Hi-Wire Brewing

What Hi-Wire Brewing does

Hi-Wire Brewing is a craft brewery founded in 2013 in Asheville, North Carolina by Chris Frosaker and Adam Charnack, legally operating as The Three Ring Brewing Co. LLC. The company produces an approachable, balanced portfolio of lagers, IPAs, ales, and specialty sour/wild beers from a 30 BBL 4-vessel steam-jacketed brewhouse with 90 BBL fermenters, a Wild Goose 10-head packaging line, centrifuge filtration, and carbonation up to 2.85 volumes — including contract brewing capacity for external brand partners. Its core product set includes flagship beers (Hi-Wire Lager, Leisure Time Lager, Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, Bed of Nails Brown Ale, Mango Lazerade, Mountain Water), seasonal releases (Pink Lemonade Session Sour, Zirkusfest Oktoberfest, Elated Winter IPA), and a specialty Sour & Wild Ale Program plus Single Barrel Series produced at the South Slope Specialty Brewery.

The company operates a multi-format on-premise and distribution business. Six to seven active taprooms span Asheville (Biltmore Village production brewery, RAD Beer Garden, South Slope specialty brewery with The Tiki Easy Bar), Charlotte NC (with Noble Cider & Mead Bar partnership), Durham NC (Golden Belt 8,844 sq ft 'Fun Zone'), Knoxville TN (10,187 sq ft with rooftop), and Wilmington NC. Wholesale distribution reaches grocery stores, restaurants, and bottle shops across NC, SC, TN, OH, KY, GA, AL, and VA through third-party distributors, including Dauntless Distributing in Kentucky. A direct-to-consumer online shop ships to 42 states at a flat rate of $25 per 20 cans via the Bevana platform. Event venue rentals (The Event Space and The Greenhouse in Asheville, plus Charlotte patio buyouts and Tiki Easy Bar private room) generate additional revenue from corporate clients, weddings, and private gatherings. Birmingham AL, Nashville TN, and Louisville KY taprooms have closed, and the Cincinnati taproom transitioned to Braxton Brewing Co. in June 2025 following Hurricane Helene's destruction of the Asheville headquarters and distribution warehouse in September 2024.

Name

Hi-Wire Brewing

Legal name

The Three Ring Brewing Co. LLC

Website

https://hiwirebrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hi-Wire Brewing is an Asheville, NC craft brewery producing approachable lagers, IPAs, and specialty sour ales, sold across taprooms in NC and TN, wholesale distribution in 9 Southeastern states, and direct-to-consumer shipping to 42 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Taproom operations
• Contract brewing services
• Wholesale beer distribution
• Event venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Asheville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. On-site Taproom Sales: Direct beer sales at taprooms across 6 locations in Asheville (3 venues), Charlotte, Durham, Knoxville, and Wilmington NC/TN, including specialty and seasonal drafts not available elsewhere.
2. Retail Distribution: Sale of packaged beer (6-packs of 16oz cans, draft) through grocery stores, restaurants, bottle shops across NC, SC, TN, OH, KY, GA, AL, and VA.
3. Contract Brewing: Brewing capacity and services offered to external partners for a fee, including pay-per-fill (PPF) arrangements and use of customer's own kegs. Extended warehousing and logistics management available for additional fee.
4. Event Space Rental: Rental of taproom spaces, private rooms, and event venues for corporate events, weddings, celebrations, and private gatherings at various price points.
5. Online Beer Shop: Direct-to-consumer beer sales shipped to customers in 42 states for a flat-rate shipping fee of $25 per 20 cans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hi-Wire Brewing is a craft brewery that produces approachable and balanced beers, including flagship lagers and IPAs, seasonal releases, and a specialty sour/wild ale program. The company operates six company-owned taprooms across North Carolina and Tennessee, distributes packaged beer through wholesale partners across nine states, ships direct-to-consumer to 42 states via an online shop, and provides contract brewing services to other brands using its 30 BBL Asheville production facility. Hi-Wire also rents event spaces for corporate events, weddings, and private gatherings.

Product overview

Hi-Wire Brewing is a craft brewery based in Asheville, NC, producing approachable and balanced beers. The company's product portfolio centers on flagship beers (Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, Hazy Pitch, Double Hi-Pitch IPA, Cooler Nights IPA, Hi-Wire Lager, Leisure Time Lager, Mango Lazerade, Mountain Water, Bed of Nails Brown Ale), seasonal releases (Pink Lemonade, Zirkusfest, Elated), and specialty sour/wild ales. The company operates multiple taproom locations across Asheville (Biltmore Village, RAD Beer Garden, South Slope), Charlotte, Durham, Knoxville, and Wilmington. Event venues include The Event Space and The Greenhouse. Food service includes Noble Cider & Mead Bar partnership and Gleezy Hotdogs. Contract brewing services are offered with full-scale production capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Tiki Easy Bar: Island-inspired cocktail bar located at South Slope location featuring North Carolina's largest selection of historic and rare rums.
• Noble Cider & Mead Bar

