Asheville Brewery Overcomes Severe Flooding with the Support of its Community

Asheville Brewery Overcomes Severe Flooding with the Support of its Community

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Asheville-based brewery, River Arts District Brewing, when it experienced an unimaginable tragedy – severe flooding. On July 19th, this well-loved local brewery was hit with a mighty five feet of floodwater and suffered the considerable loss of brewing equipment. However, the Asheville community would not let its favorite watering hole sink. With their unwavering support and determination, the local community helped the brewery back on its feet, returning to purchase pints and keep the business running.

A Torrent of Trouble

Located in the picturesque basement quarters of the River Arts District, the brewery’s operations were heavily damaged when a nearby creek breached its banks, bringing disaster to their doorsteps. Robert “Lem” Lemery, the founder of River Arts District Brewing, spoke about the calamity saying, “The stormwater runoff has become so voluminous that it inundates the downstream systems and the systems on our property here.” This flooding resulted in the ruin of all the brewery’s refrigerating equipment, posing a significant setback for the business.

A Wave of Woes Worsen

A clogged culvert close to the location added to their woes. It led to water pouring into the brewery’s beer garden and then the lower area of the building, exacerbating the flooding. Despite these challenges, the resilience of the people behind the River Arts District Brewing was put to the test, and they came out stronger.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

With the cleanup help, the brewery managed to open its doors again for its popular Monday trivia night. This extraordinary comeback is a testament to the fighting spirit of the River Arts District Brewing team and the unyielding loyalty of the community—the emotional and financial support displayed by regular patrons contributed tremendously to the speedy recovery.

Having celebrated its one-year anniversary in May, just two months prior to this catastrophe, the quick reopening of the brewery post-disaster is nothing short of miraculous. It underscores a vital theme – in times of crisis, it is unity and collective support that push us toward recovery.

A Toast to Community Spirit

Despite the odds, River Arts District Brewing is back in full operation. This triumphant story of bouncing back from a crisis thanks to communal support reflects the undeniable strength and camaraderie within the Asheville community. The local brewery may have commenced the year sipping the bitter brew of adversity, but today it raises a mug in honor of community unity and resilience.