Asheville-based craft brewer Hi-Wire opening taproom in South Knoxville

Asheville, North Carolina-based Hi-Wire Brewing is swinging over the mountains and into South Knoxville, the brand announced Monday. 

The circus-themed craft beer brand will open its fourth retail taproom in early summer at Sevier Avenue Retail, a mixed-use space in development. It's the brand's first taproom outside of North Carolina. 

A rendering of the Sevier Avenue Retail development planned in South Knoxville. Hi-Wire Brewing of Asheville will be the first tenant and will take up the 10,000-square-foot space upstairs.

"Knoxville and Asheville are, to us, like cousins," Hi-Wire co-owner Adam Charnack said in a press release. "They're both small mountain cities with strong outdoors, food and drink cultures."

Inside the taproom

The taproom will be the first tenant of the mixed-use building at 906 Sevier Ave. It will utilize the 10,187-square-foot top floor, including two outdoor decks, one of which is on the roof and has views of downtown. 

The planned 24 taps will serve Hi-Wire's year-round labels, as well as seasonal, specialty, sour and one-off beers, according to the press release. The taproom will also serve local cider, wine and offer guest taps for Knoxville breweries. 

An interior rendering of Hi-Wire's planned taproom for South Knoxville. The brewery will open the space at 906 Sevier Ave. in early summer.

"It speaks volumes of the Knoxville craft beer scene that a group from Asheville wants to come over the mountain to be a part of it," Realty Executives listing agent and property developer Tim Duff said. 

The taproom will include pool tables, table tennis, shuffleboard and foosball. Hi-Wire is partnering with S2 Construction to build out the space. 

An interior rendering of Hi-Wire's planned taproom for South Knoxville.

Hi-Wire has been selling beer in Tennessee for three years. In 2018 it saw the largest growth in Tennessee of the six states where it distributes.

"Being able to bring the 'Asheville Hi-Wire' experience to Knoxville and to Tennessee seems like the natural next steps in growing our relationship," Charnack said. 

South Knoxville developing

The South Knoxville area has a few breweries, including Alliance Brewing Company and Printshop Beer Co. 

Hi-Wire has two taprooms in Asheville and one in Durham, North Carolina. It took the bronze medal at the 2018 World Beer Cup in the wood- and barrel-aged beer category for their Dry Hopped Brett Pale Ale.

Duff is looking to fill the remaining 25,000 square feet of Sevier Avenue Retail with a full-service restaurant and a neighborhood grocery store.

The building, built in 1949, was purchased by 906 Sevier Avenue LLC in May for $1 million, according to the property assessor's office.  

“We (want) our tenants to serve the Old Sevier neighborhood well," he said. 

That includes the residents of City South, the planned 121-unit loft apartment complex set to break ground on Sevier Avenue this spring.

More South Knoxville development

New 'loft-style' apartments coming to Sevier Avenue

Food truck park with indoor bar coming to Sevier Avenue

The Phoenix Pharmacy & Fountain bringing ice cream and coffee