Dry Ridge Brewing Aims to Open in June
The concept will serve as a taproom, restaurant, and family-oriented hangout space near Asheville.
MARS HILL, NC — Dry Ridge Brewing is targeting a June opening at 160 Carl Eller Road, Mars Hill, NC 28754, operating partner Chris Duncan told Business Debut.
The project comes from Duncan, Frank Johnson and Max Kirsner. Johnson is the CEO of Spark Robotics and owns the building, while Kirsner is an engineer at Spark Robotics.
What to Expect
Dry Ridge Brewing will open in a former garage with about 1,200 square feet in the main building and an added 800-square-foot kitchen, Duncan told Business Debut. The team has also added an outdoor music pavilion and covered outdoor dining area.
Inside, the space will have room for about 20 tabletops. Outside, the property includes about an acre of land, giving the team room for outdoor music, small concerts and community events.
Duncan said the goal is to create a gathering place for locals, Mars Hill students and the northern Asheville area.
Menu and Vision
Dry Ridge Brewing will start with a pizza-focused menu served from an on-site food truck supported by its own licensed commercial kitchen, Duncan told Business Debut. The team plans to expand into more pub food over time, including items such as burgers.
“We’re really focused in on getting it right as a customer experience on the front end and then expand over time, depending upon what our customers really want,” Duncan told Business Debut.
The business will operate as a tap room, highlighting and serving local beers in Western North Carolina. Beer partners are expected to include Highland Brewing, Eluvium Brewery, Mad Co. Brewing and Riverside Rhapsody Brewing
Beer and Events
Dry Ridge Brewing is planning 12 to 16 taps with a focus on local and regional breweries, Duncan told Business Debut.
The taproom will also offer nonalcoholic options, including beer, seltzer, kombucha and other canned and bottled drinks.
Duncan said Dry Ridge Brewing will host community events, trivia, game nights and outdoor music. He said the team wants to support local musicians and honor the area’s mountain heritage, including bluegrass, Celtic and Irish music.
Opening Timeline
Dry Ridge Brewing is targeting a June opening, Duncan told Business Debut.
The project has been in the works since February 2024. Duncan said the timeline was delayed by about six months because of trade labor shortages and post-Hurricane Helene construction demand in Western North Carolina.
Hours
Dry Ridge Brewing is still finalizing its schedule, Duncan told Business Debut. The team is targeting Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.–9 p.m., with more limited Sunday hours, likely opening around 1 p.m. and closing around 7 or 8 p.m.
Ross McWaters