Highland Brewing celebrated 30th anniversary
May 05, 2024 06:21PM ● By WNC Business
ASHEVILLE - Highland Brewing Company celebrated its 30th anniversary on May 4, 2024. In 1994, Chinese-Jamaican immigrant Oscar Wong began Highland Brewing the basement of Barley’s in downtown Asheville, brewing beer with refurbished dairy equipment and bottling it by hand.
“The community support and attendant growth of Highland far exceeded my expectations,” says Wong. “My dream of a quiet local brewery serving as a personal watering hole was leveled up by competition and the strong support of discerning customers. Both of these aspects fueled Highland’s changing ambitions and the national recognition of our area.”
“We named our 30th anniversary beer The Long Game to capture the spirit of Highland Brewing’s tenacity over the decades,” said Leah Wong Ashburn, President and CEO of Highland Brewing. “Short games lead to short gains. To better ensure the livelihoods of our employees and contribute to the vitality of our city today and tomorrow, we still aim for lasting impact.”
Highland Brewing was founded in 1994 by retired engineer and entrepreneur Oscar Wong, establishing it as the pioneer of Asheville, NC’s now booming craft beer industry. Highland’s beers are distributed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Highland is committed to quality and sustainability, boasting the third largest solar array in an American craft brewery. Today, the company is led by Wong’s daughter, Leah Wong Ashburn, and serves as the largest family-owned brewery native to the Southeast. Located in a rehabilitated manufacturing facility on a hilltop, the brewery affords space for thousands of visitors to enjoy limited release beers, tours, and live music. In addition, the Event Center and Rooftop are available for private events. For more information, visit HighlandBrewing.com.
Source: Highland Brewing