When coming to a new town, we always like to do a little research on some of the activities that the town is known for. For New York, it would be shopping, restaurants, and shows to name just a few. For Vegas many know it for gambling, shows, and wild trips. For us in Asheville, we are known for our outdoor activities such as hiking and biking, and quickly getting more notoriety for our amazing restaurants. One activity that Asheville has been steadily increasing in popularity is craft beer brewing. There are so many fantastic breweries in Asheville and one that we at Orchard Inn want to highlight is Highland Brewing Company. They have been going strong in Asheville for 20 years and we want to take some time to explain why Highland Brewing Company has been growing so steadily and what they plan on doing in the future.
The Highland Brewing Company started brewing in 1994 and as like most companies they started off small and used what they had. Using outfitted dairy equipment, they made as much beer as they possibly could, which in the beginning was only 6,500 barrels a year, which is how they sold their beer at first. The community loved Highland Brewing Company’s beer and they had a hard time keeping up with demand. Slowly they began buying as much equipment as they could to help them brew and bottle quicker. To help their growth they did have to move their beer making to Maryland temporarily while the Highland Brewing Company found a space better situated for their needs. The Highland Brewing Company moved back to Asheville in 2006 and then were very excited to install a fantastic tasting room which is everyone’s favorite place to hang out, taste beers, and get questions answered by staff. Over the past few years the Highland Brewing Company has continually put money back into their business by evolving their space with an outdoor bar, hop vines, and always trying to use the best and freshest ingredients that they can find. Starting in 2015, the Highland Brewing Company has gone solar. They are trying to improve their sustainability and carbon footprint by harnessing the power of the sun to help run their daily operations. The next idea the Highland Brewing Company has for improving their space is a rooftop bar that they say will be done by this summer. That will most likely make Highland Brewing Company a very popular place to relax during this summer.
Now let’s move on to the fun part, Highland Brewing Company’s delicious beers. They have some that they brew and showcase all year long. Those are, Gaelic Ale (Highland Brewing Company’s flagship beer), Oatmeal Porter, St. Terese’s Pale Ale, Kashmir English-Style Pale Ale, Black Mocha Stout. They also have seasonal brews that always differ from year to year and while the timing may be similar, the recipes are always different. Be sure to check out their site to see what is being offered. Lastly they also have some brews categorized as one-off brews. This means that they have made these beers and when they are gone they are gone forever. For us that means if you like them, buy them and enjoy them.
The last reason we at Orchard Inn, as well as visitors and locals, love the Highland Brewing Company is because they host fun events. They have bands and food at the brewery which makes this a great place for everyone to hang out after a long day, or week at work.
When coming to Asheville to tour breweries, like the Highland Brewing Company, visitors love staying with us at Orchard Inn. Like a lot of these breweries, we love spoiling our guests with impeccable service and attention to detail. We also like using local and fresh ingredients in our in-house restaurant, Newman’s. Ready to come visit the Highland Brewing Company and us at Orchard Inn? Contact our wonderful staff today and let us help you plan out your brew tours and your stay with us.
Photo by: HumongoNationphotogallery