Products and services

• Flagship Beers

Quantifiable outcome

• Hi-Wire Lager won silver at 2025 World Beer Cup in International-Style Pilsener category (out of 80 entries)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Noble CidercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte partnered with Noble Cider (Asheville-based acclaimed cidery) to open a dedicated Noble Cider & Mead Bar inside Hi-Wire's Charlotte taproom. The second back bar will feature Noble branding and pour a rotating selection of award-winning ciders and meads made in Asheville from WNC-grown apples. Partnership brings 100% gluten-free options to the space, expanding the taproom's lineup of beer, cocktails, non-alcoholic, and THC-infused drinks. Noble Cider also co-owns Lewis Creek Orchard in Henderson County and Blue Ridge Pure juicing company.
• Braxton Brewing Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Following Hurricane Helene impact, Hi-Wire Brewing transitioned their Cincinnati space (Factory 52, Norwood, OH) to Braxton Brewing Co. Beginning June 2, Braxton officially took over the taproom space. Hi-Wire beers continue to be available on tap at Braxton's new space, and many of Hi-Wire's Cincinnati bartenders are staying on. Hi-Wire retains distribution presence in the Cincinnati area.
• Dauntless DistributingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2019Dauntless Distributing is Hi-Wire's distribution partner for the entire state of Kentucky, handling wholesale distribution of Hi-Wire beer across Louisville and Lexington. Dauntless is excited about Hi-Wire's balanced portfolio of ales and lagers and sour/barrel-aged offerings.
• Highland Brewing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Collaboration between Hi-Wire Brewing and Highland Brewing Company to create Plum Nectar, a dry-hopped Berliner Weisse with plums. Joint brewing at Hi-Wire's Big Top location. Proceeds from draft sales donated to Pink Boots Society (women in beer industry nonprofit).
• Ace & EagleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial sports club featuring pickleball courts, golf simulators, and billiards located at the RAD Beer Garden in Asheville, enhancing the taproom experience with recreational activities.
• The Flying BikeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerE-bike tour operator offering tours from the RAD Beer Garden location in Asheville's River Arts District.
• Truist BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTruist Bank is a Growler Level sponsor of the Stout Bout beer competition festival hosted by Hi-Wire Brewing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. One of the largest US craft breweries, producing a wide portfolio of beers and operating taprooms nationally. Comparable to Hi-Wire as a craft beer producer with retail taprooms and multi-state distribution, though at significantly larger scale.
• New Belgium Brewing: Major US craft brewery (Fat Tire) with national distribution and taproom operations. Comparable as a craft beer manufacturer with multi-channel distribution and direct-to-consumer capabilities, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Oskar Blues Brewery: Mid-sized craft brewery with similar portfolio of IPAs, lagers, and specialty beers, plus multi-state distribution and taproom operations. Directly comparable to Hi-Wire in size, product mix, and growth-stage positioning.
• SweetWater Brewing Company: Southeast-based craft brewery with taprooms, multi-state distribution, and a balanced portfolio of IPAs and lagers. Comparable to Hi-Wire in scale, regional distribution footprint, and direct-to-consumer sales approach.
• Founders Brewing Co. Mid-to-large craft brewery with extensive taproom experience, multi-state distribution, and strong IPA portfolio. Comparable to Hi-Wire in product mix and direct-to-consumer taproom strategy, though at larger scale.

Regional players

• Highland Brewing Company: Asheville, NC-based craft brewery with similar Southeast distribution footprint and taproom exposure. Directly comparable geographically and has actually collaborated with Hi-Wire on the Plum Nectar Berliner Weisse.
• Wicked Weed Brewing: Asheville-based craft brewery with strong sour/wild ale and IPA portfolio and taproom operations. Comparable to Hi-Wire's South Slope specialty sour program and parallel Asheville craft beer community positioning.
• Terrapin Beer Co. Athens, GA-based craft brewery with similar Southeast regional distribution and taproom model. Comparable to Hi-Wire in geographic positioning and product focus on hop-forward IPAs and balanced lagers.
• Asheville Brewing Company: Local Asheville competitor with multiple taprooms, movie theaters, and event spaces. Directly comparable to Hi-Wire's local Asheville taproom and event venue business model.

Others

• Bold Rock Hard Cider: Southeast-based beverage producer with taproom operations and event venue focus. Comparable to Hi-Wire's location-based retail and event strategy, though in cider rather than beer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hiwirebrewing
• Instagraminstagram.com/hiwirebrewing
• TikToktiktok.com/@hiwirebrewing
• Xx.com/HiWireBrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hi-wire-brewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hi-Wire Brewing