Thanks for the update. I had seen on IG early on where Cellarest said they could be operational once they get water and electricity restored. I was wondering about Hillman Asheville. My wife and I went there once in the fall of 2022 (ironically, we changed our trip to FL to Asheville at the last minute because of a hurricane then). Really enjoyed the food and beer there.
It's getting better, only way it could go, as it couldn't get much worse. At this point we are good, so not out an about today. Scored a generator yesterday, and freezers were still cold enough, that and a camp stove. Wife has been in contact with people that have managed to get grocery shopping done, hectic, but fairly well stocked. Tractor Supply, where I got the generator, looked fully stocked, if anyone needs food for dog, cats, and other livestock. Also had LP. Gas stations are opening, with lines of course, but daughter scored a fillup with only a 20 minute wait. I drive a diesel that gets 40+ MPG and a full tank, so I've got 500 miles in the tank. Water, that is the big one. Huge pipes at the reservoir are gone, at the North Fork resevoir above Black Mountain, they can't even find them. Know that Greensboro water dept has send crews, equipment, and I assume pipes, etc. Don't know if this is behind a paywall, and it only scratches the survace, as I know many more that are destroyed. https://www.citizen-times.com/story...ierra-nevada-asheveille-flooding/75454883007/ French Broad River Brewery, and Hillman destroyed, by a creek (Sweeten Creek), Sweeten Creek brewing are likely destroyed as they are also very close to the creek. Line crews from Canada are here, friend saw a bunch of trucks from Quebec. All city firefighters have been given 6 days off to deal with their own families and homes. Over 200 firefighters from across the state are filling in. Hundreds of LEOs from across that state here to supplement. One grandson is a Deputy, so he is the middle of it. He is also a part time firefighter/EMT for a second dose. Another grandson is a Firefighter/Paramedic, swift water technician, and he has finially got a day off. Death count in Buncome county at 57 yesterday. Both grandsons have been into the hardest hit areas that can be gotten to, and say the total will easily be tripple digets. Some areas are still only accessable by helicopter.
Sweeten Creek somehow avoided the water. They posted on Facebook. From the article: White Labs is fine. Pisgah is fine. Sierra Nevada had bad flooding at their highway entrances & couldn't even get close. I know they have those rain gatherers built under the parking lot. Their farm is constantly flooding. Assuming the brewery itself is good but can't confirm. My neighbor works for new Belgium & they're pretty solid, mostly focused on helping others. Lots of free warm beer to help morale. I have a growing list on the other site based on drivebys, calls & social media.
Wow. So sorry you are having to deal with that. The water thing is so important. Scary how much we take that for granted.
Glad to hear Sweeten Creek is OK, perhaps the flooding at French Broad and Hillman was due to backup from the Swannanoa River, not the amount of water in the creek. Contributing to the Swannanoa River flooding was the emergency release of water from the North Fork reservoir. Same situation in 2004 when Ivan came through here.
Asheville breweries wiped out by Hurricane Helene, layoffs, delays Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, causing widespread damage. Local breweries, crucial to the economy, face significant losses and uncertain recovery timelines. Businesses and distributors are struggling to keep staff employed and rebuild one of NC's top industries. https://apple.news/AUN--bReLTCu-R60RLrsBTA
NC Brewery Pisgah Brewing providing water to flood victims. Thumbs up Pisgah. https://www.americancraftbeer.com/b...ims-non-alcoholic-beer-on-the-rise-in-ireland
When we were at Diatribe Brewing yesterday, they had stacks of 16oz cans of water from NoDa brewing, a Charlotte brewery.
To the best I can determine here is the status of Asheville breweries. Keep in mind, virtually are closed due to no power, and no water, so an OK can mean anything from no damage, to minor cleaning/repair 7 Clans - OK Archetype - OK Black Mountain Brewing - OK Curses Keme - heavy damage if not destroyed Burial Forestry Camp - OK Cellerest - OK, even heard they were open Diatribe - OK, open French Broad River Brewing - at least 6+' of water in brew house Hi-wire - Biltmore Village - OK Hi-wire - River arts district - hit hard, Highland Brewing - OK Hillman, Asheville - deep flooding, structure unknown Hillman, Old Fort - destroyed Lookout, Black Mountain - OK New Belgium - brew house flooding, tasting room OK New Origin - completely destroyed Outsider Brewing - OK Pisgah Brewing - OK River Arts District brewing - rumor they were hit very hard Salt Face Mule - OK Sweeten Creek - OK Terra Nova, Swannanoa - destroyed Terra Nova, south slope OK Turgua Brewing, Fairview - assuming the worst based on Cane Creek right behind brewery Wedge Foundation - heavy flooding, owner says unsure of future Wedge Studios - flooding, owner says deep cleaning before reopen Whistle Hop brewing, Fairview, OK White Labs - OK Zillicoah Beer Co -destroyed, heavy structural damage I have not listed any south slope, as the area was not damage Other breweries in the area; Frog Level, Waynesville, OK actually open, but outside deck and stage float down the river Dry Falls Brewing, Hendersonville - OK and open Mills River brewing, Mills River - OK Big Pillow, Hot Springs - destroyed Madison County Brewing, Marshal - heavy damage/destroyed? Whaley Farms, Old Fort - heavy damage/destroyed? Chimney Rock Brewing, Chimney Rock, What remains is in Lake Lure, along with much of the town. I will update as I hear more, and any corrections. Seen some horrible pictures, but without internet, and iffy, but improving 4G and 5G and phone as hot spot I don't have the bandwidth, will not be uploading them.
We are supposed to get power at 11PM today, based on Duke's estimate. Saw the first bucket truck go up the street a few minutes ago. Otherwise, we are solid, but wet wipes, which daughter scored for us, help, but the funk is beginning. Power will be great, but we really need water. I have a generator the essential stuff, have rigged up a way to catch rain water, if it happens to rain. Plenty of food, bottled water to consume.
