Beer

Asheville, NC – Highland Brewing, the pioneer of Asheville’s renowned craft beer scene, is giving its flagship Gaelic Amber Ale a fresh, fan-favorite update with new packaging that reintroduces Scotty, the beloved character who first appeared in the brewery’s logo back in 1994.

The refreshed look features Scotty – the cheeky, bearded figure in traditional Scottish attire, proudly holding a mug of beer – now front and center on updated 6-pack bottles and cans, 12-pack cans, and Highland variety packs. This redesign honors the beer’s deep roots while giving it a modern, nostalgic appeal.

Scotty pays tribute to the Scotch-Irish immigrants who shaped Western North Carolina in the mid-1800s, and he embodies the pioneering spirit of Highland Brewing founder Oscar Wong. In 1994, Wong crafted Gaelic Ale using refurbished dairy equipment, launching Asheville’s very first craft beer and sparking what would become a world-class brewing destination.

After being retired during the 2018 rebrand, Scotty’s return answers years of fan requests. He’s back to represent adventure, tradition, and the quest for an unforgettable beer experience – all tied to Highland’s ongoing “Thirst for Good” commitment.

“Gaelic Ale’s new look brings Scotty back with all his original charm and our flagship’s classic flavor,” said CEO and President Leah Wong Ashburn, Oscar’s daughter, who has led the woman- and minority-founded brewery since 2016. “It’s a nostalgic moment for us that honors our history and looks forward with a fresh take on Scotty’s role that is perfectly placed with Gaelic Ale.”

This revival arrives as the Asheville and Western North Carolina community continues to rebuild after Hurricane Helene’s devastation in 2024. The storm left Asheville without drinking water for two months, and Highland Brewing stepped up in a big way: raising over $13,000 for affected hospitality workers, converting its spaces into relief hubs for supplies, food storage, and volunteer coordination, and redeploying staff to support logistics efforts.

“We are so proud of the WNC region and our community’s resilience,” Ashburn added. “Scotty’s legacy reflects a connection to people and place. He also reflects the optimism we’ve encountered time and time again throughout the recovery process. We can all raise a beer to that.”

Gaelic Amber Ale (5.5% ABV) remains true to its original recipe – an exceptionally balanced amber ale blending malty sweetness with delicate hop bitterness from Chinook, Willamette, and Cascade hops. Notes of toffee, caramel, and nuts make it smooth, approachable, and a perfect introduction to craft beer for new drinkers or a comforting taste of home for longtime fans.

Find the newly packaged Gaelic Amber Ale – along with other Highland favorites like Highland Haze IPA and Daycation IPA – on draft and in stores throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Use the beer finder at highlandbrewing.com/beer-finder to locate Scotty near you.

About Highland Brewing

Founded in 1994 by retired engineer and entrepreneur Oscar Wong, Highland Brewing is Asheville’s original craft brewery and the largest family-owned brewery native to the Southeast. Woman-led by Leah Wong Ashburn since 2016, the brewery distributes across NC, SC, TN, and GA. Committed to quality, sustainability (including one of the largest solar arrays in U.S. craft brewing), and community, Highland welcomes visitors to its hilltop destination for limited-release beers, tours, disc golf, live music, private events – with an outdoor retail shop, rock-climbing gym, and pizza restaurant coming in 2026.

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San Diego, Calif. — While many brewers face ongoing headwinds in the beer industry, Karl Strauss Brewing Company—San Diego’s original craft brewery since 1989—continues to grow and innovate as an independently owned operation.

“People keep asking how we’re growing in this tough environment,” said Co-Founder and President Matt Rattner. “The answer is simple: We’re keeping our heads down, doing a lot of little things right, and staying true to what made us successful. We’ve been brewing in San Diego longer than anyone else, and remaining independent makes us a reliable choice for drinkers seeking authentic, high-quality experiences.”

To attract a broader audience amid shifting preferences—where fewer people are drinking traditional beer—Karl Strauss has launched Hard Cherry Cola, a 5% ABV, gluten-free flavored malt beverage (FMB) that’s generating significant early buzz.

“Many consumers are turning to flavored malt beverages like Twisted Tea or Mike’s Hard Lemonade, one of the few growing segments in alcohol,” Rattner explained. “We gave our brewers creative freedom, and the result is a spot-on recreation of nostalgic, old-school hard cherry colas—refreshing, not too sweet or sticky, and perfect for easy sipping. The response has been unprecedented.”

Major retailers including Disney, Vons, Albertsons, and Total Wine & More placed immediate orders, leading to a strong initial rollout.
“Hats off to our production team for handling the surge without major out-of-stocks,” said Chief Operating Officer Chad Heath. “They’ve juggled a lot to meet demand for Hard Cherry Cola.”

