Hillman Beer’s Power in Pints donates $1 from every draft sold to WNC nonprofits. Learn how the program works, who it supports, and how to get involved.
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Power in Pints: How Hillman Beer’s $1-Per-Pint Program is Transforming Western North Carolina

At Hillman Beer, every pint poured carries a little more weight. The Power in Pints program turns a cold draft into a direct act of community support, channeling $1 from every draft beer, cider, or seltzer sold toward a rotating roster of local nonprofits across Western North Carolina. It is one of the most straightforward charitable models you will find at any brewery in the region, and it has quietly made a real difference for organizations doing meaningful work from Asheville to Old Fort.

This page covers everything you need to know about Power in Pints at Hillman Beer: how the program runs, which organizations have benefited, how nonprofits can apply, and what you can do to multiply your own impact the next time you pull up a bar stool.

Key Takeaways

• Power in Pints donates $1 from every draft beer, cider, or seltzer sold at Hillman Beer to a featured local nonprofit each month.
• The program has supported a wide range of Western North Carolina causes, including environmental conservation, healthcare, and veteran services.
• Local nonprofits can nominate their organization for consideration through Hillman Beer’s submission process.
• Both the Asheville and Old Fort locations participate, meaning every visit at either taproom contributes to the current featured cause.
• Participating requires nothing more than showing up and ordering a drink you would have ordered anyway.

What Is Power in Pints?

Power in Pints is Hillman Beer’s ongoing charitable giving initiative, and its premise is refreshingly simple. Every time a guest orders a draft beer, cider, or seltzer at either Hillman location, $1 from that sale goes directly to a featured local nonprofit. No complicated opt-ins, no separate fundraising events, no asking customers to round up their bill. The donation happens automatically with every pour.

The program reflects who Hillman Beer is at its core. Since brothers Brad and Greig Hillman founded the brewery with Greig’s wife Brandi, the mission has never been purely commercial. Their pub-style taprooms in Asheville and Old Fort were designed as genuine gathering places, and Power in Pints is the natural extension of that philosophy. When you treat your brewery like a community living room, giving back becomes less of a marketing strategy and more of a household habit.

According to the Brewers Association (2023), craft breweries are among the most locally engaged small businesses in the United States, with a significant portion reporting active community investment programs. Hillman Beer takes that tendency a step further by building giving directly into the economics of a routine visit.

The program also creates a natural conversation at the bar. When guests ask about the featured organization of the month, staff can speak to that nonprofit’s work, making the taproom experience richer without making it feel like a lecture. It is community education served alongside a cold Kölsch.

Power in Pints is Hillman Beer’s built-in community giving program that automatically donates $1 from every draft sold to a rotating local nonprofit. The initiative reflects the brewery’s long-standing commitment to Western North Carolina as more than a business address but a genuine home community.

How Power in Pints Works

The mechanics behind Power in Pints are designed to be frictionless for everyone involved. Customers do not need to register, sign up, or make any additional payment. Nonprofits receive a straightforward donation at the end of the featured period. And the brewery handles all the tracking internally, keeping the process clean and transparent.

Here is how the program runs from month to month:

1. A nonprofit is selected: Hillman Beer chooses a Western North Carolina-based nonprofit organization to feature for the month. Selection is based on community relevance, local impact, and alignment with the brewery’s values around people, environment, and quality of life in the region.
2. Every draft counts: For the duration of the feature period, $1 from every draft beer, cider, or seltzer sold at both the Asheville taproom and the Old Fort location is tallied toward the donation.
3. The organization is highlighted: The featured nonprofit is promoted on Hillman’s event calendar, on-site signage, and through the brewery’s communication channels, giving the organization additional visibility beyond the financial contribution.
4. The donation is delivered: At the end of the feature period, Hillman Beer presents the total accumulated donation to the nonprofit. Events are sometimes held to mark the occasion and allow the community to meet the organization directly.

