Highland Brewing Company and Wicked Weed Brewing Collaborate for SAHC
Two widely recognized breweries in Asheville are making history for Beer Week 2024. Highland Brewing Company, with 30 years of history in the region, has teamed up for the very first time with Wicked Weed Brewing to create collaborative small batch brews supporting land and water conservation, in recognition of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s 50th anniversary.
“Wicked Weed Brewing and Highland Brewing Company, two of our very generous, long-standing ‘For Love of Beer and Mountains’ partners, have teamed up to brew two collaborative small batch beers in honor of SAHC’s 50th Anniversary,” said Membership Director Cheryl Fowler. “Both of these partners have made such a positive impact on preserving natural resources in the mountains we call home. We truly value the history and friendships that we’ve made and our current alliance to save our natural landscape.”
“This beer collaboration represents a first time partnership with Highland and Wicked Weed, in united support of protecting treasured natural resources in WNC,” said Leah Ashburn Wong, family owner, president/CEO of Highland Brewing Company. “Highland’s partnership with SAHC is the brewery’s longest running philanthropic relationship, in part because SAHC’s lasting impact aligns with our belief in long term decision-making.”
Both breweries used ingredients that were harvested from SAHC-protected land to craft each brew, including ingredients from Blazing Star Flowers (a participant in the Farm Incubator Program at the SAHC Community Farm), Full Sun Farm (which completed a second conservation easement with SAHC this year) and Gaining Ground Farm.
“We are thrilled to announce our continued partnership with SAHC with the newest release in our Beers that Build series,” said Ryan Guthy, Co-founder/President of Wicked Weed Brewing. “This collaboration celebrates the shared commitment of giving back to the community, acknowledging the significance of our rivers, mountains, farms, and trails and recognizes the importance of protecting these places that we live and play in.”
To experience connection with conserved land, SAHC, Wicked Weed and Highland Brewing staff also teamed up for a day of foraging on one of SAHC’s conservation preserves in the Highlands of Roan.
“Foraging with this team was amazing,” continued Fowler. “The camaraderie between the brewery teams, hiking through majestic spruce fir-forest, brought out the joint passion for the cause and reinvigorated the brewers’ professional enthusiasm for their craft. Experiencing nature is good for the soul!”
Highland Brewing Company and Wicked Weed Brewing will donate a portion of the proceeds from the collaboration to support SAHC’s conservation efforts.
Wicked Holler will be on tap at Highland Brewing Company during Asheville Beer Week (May 16 – 26). Highland Holler will be on tap at Wicked Weed Brewing on Thursday, May 23rd with live music and fun from 6-9 pm, available at all Asheville Wicked Weed locations through Land Trust Day, Saturday, June 1.
