As established in our ultimate list of 50+ Asheville breweries, Asheville’s craft beer scene is prolific. But long before this giant wave of suds, back in 1994, Asheville had one original craft brewery: Highland Brewing Company.
In honor of Drink Up Week, we chatted with Leah Wong Ashburn — the brewery’s President and CEO —about what makes Highland such a local institution, when she decided to pursue brewing, and everything in between.
Leah and her fleet of beers. | Photo courtesy of Highland Brewing
IPA vs. Lager. Which one and why?
Lager because I like to eat, and too many IPAs wrecks your palette.
In your own words, what is unique about Highland Brewing?
We’re the essence of Asheville. This is true because we’re Asheville’s first brewery, and we’re only five minutes away from downtown. We have 40 wooded acres. People can come here and experience all the things they come to Asheville for: beer, food trucks, outdoor activities, mountain views, trails, outdoor recreation and sports like volleyball and disc golf.
Tell us about when you knew you wanted to pursue brewing.
A lot of elements had to come together for me to decide to join the family business. It was essentially 16 years of conversations and watching. I was a journalism major, and I worked as a yearbook rep, and I loved teaching students.
But the time came when the challenges of my job were getting smaller, and what it required of me was growing. I had continued watching the brewing staff, and I attended our annual retreat, and things started to come together. With the encouragement of my husband, dad, and staff, I decided to join the family business.
Summer Nights Live: Madeline Dierauf | Thurs., July 28 | 6-9 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Square | Free with museum admission ($10-15) | WNC fiddler Madeline Dierauf enlivens the museum with music to complement your visit. 🎻 *
“I Found That Song In A Friend” | Thurs., July 28 | 6-7 p.m. | Virtual | Free | The WNC Historical Association explores the musical legacy of Bascom Lamar Lunsford and the Western North Carolina song.
Friday
“Hello Death, Where Have You Been All My Life?” | Fri., July 29 | 6-8 p.m. | Center for Craft, 67 Broadway St. | Free | Check out the opening reception of this immersive, sensorial installation constructed over the past two years by Center for Craft grant recipient Macon Reed.
An Evening with Sam Fribush Organ Trio | Fri., July 29 | 6 p.m. | One World West, 520 Haywood Rd. | $10 | This funk and soul-influenced Hammond Organ player is best known playing in the Raleigh-based band Hiss Golden Messenger.
Saturday
Urban Garden Tour and Tasting with Bountiful Cities | Sat., July 30 | 2-6 p.m. | 198 Vermont Ave. | Free or $35 for food + beverage tasting | Seven local food producing gardens will open their gates for visitors, educational activities, and tours.
Grove Arcade Summer Festival | Sat., July 30 | 12-7 p.m. | Grove Arcade | Free | The inaugural festival will feature indoor and outdoor games, food + drink specials, and live music from Travers Brothership, Random Acts of Music, and Tommy Parti. 🎊
Pool Party | Sat., July 30 | 1-5 p.m. | Aloft Asheville, 51 Biltmore Ave. | $10 | Enjoy tunes from DJ Jaze, cocktails from Tito’s + beer tastings from New Belgium at this Campaign for Southern Equality fundraiser.
Herbs for the Heart: Crafting Cordials for Grief Workshop | Sat., July 30 | 1-3 p.m. | Center for Craft, 67 Broadway St. | $15 | Herbalist + educator Janet Kent will discuss herbs that support bereavement and the basics of cordial-making — each participant takes home their own herbal grief tonic and cordial.
Sunday
Christmas in July | Sun., July 31 | 2-7 p.m. | Mills River Brewing Co., 336 Banner Farm Rd. | Shop local vendors + enjoy live music from Jon Cox and Bridge Gossen.
