Hey craft beer fam—ready to kick off 2026’s Year of the Fire Horse (think bold energy, blazing speed, good fortune, and straight-up resilience) the right way? Grab your crew and head to Highland Brewing in Asheville, NC’s hilltop oasis for a weekend-long Lunar New Year blowout that’s equal parts heritage celebration, hoppy goodness, and unbreakable community spirit!
Founded in 1994 by Chinese-Jamaican immigrant and engineering legend Oscar Wong (yep, he started Asheville’s craft beer revolution!), Highland has been pouring award-winners like the iconic Gaelic Ale (that original amber legend), juicy Highland Haze IPA, and chill Daycation series for over 30 years. As a proud Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI)-led, family-owned, woman-led brewery (shoutout to President/CEO Leah Wong Ashburn, Oscar’s daughter), they’re all about blending roots, innovation, and killer pints.
This year’s festivities hit extra hard—coming off Hurricane Helene’s tough 2024 aftermath, where Highland stepped up BIG: raising $13K+ for hospitality workers, turning their taproom/warehouse into a relief hub, and keeping the community hydrated and fed. Now, a year+ later, the Lunar New Year toast is all about new beginnings, good luck, and bouncing back stronger—Fire Horse style!
Leah Wong Ashburn nails it: “Lunar New Year is about gathering with friends and family over traditions and flavors we love. We’re honoring our roots as Asheville’s OG craft brewery, celebrating the community’s grit over the past year and a half, and sharing joy, fresh starts, and good vibes with everyone.”
Star of the Show: Fire Horse Chocolate Porter
Highland’s back with their annual coast-to-coast collab with Seattle’s Asian-owned Lucky Envelope Brewing—this rich, roasty Fire Horse Chocolate Porter brings deep dark chocolate vibes, layered malts, a touch of smoked sea salt + cinnamon magic, and a warm, bold finish that screams Fire Horse energy. Limited and legendary—don’t sleep on it!
Weekend Highlights – Feb 21-22 at Highland’s 40-Acre Hilltop Campus
Saturday, Feb 21: Taproom & Event Center transformation (11am–3pm-ish vibes) with live dragon dance performances, food trucks rolling, family-friendly fun, and the on-site-only drop of four special Lunar New Year brews in a festive flight:
Fire Horse Chocolate Porter (the collab hero)
Luck Red Ale
Good Fortune Rice Lager
Joy Wheat Ale with lemongrass & ginger
Evening glow-up: Glow-in-the-Dark Disc Golf Tournament (6-9pm) on the course—think neon discs, prizes (including Fire Horse bottles!), and pure fun under the lights.
Sunday, Feb 22: Epic Dim Sum Brunch with Chef J Chong (J Chong Eats, Big Brunch finalist)—a modern twist on classic dim sum dishes symbolizing prosperity, luck, longevity, and happiness, perfectly paired with Highland beers.
This is more than beer—it’s a vibrant, inclusive festival celebrating Asian brewing heritage (Asia’s been brewing since ~7000 BCE, yet only ~2% of U.S. breweries are Asian-owned—Highland’s changing that narrative with flavor and heart!).
As the Southeast’s largest family-owned native brewery (distributing across NC, SC, TN, GA), Highland keeps it real: massive solar array for sustainability, tours, live music, and big expansions coming in 2026 (outdoor retail shop, rock-climbing gym, pizza spot—yes please!).
Swing by Highland Brewing’s campus, raise a pint to resilience and good fortune, and toast the Year of the Fire Horse with some of the best AAPI-brewed craft beer out there. See you on the hill—let’s make it epic! 🐎🔥🍻✨
About Highland Brewing
Highland Brewing pioneered Asheville’s craft scene in 1994, founded by retired engineer Oscar Wong. Since 2016, it’s been proudly woman-led by his daughter, Leah Wong Ashburn. As a minority-founded, family-owned powerhouse, they brew classics and innovate with sustainability (one of the largest solar setups in U.S. craft beer). Visit for limited releases, events, and good times—more upgrades on the way in 2026!
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