Hi-Wire Brewing, one of North Carolina's largest and fastest-growing breweries, announced a partnership with beverage platform Bevana in January 2023 to bring its award-winning craft beers to customers across the country through online ordering. For Hi-Wire, which had begun shipping directly to consumers in 2020 in response to the pandemic, the deal offered a new format and an expanded shipping area—while handing off the logistics burden to a partner built for the job.[1]
"We have seen a tremendous response across the country for our online beer store, but this success translated to growing pains for our staff who handled the shipping of the actual beer," said Chris Frosaker, co-owner of Hi-Wire. "With Bevana handling the e-commerce and shipping side, we now have room to effectively market this part of our business and grow it to its full potential."[1]
What the Partnership Delivers
Through Bevana, Hi-Wire's beers are available on the platform's online shop, where customers can order and have beer shipped directly to their homes or businesses. Bevana delivers to 42 states, significantly expanding Hi-Wire's reach beyond its traditional distribution footprint.[1]
The partnership also placed Hi-Wire products in additional retail locations: the Bevana Newton retail taproom in Newton, North Carolina, and at D9 Brewing Company taprooms in Cornelius, Charlotte, and Hendersonville, N.C. That gives North Carolina beer drinkers more ways to find Hi-Wire without leaving the state.[1]
"Hi-Wire has been one of the truly amazing success stories of craft beer in the last decade," said Aaron MJ Gore, Senior Director of Business Development for Bevana, at the time of the announcement. "To make world-class beer that enthusiasts go nuts for, and to bring that experience to their neighborhoods with some of the coolest taproom experiences you'll find anywhere, that's an incredibly difficult balance to strike. Through the Bevana online store, now they can expand that reach even further, and we're excited to be partnering with them to get great beer in the hands of more people."[1]
Hi-Wire Brewing: From Asheville to the Southeast
Hi-Wire was founded in summer 2013 in Asheville's South Slope Brewery District. The brewery won the most medals at the 2014 NC Brewer's Cup and was named Best New North Carolina Brewery of 2013 by RateBeer.[2][3] Today, Hi-Wire has distribution in nine states and operates nine taprooms across the Southeast, with locations in Asheville (including the original South Slope tasting room and the Biltmore Village Big Top production facility), Durham, and beyond. The brewery has continued expanding, with taprooms opening in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nashville, Tennessee.[1]
Hi-Wire's most popular beers include Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, Mountain Water Citrus Splash Easy-Drinking Ale, and the 10W-40 Imperial Stout series. The brewery is known for approachable ales and lagers—Hi-Wire Lager, Prime Time Pale Ale, Bed of Nails Brown—and a commitment to connecting people with their community through craft beer.[1][3]
Bevana: Connecting Craft Makers With Customers
Bevana is a Newton, North Carolina–based beverage platform that connects artisan beverage makers with customers they would otherwise be unable to reach. The company partners with independent breweries, cideries, and other craft producers to provide e-commerce and, in some cases, full-service distribution. Bevana's mission is to "keep the craft in Craft Beverage" and deliver "local passion, globally."[1][4]
Through Bevana, customers in 42 states can order from a curated selection of craft beverages online for delivery to their door. The platform has partnered with a number of Southeastern breweries, including Green Man Brewery (Asheville), Michael Waltrip Brewing (Bristol, VA), and others, creating a one-stop shop for regional craft beer enthusiasts who live outside traditional distribution areas.[4][5]
Why Direct-to-Consumer Matters for Craft Beer
The pandemic accelerated a shift toward direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales in craft beer. When taprooms closed and draft sales plummeted, many breweries turned to online stores and shipping to stay afloat. Hi-Wire launched its own DTC program in 2020. The response was strong—but managing fulfillment, compliance, and logistics in-house proved demanding for brewery staff already focused on brewing, taproom operations, and expansion.[1]
Partnering with Bevana allowed Hi-Wire to offload the operational complexity of e-commerce and shipping while retaining the customer relationship and brand presence. The brewery could focus on marketing its online store and growing that channel, rather than packing boxes and coordinating carriers.
Where to Find Hi-Wire Through Bevana
Hi-Wire beers are available through Bevana's online shop at Shop.Bevana.com. Customers can browse Hi-Wire offerings alongside other Bevana partners and have orders shipped to 42 states. For in-person purchases, Hi-Wire products are available at the Bevana Newton taproom and at D9 Brewing Company taprooms in Cornelius, Charlotte, and Hendersonville.[1]
Hi-Wire also maintains its own taprooms across the Southeast and distributes through traditional channels in nine states. For the latest locations, releases, and availability, visit Hi-Wire Brewing.
Sources
- Brewbound — "Hi-Wire Brewing Partners With Bevana," January 2023; Chris Frosaker quote, Aaron MJ Gore quote, 42 states, Bevana Newton, D9 taprooms, Hi-Wire history, beer lineup
- CraftBeer.com — Hi-Wire Biltmore Village, 30-barrel brewhouse, South Slope
- Asheville Breweries — Hi-Wire founding 2013, South Slope, NC Brewer's Cup, RateBeer
- Brewbound – Bevana Supply Chain — Bevana platform model, affiliate vs full-service partnerships
- Brewbound – Green Man Bevana — Bevana partners including Green Man
- Hi-Wire Brewing Durham — Durham taproom, 2018 expansion