Hillman Beer

Hillman Beer opened in April 2017 at 25 Sweeten Creek Road near Biltmore Village, a family brewery run by brothers Brad and Greig Hillman with Greig's wife Brandi. Brad picked up homebrewing in 2006 while living in Brooklyn, and the first beer out of the garage was a Dunkelweizen they named Dingaudamnit — which tells you the register the place operates in. His brief was modest and has held: a brewpub with a nice comfortable environment, a cool atmosphere and a cool vibe, in a city where, as he put it, people have proven that they love beer and going to breweries. The results back the ambition — Great American Beer Festival medals in three consecutive years within the brewery's first three, a bronze in 2017 for Four Fat Baby, silver for its ESB in 2018 and gold for that same ESB in 2019. The taproom has a shaded area at the back beside Sweeten Creek and generous seating out front, a kitchen that closes at 9pm, and a leashed-dogs-welcome policy inside the brewery. A second location opened in Old Fort in July 2020.

Two things are worth knowing. On Helene: Hillman's own account is that its Asheville site sits in an area that did not experience the same level of flood impact as the neighbourhoods closer to the French Broad river corridor, and both its locations came through open and serving. That is a meaningful distinction in a city where a mile in either direction determined whether a business survived. On the non-alcoholic side, the brewery is explicit about the principle — it states that non-alcoholic options are available so that designated drivers and sober-curious guests never feel like an afterthought — but it does not publish what those options are. No non-alcoholic item appears on its live tap list, and no brand, style or price is named anywhere. The intent is clearly stated; the specifics have to be asked for at the bar.