Highland Brewing, Asheville's original craft brewery, is marking the Year of the Fire Horse with more than just beer releases—it's toasting a region's comeback. Founded in 1994 by Chinese-Jamaican immigrant Oscar Wong, the family-owned brewery has become a pillar of Western North Carolina's craft scene and, in the wake of Hurricane Helene, its recovery.
When Helene devastated Asheville last fall, leaving the city without drinking water for nearly two months, Highland Brewing transformed its 40-acre campus into a relief hub. The brewery raised over $13,000 for hospitality workers and converted its taproom, warehouse, and beer coolers into distribution centers and temporary offices. Now, a year and a half later, its annual Lunar New Year celebration carries added weight.
"Lunar New Year is all about celebrating with friends and family over time-honored traditions and delicious flavors," says Leah Wong Ashburn, Oscar Wong's daughter and Highland's President/CEO. "At Highland, we're looking back on our roots as Asheville's first craft brewery and honoring the community's resilience over the last year and a half."
Highland's February 21-22 festival includes the return of its collaboration with Lucky Envelope Brewing, the Asian-owned Seattle operation. Fire Horse Chocolate Porter is their coast-to-coast release, featuring dark chocolate character and warming malt complexity. On-site-only brews include Luck Red Ale, Good Fortune Rice Lager, and Joy Wheat Ale with Lemongrass and Ginger. The weekend also features live dragon dance performances, food trucks, and a Dim Sum Brunch with Chef J Chong of The Big Brunch.
Highland's identity as a minority-founded, woman-led brewery is notable in an industry where only about 2% of U.S. breweries are Asian-owned. The brewery distributes across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, and operates one of the largest solar arrays in American craft brewing. Its lineup includes Gaelic Ale, Highland Haze IPA, and the Daycation brand family.
Ashburn's leadership has earned recognition: Brewbound's Person of the Year, Woman Executive of the Year from the Asheville Chamber, and a James Beard semifinalist nod for Beer, Wine or Spirits Professional. Last week, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein appointed her to the Governor's Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery—a fitting role for someone who turned a brewery into a lifeline.
As craft beer's growth slows and regional breweries face distribution headwinds, Highland's blend of heritage storytelling, community roots, and disaster response offers a playbook for staying relevant. The Lunar New Year celebration isn't just about tradition—it's about proving a brewery can anchor a region through crisis and culture alike.
