Highland Brewing & The East Asheville Craft Beer Scene
The Legacy of Highland Brewing Company
Among the rolling, pastoral hills of East Asheville, sits a beacon of inspiration to the Asheville entrepreneurial spirit: Highland Brewing Company. Regarded as Asheville’s original craft brewery and one of the most highly acclaimed East Asheville breweries, it was established in 1994 by retired engineer Oscar Wong, a Chinese-Jamaican immigrant. Highland Brewing is nestled on an expansive 40-acre property, located off Fairview Road near the Oakley and Beverly Hills communities. One of Highland Brewing’s claims to fame is that it is Asheville’s first craft brewery since Prohibition times. We’ll raise a glass to that! Wong was single-handedly responsible for Highland’s Gaelic Ale and Oatmeal Porter—beloved craft beer staples on a regional and national level.
Careful — this edition of our Ultimate Guide to East Asheville will have you dreaming of warm and breezy summer days with a pint.
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The Art of Beer & Seasonal Favorites
In addition to finding Highland Brewing’s Gaelic Ale in restaurants and pubs across the Southeast, they are also accustomed to producing seasonal fan favorites and limited-release beers that draw an audience. The seasonal brew Cold Mountain Ale, a spiced winter ale, brings in the masses for Highland’s annual Cold Mountain release party, where this fan favorite can be picked up in bottles. If you don’t make it to the release party, not to worry, local grocery stores stock the brew as well—though it can sell out within days due to the high demand. Cold Mountain Ale often comes in variations, with one such version being Coconut Cold Mountain.
Highland’s Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout becomes available just before the holidays (on Black Friday) as another limited-release beer. The high-gravity brew boasts over 100 pounds of cacao nibs with flavors of brownie batter with marshmallows. Other notable seasonal varieties include Cerveza Oscura, a Mexican-style dark lager, Clawhammer, a longstanding seasonal that becomes available in the months leading up to Oktoberfest, and Saint T’s Pale Ale, a classic Highland beer available from January through June.
The Setting & Vibes
Highland Brewing Company’s original brewery location, Highland Station, is where the magic happens. The space incorporates a production brewery, which regularly features live music and art markets, along with a variety of private event spaces, including their Event Center, Rooftop, and more intimate Barrel Room. The facilities frequently host events ranging from networking and fundraising to weddings and rehearsal dinners and everything in between. Highland also brings the Asheville culinary scene to its brewery. Each night features at least one food truck and multiple food trucks on weekends.
With so much acreage, it’s not surprising that Highland is prized for its amazing outdoor spaces. One such space is “The Meadow,” where you’ll find wide open green spaces, a “Crafted for Kids” natural playground, an 18-hole disc golf course, and professional sand volleyball courts, which regularly draw friendly competition. The Meadow space even has its own outdoor taps so patrons can saddle up to the bar and grab their favorite beer in between scoring an ace or watching the kiddos play while lounging at the picnic tables.
Today, Highland Brewing Company is a renowned woman-owned business. Leah Wong Ashburn, the daughter of Oscar Wong, has been a fixture at the brewery since 2011 and leads a staff of over 100 individuals. In 2026, Highland Brewing Company will be adding an in-house pizza restaurant and welcoming Black Dome Outfitters and Cultivate Climbing to create an even more enhanced experience for visitors. Talk about a one-stop shop!
Highland Brewing: The Pioneer of Asheville's Craft Beer Scene
Asheville, often referred to as Beer City USA after winning numerous awards and accolades in this arena, is home to nearly 50 breweries and hundreds of original beers. Many local brewery owners cite Highland Brewing Company’s innovative spirit as foundational to the beer culture that exists in Asheville today. With its many entertainment offerings and top-tier beer, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best East Asheville breweries around.