NC's best new brewery--Hi-Wire

I would have to put Wicked Weed way past them. Not that Hi-Wire isn't good, I think the answer is obvious though...

 

I've only had Hi-Wire's Strongman Coffee Milk Stout and it was awesome. I had a flight at Wicked Weed and it didn't wow me like I was hoping. Now Burial, on the other hand, has been killin' it with their beers. Lots more investigating to do for me though. Congrats to Hi-Wire.

 

On my brewery tour I hit Hi-Wire...every single beer was just solid. Their Lager is the best Lager I've ever had, and Strongman is unreal! Congrats to those guys! Cheers

 

Wicked Weed technically opened very late 2012, so perhaps they weren't in the running. Regardless, Hi-Wire has been solid in my experience and yes, Stongman was excellent on tap. I look forward to giving Burial another go soon - the first visit I only had two beers, one was very good, one was decent. I look forward to revisiting all three in a week or so.

 

1- Wicked Weed
2- Burial
3- every other Asheville brewery

That said, I'll have to check out Hi-Wire. Seen the bottles, but haven't picked any up except 1 single. Tasted a couple this past weekend at QCBF - they were solid.

Catawba just opened a tasting room in Biltmore Village. They have some good beers (the ones they don't can). And Twin Leaf will open soon on Coxe Ave (another one in that area).

 

I was going to point this out as well.

Regardless of who came out No. 1, NC really had lots of great breweries open last year: Hi-Wire, Burial, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Fonta Flora, Crank Arm, Raleigh Brewing, Trophy, Deep River, Steel String -- and that's just a handful of the bigger names.

 

The sours at Wicked Weed are IMO the best beers being made in NC period.

 

WW > Burial > Hi-Wire, in my humble opinion is the order of the best "new" breweries in Asheville. Sounds like a good reason to revisit Hi-Wire though (and all the Asheville breweries while I'm at it!)

 

I will give Hi-Wire another shot, but the two times I've been in there, I didn't care for the Beer. I am an equal opportunity enthusiast and a glutton, so I will go back to Hi Wire and re sample. But, Congrats to them. My taste go to Wicked Weed, Burial, Pisgah, heck even Highland over Hi Wire and the rest of them. Re tried Green Man last night, sampled 3 of their brews, they fall into the same tier as Hi-Wire for me.

Oh, edit for everyone: Talked to one of the Bartenders over at Twin Leaf, the grand opening date is set for March 7th.

 

To clarify, not that Hi-Wire or French Broad or Green Man are BAD, they're good, just to my taste buds, I prefer some of the others.

 

I don't seek out Highlands stuff, but drink it as a "home town" brew when I'm at our house in WNC for the summers.

However- I'll say that we do enjoy Greenman. Their ESB and Porter usually top our list as solid examples of the style.

 

I like Highland's Brews, they're top tier stuff, but I view Highland Brewing as more of a Volume seller, not as crafty as a Wicked Weed, Hi Wire, etc. The Highland beer, its good, very consistent stuff and their Cold Mountain is one of my top 5 Asheville beers (will go out of my mind finding that stuff when it hits Asheville, drove to Hendersonville to pick up my 2.5 cases). I'm not sure Highland Brewing tries to do some of the things Wicked Weed or Green Man try to do. At least that is my perception, and why I think some folks don't rate it as high.

I will have to try Green Man ESB. I had both their Porter's the other night and I liked them, got a couple of free glasses out of it (pint night at Juicy Lucy's), but I started out at Green Man. The Porter they had at Juicy Lucy was better than the one at Green Man, little smoother more flavorful had a different name as well. There are a few different Porter's or Stout's in town I like more though.

The Sticke Alt was real good as well, little sweeter, I would drink that again.

Thanks for the advice on the ESB, I will give it a shot. I may have had it before and not known it. Funny thing about this forum, as I am new here, it has made me pay more attention to the Beer I drink than even 3 months ago. Makes me quantify my feelings about the beer and brewers, unlike a buddy of mine here in town who likes the "browner stuff".

 

Like Highlands too make some solid regular brews. One I had from High-Wire was good. But Wicked Weed just plain kicks ass. Sours are on par with the stuff Vinnie is making in my opinion.

 

Cheers back at you, had ESB tonight on your recommendation. Excellent brew, thanks for that heads up.

 

Taking a risk to start Asheville's first brewery since prohibition in a basement twenty years ago is pretty damn "crafty" if you ask me.

 

^^^^ exactly. You've gotta start somewhere. Then you've got to fill the demand. Higher demand = higher volume.

 

Hi Wire has done good things, but can I get some love for Steel String in Carrboro? They brewed the best malt forward DIPA on their first try, then its gotten better each subsequent batch. Also, theyve got the best session-style beer in Rubber Room. Their IPA (Big Mon) has improved faster than Olde Hickory, Fullsteam, Bull City, Triangle, LoneRider, Big Boss, et al.

Dont sleep on these guys, seriously.

 

Vincent, big fan of Steel String as well. They don't get much love here but they make excellent and unique beer. Every time I'm in the area (I live in Charlotte), I try to make it there. Good to hear they're improving, too. The best brewers are the ones that keep improving the recipes and consistency of their beer, especially early on.

 

Its a shame that they dont get talked about because theyre not in Asheville. Having had everything Hi-Wire distributes then everything in the same style from Steel String, Steel String kills them IMO.

 

I enjoyed Hi-Wire's Strongman, but the rest of their beers didn't really stand out to me. Not bad, by any means... But I'd definitely say Burial and Fonta Flora are better new breweries that also came out in 2013.

 

Oh yeah, they're doing great things. I'm a big fan of Rubber Room and their black saison!

 

Even better is the No Quarter Coffee Stout, trust me!

 

Unfortunately I didn't get to try that one. Hope it's on next time I'm up that way!

 

Hmm, I attend meetings in Raleigh about every 8 weeks, I suppose a side trip is in order!

 

2X - I've been telling people that same thing about WW sours