(Courtesy Highland Brewing)

Anyone planning a beer trip to Asheville probably already knows that the city is packed with outstanding breweries. But before all the IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, and crowded taprooms that helped earn Asheville its “Beer City” reputation, there was Highland Brewing.

Founded in 1994, Highland was Asheville’s first craft brewery, and today visitors can experience that history firsthand through the brewery’s new Highland Heritage Tour & Tasting.

The guided experience lasts about 80 minutes and offers far more than a quick walk through the brewhouse. Guests get an insider’s look at the brewery’s production spaces, including the brewhouse, pilot brewing room, packaging hall, taproom, and recreation areas spread across Highland’s scenic 40-acre hilltop campus. The property also features a disc golf course, sand volleyball courts, open meadows, and two colorful murals created by local artist Gus Cutty.

This one-of-a-kind tour wraps up in a perfect place with a guided tasting of six Highland beers, including classics like Highland Haze IPA. And guests head home with an artisan Highland pint glass to commemorate a day well spent.

Along the way, the experience tells the story of how Asheville became one of America’s great beer destinations. That story begins with founder Oscar Wong, who brewed the city’s first craft beer, Gaelic Amber Ale, in 1994. Over the following decades, Wong earned the nickname “The Godfather of Asheville Craft Beer” as Highland helped inspire the brewery boom that transformed the city into a nationally recognized craft beer hub. Wong passed away last year, but his influence continues to shape both Highland Brewing and the broader Asheville beer community.

“We can’t wait to share our story, our process, and a flight of freshly brewed craft beer with beer fans traveling to Western North Carolina,” said Leah Wong Ashburn, Highland Brewing’s president and CEO. “We’re bringing beer lovers in to be a part of Asheville’s storied brewing history that carries on today at Highland Brewing with a focus on community, quality, and exceptional experiences.”

More than three decades after opening its doors, Highland continues to evolve while staying deeply connected to the community that helped build its reputation.

Last year, the brewery launched its Thirst for Good initiative, highlighting its commitment to great beer, sustainability, and community engagement. That commitment became especially clear after Hurricane Helene, when Highland converted portions of its brewery into office space, relief distribution centers, and food storage for multiple aid organizations and volunteers. The brewery also raised more than $13,000 to support hospitality workers affected by the storm.

The Heritage Tour reflects that same spirit by blending great beer with the story behind one of the South’s most influential breweries.

Tours cost $20 per person and include the guided experience, a tasting flight of six beers, a Highland pint glass, and a brewery sticker. The brewery also accommodates larger groups for corporate outings, birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and other special events, with options that can include custom tours and rounds of disc golf.

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