HopFly Brewing expands into Asheville’s South Slope taproom scene

HopFly Brewing Company is moving into Asheville’s South Slope, betting that a taproom in one of the Southeast’s most brewery-packed neighborhoods can win attention only by standing out. Founder Cameron Schulz is stepping into a market he knows is still tough, but one where Asheville’s beer identity gives a new entrant immediate visibility and an equally immediate test.

South Slope is no ordinary expansion address. Explore Asheville says nine of the city’s more than 40 breweries sit within a few walkable blocks there, while Asheville tourism materials describe the district as a fast-growing stop for beer visitors on the edge of downtown. The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce says the city has more than 20 breweries pouring over 200 local craft beers on tap any given day, and other visitor materials put Asheville at more than 50 brewery locations overall. In a city built around brewery tourism, a new taproom has to earn regulars as well as passersby.

That is the calculation behind HopFly’s move from Charlotte into Asheville. Schulz has already said the beer business is not won by quality alone anymore, noting in 2025 that “making the best beer in the city isn’t enough anymore.” In South Slope, that reality is hard to miss. Drinkers can walk from taproom to taproom, compare lagers, pilsners, sours, experimental ales and food-driven brewery concepts, and decide quickly which rooms feel worth a second stop.

The timing also carries extra weight. Downtown Asheville and South Slope have been part of the city’s Central Business District in recovery discussions, and business leaders have been tracking closures since Helene. Against that backdrop, a Charlotte brewery opening a new Asheville taproom reads as more than a routine market extension. It is a signal that HopFly sees enough demand, foot traffic and brand value in the neighborhood to compete in one of the region’s most crowded beer corridors.

South Slope’s history helps explain why that bet matters. A Mountain Xpress historical piece described the area as an industrial district that slowly turned into a brewery neighborhood over time. Today, it is one of Asheville’s best-known showcases for the city’s “Beer City USA” reputation, where the baseline is high and the audience knows exactly what good looks like. HopFly is arriving with that standard in mind, and in Asheville, the taproom itself will have to prove the point.