According to Independent Sector (2023), local giving programs that tie donations to everyday consumer behavior consistently outperform one-time fundraising drives in both total contribution and donor retention. Power in Pints is a textbook example of that model applied to the taproom setting.

“The most effective corporate giving programs are the ones that feel organic to the business. When a brewery says every pint counts, and actually means it operationally, that is a fundamentally different statement than a donation box by the register.”

Both Hillman taprooms run the same featured organization simultaneously, which means a customer visiting the Asheville location and one visiting Old Fort on the same day are both contributing to the same cause. That kind of geographic consistency reinforces the idea that this is a brewery-wide commitment, not a location-specific promotion.

Power in Pints operates on a monthly cycle in which every draft sold at both Hillman Beer locations contributes $1 to a featured nonprofit, with no action required from the customer. The program’s simplicity is intentional, making community giving a standard part of the taproom experience rather than an add-on.

Community Partners and Causes

The range of organizations that Power in Pints has supported speaks to how broadly Hillman Beer defines community. Rather than focusing on a single cause, the program rotates across the full spectrum of nonprofit work happening in Western North Carolina, from land conservation and healthcare access to veteran services and local cultural initiatives.

Among the organizations featured through the program:

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina works to protect the natural landscapes of the region, including forests, waterways, and wildlife corridors across Burke, McDowell, and Catawba counties. For a brewery that operates in Old Fort and sources ingredients with an eye toward regional sustainability, supporting land conservation is a natural fit. You can read about their Power in Pints feature with Foothills Conservancy here.

WNC Bridge Foundation provides healthcare support and resources for individuals and families in Western North Carolina who face barriers to access. Their featured month drew significant participation from Hillman’s regulars, many of whom connected personally with the organization’s mission. Details of that campaign were documented on the WNC Bridge Foundation’s own site.

American Legion Post 56 represents veteran services and support in the local community, an organization that carries particular weight in a region with deep ties to military service and sacrifice.

What these partnerships share is their rootedness. None of these are national organizations with regional satellite offices. They are Western North Carolina operations run by local people, serving local neighbors. That specificity matters to Hillman Beer and to the guests who drink there.

“Hyperlocal giving has a multiplier effect that national charity programs simply cannot replicate. When money raised in a community stays in that community, the social return on investment is measurably higher.”

Power in Pints has supported organizations across environmental conservation, healthcare, and veteran services in Western North Carolina, reflecting Hillman Beer’s commitment to the full breadth of community need in the region. Each featured partner is locally rooted, ensuring donations stay close to home.

Nominating Your Organization

If you lead or work with a Western North Carolina nonprofit, Power in Pints may be an opportunity worth pursuing. Hillman Beer actively welcomes nominations from local organizations, and the application process is straightforward. The brewery is not looking for large national brands or organizations with polished fundraising operations. They are looking for genuine local need and a connection to the communities their taprooms serve.

While Hillman Beer has not published a rigid eligibility checklist, a few practical considerations emerge from the organizations they have previously featured:

Criteria	What Hillman Beer Looks For	What Does Not Fit
Geography	Western North Carolina based, with local operations	National organizations with no local presence
Mission Alignment	Community health, environment, people, or culture	Politically partisan organizations
Organization Type	Registered nonprofits with transparent use of funds	For-profit social enterprises
Community Visibility	Willing to engage with Hillman’s audience during feature period	Organizations that cannot participate in any outreach

To nominate your organization, reach out directly to Hillman Beer. You can contact the team at their contact page or call (828) 505-1312 to start a conversation. The team is approachable and genuinely interested in hearing from organizations doing good work in the region. Come prepared to speak briefly about your mission, your current projects, and why a Power in Pints partnership makes sense for both sides.

The selection process reflects the brewery’s ethos: thoughtful, personal, and community-first. This is not a corporate sponsorship application. It is a conversation between neighbors.

Local nonprofits in Western North Carolina can nominate their organization for Power in Pints by contacting Hillman Beer directly, with preference given to organizations that are regionally rooted, mission-aligned, and willing to engage with the brewery’s community during their feature period. The process is personal rather than bureaucratic.