This launch aligns with broader market trends: The flavored malt beverage category saw U.S. sales reach approximately $4.6 billion in 2023 (up about 16% year-over-year), with continued momentum into 2024 (additional gains of around 5-6% in dollar sales in off-premise channels). Consumers increasingly favor fruit-forward, cocktail-inspired drinks, and Karl Strauss saw an opportunity to elevate a classic flavor profile with a crisp, balanced twist—evoking high-energy vibes like a Dirty Shirley or Espresso Martini, but without heavy syrups.

In addition to the new FMB, Karl Strauss is bringing back a fan-favorite: Amber Lager, the brewery’s very first beer, now available as a seasonal spring release in packaged format for the first time in 11 years.

“We get constant requests to revive this one,” Heath noted. “If people are still asking after all these years, it’s time to deliver.”

Both Hard Cherry Cola and Amber Lager are now available at select retailers throughout California. Fans can also find them on tap or in cans at Karl Strauss’ nine Southern California brewpubs, including locations in Anaheim, Corona Dos Lagos, Costa Mesa, Downtown Los Angeles, San Diego (4S Ranch, Carlsbad, Downtown, Sorrento Mesa), and Temecula.

About Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Karl Strauss Brewing Company, San Diego’s pioneering craft brewery, was founded in 1989 by cousins Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner, who drew inspiration from exceptional beers encountered during travels abroad and sought to bring high-quality, flavorful options to their hometown. They enlisted the expertise of Cramer’s cousin, legendary German-born Master Brewer Karl Strauss (1912–2006), a Jewish immigrant who fled Nazi Germany in 1939, trained formally in brewing at Weihenstephan, and spent over four decades rising through the ranks at Pabst Brewing Company in Milwaukee. With Strauss serving as Master Brewer—designing the facility, training staff, and crafting initial recipes like the flagship Amber Lager—the brewery opened its first brewpub, the Karl Strauss Old Columbia Brewery and Grille, on February 2, 1989, in downtown San Diego. As the first new brewery in the city since Prohibition ended more than 50 years earlier, it ignited San Diego’s modern craft beer revolution, helping transform the region into a nationally renowned beer destination. Remaining proudly independent, Karl Strauss has expanded to multiple brewpubs across Southern California, earned numerous awards, and continues to innovate while honoring Strauss’s legacy as the “Godfather of Beer” until his passing in 2006.

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Hey Texas beer fans and road warriors—grab a cold one and let’s talk Karbach Lager, the crisp new brew that’s not just raising a glass to the Lone Star State but helping keep it clean! Launched in early 2026 by Karbach Brewing Co. in Houston, this marks their first-ever namesake beer and a powerhouse partnership with the iconic Don’t Mess with Texas campaign (yep, that legendary anti-litter movement from TxDOT). Beverage cans are among the top littered items on Texas highways, so Karbach is stepping up with community vibes: spreading the “Don’t mess with Texas” pride, boosting awareness, and rallying folks to join the Adopt-a-Highway program for cleaner roads and bigger Texas spirit. As Norma Rios, campaign manager, puts it: it’s all about personal responsibility—toss that can right, and you’re making a real difference.

This 4.5% ABV German-style lager is perfectly sessionable: two-row aromatic malt meets classic Saaz and Hallertau hops for a balanced, clean sip with a refreshing finish—think easy-drinking Texas pride in every pour. It’s rolling out now in bottles, cans, and kegs at retailers statewide and straight from the Houston Biergarten, timed perfectly with Karbach’s 15th anniversary bash. “This isn’t just about a great lager,” says GM Chris Meyer—it’s quality beer meets community commitment, turning every sip into action to protect the places we love. Head to your local spot or the Karbach campus for pours, events, and more on upcoming clean-ups. Karbach’s been crushing it since 2011 as one of Texas’ biggest craft powerhouses—home to top-sellers like Hopadillo IPA (the state’s No. 1 traditional IPA) and Love Street Blonde—with a massive biergarten, killer food spots, and that fearless, fun energy that brings people together.

