Asheville – Highland Brewing Company is commemorating the 25th anniversary of its Cold Mountain craft beer. Asheville’s oldest brewery is celebrating with an event series from Nov. 11 to 15. Festivities include release events at both the Downtown and Old Charlotte Highway taprooms. Special Cold Mountain variations will be served and packaged Cold Mountain beer will be available to order. Highland’s 12 Old Charlotte Highway taproom will be transformed into a ski chalet for the Cold Mountain Season.
“To celebrate Cold Mountain’s silver anniversary, our festivities will include release events at both of our taprooms, special Cold Mountain variations and Cold Mountain packaged beer available for pre-order,” Highland Brewing Co.’s website says.
Cold Mountain
The traditional Cold Mountain, first released in 1996, is a seasonal ale available each Nov through the holidays. The perennial holiday favorite has a 5.9% ABV and features notes of vanilla, hazelnut, dark fruit, and cinnamon. The Imperial Cold Mountain has a higher ABV of 8%. The Barrel-aged Cold Mountain reaches toward the 10% range. The newest flavor is Coconut Cold Mountain, made with real coconut. The ale began as a small batch brew but since grew to be one of the most popular variations of Cold Mountain. All four variations will be available on draft and sold in cans of differing sizes.
“In 1996, we brewed Cold Mountain as a holiday treat. 25 years later, this brew is a cherished tradition in Asheville and our surrounding region,” Highland Brewing Co.’s website says. “ [It] has become a tradition and a sign of the season across the Southeast.”
2021 marks the first time that Highland will sell packaged Super Spice Cold Mountain—the ale is even more packed with the signature Cold Mountain spices.
Cold Celebration
Each year the brewery kicks off the holiday season with the Cold Mountain release party to celebrate the return of this winter ale. Hundreds of people line up for their first Cold Mountain of the year. This year is the ale’s 25th birthday, marking an extra-special weekend of fun. The annual celebration is already Highland’s biggest beer release of the year and the 25th anniversary is expected to be widely attended.
Schedule of events: Thursday, Nov. 11th – Monday, Nov. 15th
Thursday, Nov. 11: Cold Mountain Beer Dinner
“The Event Center, Rooftop and Barrel Room will be transformed into a sensory experience for this exclusive ticketed event. This seated, coursed dinner features Cold Mountain beer pairings and the first chance to purchase Cold Mountain in the 2021 season,” says the website.
Cold Mountain, on draft, will be paired with savory dishes served over several courses. Tickets are $90 per person. Tables may be reserved for groups of two, four, six or eight in the barrel room and rooftop which will be decorated to honor the silver anniversary.
Friday, Nov 12 & Saturday, Nov 13: Celebration session access pass required at the brewery.
(Two Sessions Daily). Day session: 12pm-4pm (all ages) and evening session (for 21+) is 6pm-10pm. Access passes are $10 a person, which excludes packaged beer.
“Enjoy the first Cold Mountain of the season with music, special programming and onsite packaged beer exclusives in the Taproom, Meadow and Taproom Annex. To join the brewery for Cold Mountain Release weekend, you must purchase an access pass online for a designated ‘Celebration Session.’”
Sunday, Nov 14: Celebration session access pass required at the main brewery from 12pm-4pm.
This is followed by the Cold Mountain Flights, Pints & Small event from 5-9 in the downtown Patton Ave taproom. The evening event features a curated menu of small plates prepared by Highland and several S&W partners. Attendees will receive their choice of flight of the four main Cold Mountain drafts or two pints of another Highland beer.
Monday, Nov. 15: No access pass required
A full day’s allotment of all three packages + Cold Mountain styles a la carte will be available. The taproom hours are noon-9pm.