Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Frosaker.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Prior to starting Hi-Wire Brewing, I was a retail pharmacist at a large pharmacy chain. Unhappy with the profits before healthcare model of this business, I pursued purchasing a small Asheville-based brewery which was going out of business. At this time, my business partner and longtime friend, Adam Charnack, was working for a small company in Asheville which worked to develop affordable housing. They went out of business on his 30th birthday, and we quickly joined together in the pursuit to open a new brewery. Our initial business plan focused on two main products which were missing in the local beer scene at the time: making lagers and packing beer into six packs for grocery store distribution, which obviously is now widespread, but was rare at the time, especially for a brewery right out of the gate as they open. After opening in the summer of 2013, this simple business plan worked, necessitating us to build a new production brewery in 2015. We opened our first out-of-Asheville tap room in Durham in the winter of 2018. Hi-Wire now distributes in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia. We also operate three tap rooms in Asheville, and satellite tap rooms in Durham, Wilmington, Knoxville, TN, and Louisville, KY.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with starting any business, the first several years were very challenging. We are a self and bank financed brewery. We have never had the luxury of a deep pocketed investor to throw money around for any idea we come up with. Cash has always been limited, so we have always been thrifty. I think this has made us a better company, though, as every decision is important.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Hi-Wire Brewing is one of the fastest growing craft breweries in North Carolina. We operate two breweries and seven tap rooms and distribute our beer to nine states. What sets us apart is the diversity of our beer lineup and the value we provide. We literally make a beer for everyone, from light lagers to IPAs, stouts, sour beer, and more. Also, by 2022 we will package all of our beer in 16 oz six packs at the same price as our competitors who typically package in 12 oz six packs. We give our customers more beer for the money. We also pride ourselves in the approachability of our beers and tap room locations. We are all about “Good Beer and Good Times”, and everyone is welcome.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
In the brewery business, start with twice as much money as you think you need. Brewing is extremely capital intensive, and unexpected costs pop up every day.
When we started, I wish I knew how hard it is to distribute beer. It is an ultra-competitive environment that costs a lot of money to do well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hiwirebrewing.com/
- Instagram: @hiwirebrewing and @hiwirebrewing_durm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiwirebrewingdurham/
Image Credits
Javier Bolea, Creative Director for Hi-Wire Brewing
