The Coffee Behind the Beer: Dynamite Roasting Co. and Thunderstruck

Flavor

Highland Brewing’s Thunderstruck Coffee Porter has been brewed with coffee from Dynamite Roasting Co. of Black Mountain, NC, since the beer’s first batch in 2011. This fall, this seasonal favorite arrives in cans for the first time as our Fall/Winter seasonal, hitting stores around mid-October. 

Dynamite has been our coffee partner on Thunderstruck from the beginning, and the beer wouldn’t be what it is without them. 

Give the People What They Want 

Thunderstruck has earned a loyal following over the years. When we tried to retire it, the demand to bring it back was high. Now it’s back, and for the first time, Thunderstruck will be available in cans.  

Thunderstruck joins Saint T’s Pale Ale and Clawhammer Oktoberfest Marzen Lager in Highland’s 2026 seasonal lineup, giving us three long-running throwback beers that our fans have loved for years. 

A Partnership With Highland Roots 

The story starts with Andy Gibbon, who founded Dynamite Roasting Co. in 2008. Before that, Andy was a professional brewer at Highland Brewing. He was also a barista and a home coffee roasting hobbyist, which means he understands both sides of a coffee porter better than almost anyone. 

When it came time to make a coffee beer, the choice of partner was easy. Andy knew our brewhouse, and we knew his coffee. 

Meet Dynamite Roasting Co. 

Dynamite’s motto says it well: coffee is what they do, but you are why they do it. Based in Black Mountain, NC, they serve everyone from a single-cup customer at their cozy cafe to a customer on the other side of the country, with the same commitment to excellent coffee and service at a great price. 

Here’s what sets them apart: 

  • Certified Organic and Fair Trade since day one. Dynamite has held both certifications since 2008. 
  • Relationships at every step. Quality goes beyond the bean. It means building relationships with the farmers who grow the coffee, the customers who enjoy it and the environment that makes it possible. 
  • Time at origin. The Dynamite team regularly visits coffee-growing regions to meet farmers, taste exceptional coffees and nurture lasting partnerships around the world. 
  • Generational expertise. Co-owner Patrick Shaw is a third-generation coffee professional who grew up in his family’s roasting business and brought that legacy to Dynamite. 

Their ethical sourcing supports farmers and their communities, and it helps build a healthier, longer-lasting coffee industry. That’s a standard we’re proud to put in every can of Thunderstruck. 

How We Brew Thunderstruck 

Dynamite’s coffee goes into the beer at two points: 

  1. Hot side: Nylon bags holding 100 lbs of ground Dynamite coffee hang in the whirlpool after the boil and steep for an hour. 
  1. Cold side: We add another 100 lbs of a blended medium roast to a Grundy tank, fill it with beer and let it rest cold for 24 hours. Think of it as cold brew, but on beer. 

We add 200 lbs of coffee into every 200 bbl brew, or roughly 200 lbs of coffee for about 400 kegs of beer. The hot-side steep and the cold-side infusion give Thunderstruck its layered coffee character on top of a smooth porter base. 

Celebrate With Us in the Meadow 

To toast the return of Thunderstruck, we’re hosting a party in the Meadow with local AC/DC cover band Problem Child. 

Pick up a Thunderstruck, and if you’re near Black Mountain, stop by Dynamite’s cafe for a cup of the coffee behind the beer. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Who makes the coffee in Thunderstruck Coffee Porter? 
Dynamite Roasting Co. of Black Mountain, NC, has supplied the coffee for Thunderstruck since it was first brewed in 2011. 

How is Dynamite Roasting Co. connected to Highland Brewing? 
Dynamite’s founder, Andy Gibbon, is a former professional brewer at Highland Brewing. 

Is the coffee in Thunderstruck organic and Fair Trade? 
Dynamite Roasting Co. has been certified Fair Trade and Organic since 2008. 

How much coffee goes into Thunderstruck? 
About 200 lbs of coffee goes into each 200 bbl brew, split between a hot-side whirlpool steep and a cold-side Grundy infusion. 

Is Thunderstruck available in cans? 
Yes. This fall is its first release in cans, arriving around mid-October. It’s also in the Highland Variety Pack. 

 

 

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