Measurable Community Impact

Measuring the real-world impact of a program like Power in Pints requires looking beyond a single donation total. The cumulative effect of monthly giving across two active taprooms, sustained over years, adds up in ways that go beyond the dollar figures alone. Every featured organization gains not just a check but visibility, foot traffic to their own outreach events, and the credibility that comes with being publicly endorsed by a well-regarded local business.

Hillman Beer’s taprooms collectively serve a steady stream of both Asheville residents and visitors from across the country. The Asheville location on Sweeten Creek Road draws a mix of locals and tourists, while the Old Fort taproom serves a more regionally rooted crowd. Both audiences bring spending power, and both contribute to Power in Pints totals every time they order from the draft list.

According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, small businesses that actively invest in local community programs generate measurably stronger long-term customer loyalty and community goodwill than those that do not. For a family-owned brewery operating in a competitive market, that kind of relational capital is as important as any award on the wall, though Hillman Beer has those too, including a Gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for their ESB.

“The compounding value of consistent, transparent local giving is often underestimated. For businesses embedded in a specific place, it becomes part of their identity in a way no advertising budget can manufacture.”

When you consider that Power in Pints has been running across multiple years and two locations, the aggregate donation represents a meaningful injection of support into Western North Carolina’s nonprofit sector. And because each month features a different organization, the reach extends across cause areas rather than concentrating in one sector. That breadth is part of what makes the program genuinely reflective of the community it serves.

Power in Pints generates compounding impact across Western North Carolina by consistently directing proceeds from Hillman Beer’s two active taprooms toward a rotating set of local nonprofits, building both financial support and community visibility for each featured organization over time.

Join the Movement

The most direct thing you can do to support Power in Pints is visit. Order a draft. Bring a friend. Come back next month when a different organization is featured and do it again. That is genuinely all it takes to participate in one of Western North Carolina’s most consistent brewery-driven charitable programs.

Both Hillman Beer locations are open daily, with kitchens running until 9pm and taprooms open until 10pm on Wednesday through Saturday. The Asheville taproom at 25 Sweeten Creek Road offers creek-side seating and a lively atmosphere that draws regulars and first-timers alike. The Old Fort location at 78 Catawba Avenue sits inside a converted hosiery mill with mountain views and a more spacious, relaxed feel. Both are dog-friendly. Both are family-owned. And both put your next pint to work for your neighbors.

If you want to go further than a visit, there are real ways to amplify the impact of Power in Pints. Share the current featured organization on your own channels when you visit. Tag Hillman Beer in your check-in. Tell people which nonprofit is being featured and why it matters. Word-of-mouth is still the most powerful distribution channel a community program like this has.

For organizations interested in being featured, nonprofits wanting to hold an event at either location, or anyone with questions about how the program works, reach the team directly at (828) 505-1312 or through the contact page. The bar is always open for that kind of conversation.

Power in Pints is built on the belief that a brewery can be more than a place to drink. At Hillman Beer, it has always been a place to belong, and every pint poured is proof of that.

Joining Power in Pints at Hillman Beer requires nothing more than visiting either taproom and ordering a draft, with additional impact possible through sharing the featured nonprofit and spreading the word in your own community. Both the Asheville and Old Fort locations welcome guests, nonprofits, and anyone who wants to be part of something larger than a round of drinks.

What Guests Are Saying

The people who visit Hillman Beer most often speak to something beyond the beer list. Here is what some of them have shared:

“Hillman Beer on Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville is one of our favorite places to stop in whenever we’re visiting Western North Carolina. The atmosphere is casual and inviting (and dog friendly!), the staff are very friendly, the beer selection is great, and the food is fantastic. So glad they were able to re-open after Hurricane Helene. Stop in and support this great local business!”

“Oh this place is a gem! Our team came out upon recommendation to Hillman’s and we weren’t disappointed. Great selection of beer that folks enjoyed, but the food was SO DELICIOUS. The chicken sandwich was fabulous. Nice crispy breading with succulent chicken. Fries and chips were homemade too! Lot’s of seating for big groups. In the back of the building there is seating next to a stream for a quieter, relaxed spot to enjoy beverages and food.”

