About
Hi-Wire Brewing’s journey began in the summer of 2013 at their 2,700 square foot South Slope Brewery located at 197 Hilliard Ave in the heart of Asheville’s South Slope Brewery District. With the 2015 opening of their Big Top Production Brewery up the road, the original Hi-Wire brewhouse is 100% dedicated to brewing award-winning sour and wild ales and one-off small batch beers.
Brewing beers with a connection to the past is important to us. We love to brew traditional styles that honor the heritage of our craft and pay respect to those who have crafted beer before us. Yet, as an American craft brewer, we are elated to participate in the culture of experimentation that has developed here.
Brewing beers with a connection to the past is important to us. We love to brew traditional styles that honor the heritage of our craft and pay respect to those who have crafted beer before us. Yet, as an American craft brewer, we are elated to participate in the culture of experimentation that has developed here.
7/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Bongwater-adjacent IPA, with a huge dank nose and lingering cannabis notes throughout. Some grapefruit and guava and a touch of pine on the back end, but this thing’s primarily about tasting like sticky, resinous weed, so in that sense it’s a smashing success. Too bad it’s not a profile I particularly enjoy.
Tried
from Can
on 15 Jul 2026
at 00:18
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
a: dark brown coloured body | very thin tan head
a: bananas (duh!) | rubbing alcohol | oatmeal
f: brewed coffee | roasted oats | nutty finish
t: coconuts | large bitterness | strong creamy finish
o: lactose throughout | deep malts | true-to-name (and still strong after 5+ years!)
16 ounce can | Total Wine: Raleigh (Cary), North Carolina (Crossroads Boulevard) | 30-May-2021 | US$4,49 | canned: 07-May-2021 | sampled: a bit longer than five years after purchase on 10-July-2026
a: bananas (duh!) | rubbing alcohol | oatmeal
f: brewed coffee | roasted oats | nutty finish
t: coconuts | large bitterness | strong creamy finish
o: lactose throughout | deep malts | true-to-name (and still strong after 5+ years!)
16 ounce can | Total Wine: Raleigh (Cary), North Carolina (Crossroads Boulevard) | 30-May-2021 | US$4,49 | canned: 07-May-2021 | sampled: a bit longer than five years after purchase on 10-July-2026
Tried
from Can
from
Total Wine & More - Raleigh (Triangle Plaza), NC
on 10 Jul 2026
at 18:02
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
6 week old pint can
A: Only slightly hazy medium gold with a tall pillow of lasting off white foam.
S: Juicy aroma heavy on grapefruit with lemon, peach and wafer cookies.
T: Bitter pithy grapefruit upfront. A bit of pine and sugary tropical fruits follow. Peach is very subtle then there's a pronounced woody note.
M: Medium light feel with abundant soft carbonation and a powdery finsh.
O: Nicely balanced and tasty overall but just a bit heavy on sweetness.
A: Only slightly hazy medium gold with a tall pillow of lasting off white foam.
S: Juicy aroma heavy on grapefruit with lemon, peach and wafer cookies.
T: Bitter pithy grapefruit upfront. A bit of pine and sugary tropical fruits follow. Peach is very subtle then there's a pronounced woody note.
M: Medium light feel with abundant soft carbonation and a powdery finsh.
O: Nicely balanced and tasty overall but just a bit heavy on sweetness.
Tried
from Can
on 18 Jun 2026
at 21:19
6.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Dark color with ginger aroma. Flavor is ginger, lime and a mild toasty beer taste. Slightly dry finish, lingering ginger.
Tried
from Draft
on 30 May 2026
at 22:28
6.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Tried
from Can
on 06 May 2026
at 17:33
6.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
6/5/2026. Can shared by SHIG, cheers! Pours nicely. Very malty. Sweet, vanilla, touch cardboard. Boozy sweet finish. Quite likeable.
Tried
from Can
on 06 May 2026
at 17:29
8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 9
Overall 8
a: dark brown body | thin oily light brown head
a: lactose | roasted grain | caramelised sugars
f: creamy | toffee | chocolate
t: viscous | vanilla | bitter coffee end
o: flavourful | sweet but not cloying or pungent | aged well - if you have one...drink it now (or it might get even better?!?)
16 ounce can | ABC Fine Wine & Spirits: Orlando (Store #004), Florida | 01-January-2021 | US$5,99 | canned: 21-October-2020 | sampled: 02-May-2026
a: lactose | roasted grain | caramelised sugars
f: creamy | toffee | chocolate
t: viscous | vanilla | bitter coffee end
o: flavourful | sweet but not cloying or pungent | aged well - if you have one...drink it now (or it might get even better?!?)
16 ounce can | ABC Fine Wine & Spirits: Orlando (Store #004), Florida | 01-January-2021 | US$5,99 | canned: 21-October-2020 | sampled: 02-May-2026
Tried
from Can
from
ABC Fine Wine & Spirits - Lake Buena Vista
on 02 May 2026
at 17:43
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Sampled from the tap at Sergio’s. Pours a clear light golf with a white head that lasts throughout the beer and laces. Aroma has notes of flora and herbs with some citrus underlying. Flavor has light citrus and a growing herbal note and a bit of sweet grain backing.
Tried
from Draft
at
Sergio's World Beers
on 18 Apr 2026
at 21:17
7.6/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Can at the Chapel Hill tasting: Poured an ecto cooler green with white fast dissipating head. Aroma is juicy fruits, watermelon. Taste is tart candy, fruity, soft finish.
Tried
from Can
on 15 Apr 2026
at 13:34
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 6
Can: Poured a golden with white head. Aroma is sweet, grainy. Taste is very boosty, grainy, alcohol, grassy. Craft malt likka!
Tried
from Can
on 13 Apr 2026
at 00:29