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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