Highland Brewing IPA Goes Year-Round & 2016 Release Schedule

ASHEVILLE, NC (Dec. 8, 2015) – Highland Brewing Company today announced it will release its new, year-round West Coast-style IPA on Jan. 4, 2016. It is the first of 12 new beers the 22-year-old brewery will debut in 2016. Highland will release two other year-round beers, three new seasonals, two new Warrior Series beers and four Kinsman Project beers in 2016.      

“Our vision for intentional growth and our talented team inspired the additions of a West Coast IPA and other exciting styles to our portfolio,” said Leah Wong Ashburn, president of Highland Brewing Company. “At the same time, I see Gaelic growing. It’s our workhorse and my go-to beer. The combined strength of classic and new styles, done well, is our future.”

Developed by Head Brewer Hollie Stephenson, the West Coast-style India Pale Ale features American Chinook, Citra and Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest. A sturdy malt bill frames hints of tropical fruit, lemon rind, grapefruit and dank hop notes. Brilliant and golden in color, the beer finishes resiny, citrusy and dry.

“Highland IPA will be my favorite in the Southeast,” said Stephenson. “There are some good specialty IPAs in North Carolina, but as a year-round offering that is drinkable and edgy, I think Highland IPA is unique. It is assertively bitter, but not overwhelming. The ABV is higher than what you see in a lot of new IPAs, but not so high that you can’t go back for another. For me, Highland IPA is a pint or bottle of what defines a West Coast IPA.”

Highland will debut the IPA at its official launch party on New Year’s Eve at the brewery before the beer is available to the public. Sold in six-packs, 12-packs and on draught, Highland will release the IPA in January 2016 with distribution expanding throughout the year.

“We’re rolling out an ambitious number of new styles in 2016,” said Ashburn. “The excitement running from the Brewing to Packaging to Quality teams is palpable, let alone Sales and Marketing. We can’t wait to share them with customers.”

Highland Brewing Company’s 2016 additions to its portfolio includes:

Three Year-Round Beers

o   IPA (January) is a hop-forward, West Coast IPA with hints of tropical fruit and citrus from Pacific Northwest hops.

o   Pilsner Blanc (May) is a classic pilsner, but dry hopped with finely nuanced German Hallertau Blanc hops.

o   Mandarina IPA (July) is a lower-gravity IPA that is hop-bursted with five pounds of hops per barrel for intense aromas of melon, strawberry and tangerine over a balanced malt body.

o   Saw-Whet Saison (February) is named after a tiny owl found in the higher elevations of the Southern Appalachians.

o   Early’s Hoppy Wheat (April) is named after Early’s Mountain, which frames Sandy Mush, a vital agricultural corridor.

o   Lost Cove Kolsch (June) is a crisp and refreshing German-style kolsch, and is named for a Prohibition-era hide-out-turned-ghost-town in the Nolichucky River Gorge.

o   Tasgall II Scotch-style ale (February) is an updated version of Highland’s highly lauded vintage Scotch-style ale.

o   Rye India Pale Lager (May)

Four Kinsman Project Beers: The Kinsman Project is an exploration of infusions of year-round styles with all-natural ingredients.

o   Black Mocha Stout (January) infused with vanilla beans, freshly ground cinnamon sticks, dried chipotle peppers and cacao nibs.

o   St. Terese’s Pale Ale (April) infused with blackberries and raspberries.

o   Highland IPA (July), infusion ingredients to be announced at a later date.