About Karbach Brewing Company
Karbach Brewing Co. was founded in 2011 in Houston, Texas, by beverage industry veterans Chuck Robertson and Ken Goodman (former owners of C.R. Goodman Distribution), who teamed up with renowned brewmaster Eric Warner (ex-CEO of Flying Dog Brewery and founder of Tabernash). After selling their distribution business in 2007 to fund the venture (and sidestep Texas laws barring producers from self-distribution), they transformed a warehouse on Karbach Street in the Spring Branch neighborhood into the brewery—naming it after the street itself, not any Bavarian village. Doors opened in September/October 2011, starting with draft-only pours before cans hit shelves in 2013. The brewery exploded onto the scene with bold, approachable beers like Hopadillo IPA (quickly becoming Texas’ top traditional IPA) and Love Street Blonde, earning rapid growth—named the second-fastest-growing craft brewery in the U.S. by The New Yorker in 2013—and a massive $15 million expansion by 2015 that added a brewhouse upgrade and on-site restaurant.

In November 2016, Karbach was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev as part of their High End craft portfolio push, but the brewery kept its independent spirit alive, continuing to innovate with flagships, seasonals, and that fearless Texas energy. Even post-acquisition, Karbach has stayed a Houston powerhouse—hosting epic events like ZiegFest (celebrating their ZiegenBock lager with live country music), expanding distribution statewide, and maintaining a lively campus with a biergarten, food concepts, and community hangs that draw crowds year-round. Now 15 years strong in 2026, Karbach remains one of Texas’ largest and most decorated craft operations, blending German-inspired techniques with bold flavors while championing local pride through partnerships like the recent Don’t Mess with Texas collab.

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Hey craft beer lovers and gluten-free trailblazers—raise your glasses because Ghostfish Brewing in Seattle is hitting a major milestone: 11 years of pouring world-class, dedicated gluten-free beer! Co-Founder and CEO Brian Thiel looks back on day one in 2015 as a quiet but game-changing moment—finally flipping the script from burning cash on startup costs to actually making some revenue and welcoming folks into their SoDo taproom. To celebrate this steel-strong anniversary (yep, the traditional 11th gift is steel—symbolizing toughness and endurance), they’re dropping SODO Steel IPA, a limited-release banger that’s all about that industrial grit and their big expansion news.

This 6.4% American-Style IPA draws straight from Seattle’s SoDo (south of downtown) roots—the neighborhood’s manufacturing history, their century-old building that started as a steel foundry, and the fresh wave of steel (hello, shiny new tanks!) in their recently acquired 26,000 sq ft production brewery in Georgetown. Brewed with premium gluten-free malts and fermented with Berkeley Tropics yeast for max thiol magic, it bursts with fruity hops from Mosaic, Mosaic Cryo, New Zealand Nectaron, and Citra Cryo—think juicy pineapple and peach upfront, with tropical passionfruit and zesty grapefruit vibes rounding it out. It’s now pouring on draft and hitting shelves in 4-pack 16oz cans at the Ghostfish taproom, with wholesale partners rolling it out nationwide in the coming weeks. Ghostfish has been pioneering gluten-free craft since 2015—collaborating with top artisan maltsters, using innovative grains like millet and rice, and becoming North America’s largest dedicated GF brewer, distributing across 21 states and parts of Western Canada.

About Ghostfish Brewing

Ghostfish Brewing Company was founded in 2015 in Seattle, Washington, as the state’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery—and one of the pioneering spots worldwide to make high-quality craft beer without gluten. The idea sparked from co-founder Brian Thiel, who, around a decade earlier, was eyeing a traditional brewery until a close family member was diagnosed with celiac disease, highlighting the lack of truly great gluten-free beer options. Teaming up with brewmaster Igliashon Jones (the creative force behind recipes using innovative gluten-free grains like millet and sorghum) and another partner, they set out to push boundaries.

After early blog posts in 2013-2014 sharing their origin story and frustrations with existing GF beers, Ghostfish opened its SoDo taproom doors on February 5, 2015, at 2942 1st Avenue South—right in Seattle’s industrial heart. From day one, they committed to 100% dedicated gluten-free production (also free of top allergens in many cases), collaborating with cutting-edge maltsters and using Pacific Northwest hops to craft approachable, flavorful beers that didn’t taste like compromises.

In the years since, Ghostfish has grown into North America’s largest dedicated gluten-free brewer, distributing across 21 states and parts of Western Canada while racking up accolades—like snagging medals at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival right out of the gate. They expanded their SoDo spot with a full gluten-free restaurant in 2016 (featuring veg/vegan options too), built a loyal following with flagships like Watchstander Stout (one of the first nitro GF stouts anywhere), and kept innovating with hops-forward IPAs and seasonal releases. By late 2025, they sealed a major milestone: acquiring a 26,000 sq ft former Pike Brewery facility for boosted production capacity, complete with plenty of that shiny stainless steel. Through it all, Ghostfish stays true to its mission—proving gluten-free craft beer can be bold, delicious, and inclusive—turning a personal need into a thriving scene that welcomes everyone to the tap.

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