What is your list of products (within reason…) Since 2015, Oscar’s daughter, Leah Wong Ashburn, has served as President.Ģ. The brewery is on a hilltop in East Asheville, where they host beer releases, tours, weddings, and live music in a casual and welcoming atmosphere. Today, Highland is the largest family-owned brewery native to the Southeast. In 1994, Highland Brewing Company started operations in a basement with retrofitted dairy equipment, when downtown was largely deserted after 6pm. After 25 years in engineering, Highland Founder Oscar Wong sold his company and took a four-year break before going into the beer business. Give us the “origin story” for your operationĪ retirement gone awry led to the birth of Asheville’s pioneer brewery. Why? Because it stimulates our local economy and it tastes GREAT! This month we are showcasing Highland Brewing Company. Here’s what Family Owner, President, Leah Ashburn has to say…ġ. Featuring local products like, jams, honey, mustard, gluten free desserts, meats, milk, cream, cheeses, eggs, hot sauces, beer, cider and so much more is incredibly important to us. Knowing what it means to people, we had to plan every keg, every bottle, down to the last drop.”įor more information on when and how to purchase this year’s Cold Mountain Winter Ale, visit Highland Brewing’s website.Corner Kitchen, and Chestnut, partner with many local farmers and vendors. Beer itself is about tradition and that fuzzy feeling inside. “I’m really happy to have the opportunity to enhance upon something that is such a tradition here. Having been with Highland for almost two years, Hollie said she “still feels really new to Cold Mountain” although this is technically her second release. It pairs well with nice, savory comfort food,” she added with a smile, “…just like Tupelo’s.” “With Cold Mountain, you drink it where you can because it runs out so quickly,” Hollie said. (Use BeerFinder to see where Cold Mountain will be at a grocery store or Tupelo Honey restaurant near you!) You can buy Cold Mountain from select retailers or enjoy it at restaurants like Tupelo that were lucky enough to get some kegs. The 20th anniversary edition of Cold Mountain Winter Ale If you’re hoping to try it, be sure to make a trip to the brewery and get in line as soon as you can! Imperial Cold Mountain is only available to purchase by draft or bottle on-site, and is guaranteed to sell-out as quickly as the original. It’s nuttier and sweeter with more caramel notes and is higher in alcohol at 8 percent versus 5.8 percent,” Hollie said. “We wanted to keep it a brown ale, but make it a bit maltier and darker. With only 100 barrels made, it’s an extremely limited, small batch release. Highland also chose to do something special for Cold Mountain’s 20th anniversary and created Imperial Cold Mountain, a spin-off inspired by the original. People even follow the distributor truck to local supermarkets on release day!” Celebrating Twenty Years “Cold Mountain is a beer that sells thousands of cases, and it sells out in under an hour at some places. People start lining up in the morning even though the beer releases at 4 p.m.” said Kitty Price, Key Account Director for Highland. Thousands of people line up outside Highland’s doors and local grocery stores to get their hands on this cult-like phenomenon.”It’s a riot. “We went through about six to seven combinations before coming to a decision.” You can expect this year’s winning edition to taste deliciously of vanilla, winter fruits and spices. “I inherited the Cold Mountain recipe, so I made a point to not change anything about the original grain bill,” Hollie said. Brewmaster Hollie Stephenson is involved in the process from start to finish with help from sensory scientist Anna Sauls. To get ready for the hype that always ensues, the Cold Mountain ideation process begins in June, with a panel tasting in July. Highland’s Brewmaster Hollie Stephenson giving us a tour of the facility
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