Shaun Martin Trio | Sun., July 31 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Isis Music Hall, 743 Haywood Rd. | $20+ | The Grammy Award-winning Shaun Martin is best known for his work with choirmaster Kirk Franklin and as a key member of Snarky Puppy.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Hampton Farms has been in biz for 75+ years, so you know they’ve got the snacking thing down. | Photo provided by Hampton Farms
We’re four days into AVLtoday’s first Drink Up Week — and we’re loving every second. Here’s something else to add to your plate: Hampton Farms gourmet peanuts — because the only thing better than a drink is a drink + a snack.
84º | Scattered thunderstorms | 60% chance of rain
Civic
At its July 26 meeting, Asheville City Councilvoted 6-1 to approve amendments to the city’s open space requirement. This will reduce the amount of open space requiredforprivate commercial + residential developments. It will not impact public parks or other infrastructure.See the presentation to learn more. 🏗️
Hands together for Buncombe County’s Communications and Public Engagement team, which
received two Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties. The winning programs included “Let’s Talk,” an
open-ended platform that allows anyone to call, email, or submit a form, along with its “WRES 100.7 Tapped In” radio show. 📻
Eat
Hemp pasta, anyone? At this week’s LOVE SHINE PLAY festival, Franny’s Pasta & Prana Food Truck will debut, serving hot plates of Franny’s Fettuccine, Leaf Linguine,and gluten-free New World Gnocchi. Come August, the pasta will also be available for lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Franny’s Farmacy (231 Biltmore Ave.). 🍝
Coming Soon
Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins, an urban A-frame lodge along Amboy Road, will open for business on Thurs., Sept. 1. There will be 16 cabins, an “experience program,” and a food + provisions program led by James Beard Award semifinalist Ashley Capps and partner Travis Schultz.
Festivals
The Riverkeeper Float Fest returns to the River and Earth Adventures’ New River Outposton Sat., Aug. 20 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The family-friendly event includes tubing, cornhole, fly fishing demos + environmental education. Proceeds benefit MountainTrue’s Watauga Riverkeeper and help protect clean water.
The inaugural Earl Scruggs Music Festival debuts at the Tryon International Equestrian Center on Fri., Sept. 2-Sun., Sept. 4. Headliners include
bluegrass, Americana, and roots musicians like Jerry Douglasand The Earls of Leicester. NC artists such as
Chatham County Line and Rissi Palmer will also be spotlighted. Get tickets. 🪕
Shop
Save the date. 103.3 Asheville FM has announced its third annual Record Fair will take place Sat., Sept. 10 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center-Asheville. The event features vinyls, 45s, CDs, and other collectibles from 30+ vendors. There will also be live DJ sets and performances from local bands. 💿
State
As of Wed., July 27, individuals serving a felony sentence (who are not in jail or prison) may register to vote in North Carolina. This includes people who are serving probation, post-release supervision or parole. People who are serving felony sentences in prisonremain ineligible for voting registration. Get more info.
Award
ICYMI, UNC Asheville was recently named a 2022-2023 College of Distinction — and that’s not all. It was also recognized as one of the nation’s best public colleges, as well as one of the best in the state. Way to go, Bulldogs. 👏 *
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
This giant pink elephant won’t be the only animal at The Whale this Thurs., July 28.
On the same day as its Belgian Independence celebration, this West Asheville outpost will also host a Doggie Dance Party from 4-7 p.m., featuring Asheville’s most eligible, adoptable pets.
Expect iconic Belgian beer Delirium Tremens on draft, a school supply drive, and dancing all night long. And yes, the elephant will be there for all your photo opp needs.
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Editor’s pick: For yesterday’s cooking adventure, I stopped by Mother Ocean Seafood Market for a pound of fresh NC shrimp. Following Eric Kim’s recipe, I made a relatively quick + delightful shrimp cocktail for dinner, with homemade cocktail sauce, of course. The meal paired perfectly with Cultivated Cocktails’ Asheville 75.
What have y’all been cooking lately? If it’s a fun recipe, I may share it in a future newsletter.
Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.
