About
About Highland Brewing
Honor Tradition, Innovate with Intention
Highland Brewing Company, founded in 1994, is Asheville’s original craft brewery and a pioneer in Southern craft beer. What began as founder Oscar Wong’s passion project—brewing on refurbished dairy equipment in the basement of Barley’s Taproom—helped establish Highland as a leading Asheville brewery and a cornerstone of the region’s craft beer culture.
Classic beers like Gaelic Amber Ale, Oatmeal Porter and Cold Mountain Winter Ale helped define Highland early on and continue to earn their place among favorite breweries to visit in Asheville. Today, our lineup blends heritage and innovation with fan favorites like Daycation IPA, Highland Haze IPA, AVL IPA and Highland Pilsner. Explore our beers to see what’s on tap and in market now.
A Legacy Bigger Than Beer: Oscar Wong
Oscar Wong was more than the founder of Highland Brewing. He was a catalyst for Asheville’s craft beer movement and is known as the “Godfather of Asheville Craft Beer.” When he started brewing in the ’90s, he wasn’t chasing recognition. He believed great beer could bring people together.
That belief helped shape Asheville into one of the country’s top craft beer destinations, now known for its top Asheville breweries worth visiting. But what mattered most to Oscar wasn’t growth. It was connection. As he often said, “personal relationships are the currency of life.”
His legacy continues to show up in everything we do. In the beers we brew, including Oscar’s Oatmeal Porter, and in the culture he created—one rooted in humility, generosity and showing up for others.
Rooted in Asheville, North Carolina
As the largest independent, family-owned brewery native to the Southeast, Highland Brewing is deeply rooted in Asheville, NC. Our early days helped spark a craft beer scene that now includes more than 35 breweries, drawing visitors searching for breweries to visit in Asheville NC year-round.
In 2006, we expanded to our East Asheville brewery, a 40-acre hilltop campus that serves as both a production facility and a gathering place. Plan your visit to our Asheville brewery and experience one of the must-visit breweries in Asheville.
Sustainability with Purpose
Highland Brewing is committed to sustainable brewing practices in Asheville and across Western North Carolina. Our East Asheville campus features one of the largest solar arrays of any independent craft brewery in the United States, helping reduce our environmental footprint while supporting long-term energy efficiency.
Sustainability is built into how we operate, because protecting this place we call home matters.
Built for Beer Lovers and Community
Highland Brewing is more than a brewery. It’s a destination for craft beer, outdoor recreation and events in Asheville. Our brewery campus includes five sand volleyball courts, an 18-hole disc golf course, indoor and outdoor taproom spaces and private event venues including a rooftop.
Whether you’re exploring breweries to visit in Asheville NC, planning a brewery tour or looking for things to do in Western North Carolina, Highland offers a place to gather and connect. Visit our Asheville brewery and beer garden for events, outdoor experiences and fresh craft beer.
Absurdly People Focused
Highland remains family-led and community-driven. Founder Oscar Wong’s daughter, Leah Wong Ashburn, joined the company in 2011 and now serves as CEO. Brock Ashburn, builder and engineer, is Vice President, and Nikki Mitchell leads as Vice President after growing within Highland’s hospitality team.
Supported by a team of over 100 employees, Highland is built on a core value: being absurdly people focused. From our staff to our guests to our partners, great beer starts with strong relationships. It’s what continues to define us as an Asheville brewery known for community and hospitality.
Thirst for Good
Thirst for Good is how Highland shows up for Asheville and Western North Carolina. Through nonprofit partnerships, community events and giving initiatives, we connect craft beer with real impact.
From environmental stewardship to food security and crisis response, this work reflects our belief that being an Asheville brewery means being part of something bigger. Learn more about Thirst for Good and how to get involved.
Small Company, Big Impact
Highland may be independent, but our impact reaches far beyond the brewery. We focus our giving on partners including Asheville Humane Society, MANNA FoodBank, RiverLink, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, the Nature Center, HelpMate and the NC Arboretum.
Following Hurricane Helene, our brewery campus served as a hub for organizations needing space and support.
As an independent Asheville brewery, we’re proud to contribute to a community filled with standout Asheville breweries while continuing to show up in meaningful ways. From daily connections to long-term partnerships, our commitment is simple: be here, give back and make it count.