“We drove 2.5 hours to get to Asheville and after reading through all the options, we landed at Hillman’s to start our adventure. It was exactly what we wanted. Super good atmosphere, really good food and super good beer! Will certainly return!”

“One of our go-to breweries in Asheville. We always feel that it’s for the locals because the vibe is always chilled and friendly (not touristy). Plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. Service is friendly and they have great beers and awesome food.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is Power in Pints?

Power in Pints is Hillman Beer’s community giving program that donates $1 from every draft beer, cider, or seltzer sold at their Asheville and Old Fort taprooms to a featured local nonprofit. The featured organization rotates monthly, and no additional action is required from customers. Your order is the donation.

Do I need to do anything special to participate in Power in Pints?

No. When you order any draft beverage at either Hillman Beer location, $1 automatically goes toward the current featured nonprofit. There is no opt-in, no extra charge, and no registration required. Every draft sold during the feature period contributes to the total donation.

Which organizations has Power in Pints supported?

The program has featured a broad range of Western North Carolina nonprofits, including Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, WNC Bridge Foundation for healthcare access, and American Legion Post 56 for veteran services. The rotating model means the program touches many different cause areas over the course of a year.

Can my nonprofit apply to be featured in Power in Pints?

Yes. Hillman Beer welcomes nominations from locally rooted Western North Carolina nonprofits. Organizations that align with community health, environmental stewardship, cultural programming, or people-focused service are strong candidates. Contact the team at (828) 505-1312 or through the website to start the conversation.

Does Power in Pints run at both Hillman Beer locations?

Yes. Both the Asheville taproom at 25 Sweeten Creek Road and the Old Fort taproom at 78 Catawba Avenue participate simultaneously, and both feature the same nonprofit each month. This means every visit to either location contributes to the same cause during the active feature period.

How does Hillman Beer choose which nonprofit to feature each month?

Selection is based on the organization’s local presence, community impact, and alignment with Hillman Beer’s values around people, environment, and quality of life in Western North Carolina. The process is personal and relationship-driven rather than a formal application ranking. Priority goes to organizations with genuine roots in the region.

Is Power in Pints only active during special events?

No. Power in Pints runs continuously throughout each feature period, not just during designated events. Every draft poured on a regular Tuesday afternoon counts just as much as one sold during a featured organization’s special evening at the taproom. Occasional events may accompany the feature, but the program itself runs daily.

How can I find out which organization is currently featured?

Hillman Beer promotes the current featured nonprofit through their events calendar, in-taproom signage, and through their website at hillmanbeer.com. Staff at both locations are also happy to tell you about the current partner and their work in the community.

Key Takeaways

• Power in Pints automatically donates $1 from every draft sold at Hillman Beer to a rotating local Western North Carolina nonprofit, no customer action required.
• Featured organizations span a wide range of causes, including land conservation, healthcare access, and veteran support, keeping the program broadly relevant to the community.
• Nonprofits can apply for a feature by contacting Hillman Beer directly, with selection favoring organizations that are genuinely rooted in the Western North Carolina region.
• Both the Asheville and Old Fort taprooms run the program simultaneously, multiplying the impact of every visit across two locations.
• The simplest way to support the program is to show up, order a draft, and let the pint do the rest.

Come Pull Up a Seat

Power in Pints is what happens when a brewery decides that doing well and doing good are not separate goals. Every time you order a draft at Hillman Beer, you are part of something that extends well beyond the glass in front of you. The mountains, the people, the organizations working to make Western North Carolina a better place to live, they all get a little more from your visit than you might expect.

Hillman Beer has saved a seat for you at both locations. Come for the award-winning ESB, stay for the creek-side view, and know that your round is quietly funding the work that holds this region together. Call (828) 505-1312 or stop by the contact page if you have questions. Otherwise, the taps are ready when you are.

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