Highland Brewing’s Cold Mountain is not just a seasonal winter ale—it’s an Asheville holiday tradition that attracts thousands of beer lovers each year. November 12-16, Asheville’s original craft brewery celebrates 30 years of Cold Mountain Winter Ale with new and limited anniversary beers, a culinary collaboration with one of the South’s most celebrated chefs, the opening of Oscar’s Pizza, and five days of music and festivities.
Cold Mountain Winter Ale is a 5.9% ABV spiced winter ale, with notes of vanilla, hazelnut, dark fruit and cinnamon. More than just a beer, its release has become a yearly tradition that marks the unofficial start of the holiday season in Western North Carolina.
“Cold Mountain’s 30-year history is incredible to consider,” said Leah Wong Ashburn, President and CEO of Highland Brewing. “The release weekend brings people back to Highland year after year to mark the start of the holiday season and the beer brings them home to be with family and friends. Dad started this brewery with a commitment to great beer and community, so the way Highland fans celebrate and share Cold Mountain is special. Credit for the magic belongs to our inspiring Highland team. Cold Mountain the beer and Cold Mountain the weekend deliver on tradition and new experiences every year.”
This year, Cold Mountain Winter Ale returns in bottles and on draft, with the original and three spin-offs featured in a special 30th Anniversary Variety Pack of 16-ounce cans: Cold Mountain Winter Ale, returning Coconut Cold Mountain, and two new releases: Chocolate Orange Cold Mountain, which pairs rich chocolate with bright citrus notes; and Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Mountain, featuring notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and coffee. The three spin-offs are also available in four-packs of 16-ounce cans. The commemorative packaging features an original illustrated design inspired by Nova, a gray wolf at Asheville’s WNC Nature Center, one of Highland’s Thirst for Good community partners, along with special 30th anniversary bottle crowns.
Taproom-only versions of Cold Mountain Winter Ale on draft include Chai, Sour Cherry, Apple Cider Donut and Imperial Cold Mountain. Two limited barrel-aged releases will also be available on draft and in 500 mL bottles: Barrel-Aged Cold Mountain (11% ABV) and the first-ever bottled Double Barrel-Aged Bourbon Pecan Cold Mountain (13% ABV). Guests attending Friday and Saturday also have the chance to sample a super-limited Triple Barrel-Aged Cold Mountain, non-carbonated and tapped directly from the barrel.
Don’t miss your chance to enjoy Cold Mountain Winter Ale among friends during Highland Brewing’s annual Cold Mountain event! Here’s what to expect:
Thursday, Nov. 12: 7th Annual Cold Mountain Beer Dinner (SOLD OUT): The festivities begin with Highland’s 7th Annual Cold Mountain Beer Dinner from 5-9 p.m. on Nov. 12! Chef Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm, the 2026 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Southeast, will curate a multi-course dinner paired with Cold Mountain releases and specialty offerings.
Friday, Nov. 13: Live Music: Grab your favorite 2026 version of Cold Mountain Winter Ale and join Highland Brewing for a full day of live music from noon to 11 p.m. Groove to the funky-but-chic sounds of Pleasure Chest, dance along with high-energy Ska City, stomp your boots to the twangy, genre-bending country music of Heavenly Vipers and experience the psychedelic adventure-rock and jam-fusion sounds of New Dawn Starkestra. Beyond the live music, Friday’s festivities include a Cold Mountain Heritage Panel featuring Leah Ashburn, Nikki Mitchell, Jamie Rowe and Joshua Jiles celebrating three decades of the iconic winter ale, live ice sculpting, bierstacheln beer poker, music bingo and the Great Cold Mountain Howl.
Saturday, Nov. 14: Live Music & Activities: Visit Highland Brewing for another incredible live music lineup on Saturday, Nov. 14, from noon to 11 p.m. Enjoy the rising roots reggae vibes of Tuff Sol, the retro-inspired sounds of American pop-rock band The Explorer’s Club, a mix of house, disco, UKG (UK Garage), and bass music with DJ Cole, and experience an immersive, authentic Pink Floyd experience with headliner Pinkish Floyd. The celebration also features live ice sculpting, guided Cold Mountain flight tastings, a Wolf Howl Competition and a Full Moon Light Show before the evening’s silent disco.
Sunday, Nov. 15: Live Music & Activities: Sunday, Nov. 15, brings family friendly activities, local live music from noon to 11 p.m., with a dynamic performance by Chikomo Marimba, soulful sounds from Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise, and the Well-crafted Music Series by Asheville pedal steel guitarist Matt Smith.
Monday, Nov. 16: Campus is Open to the Public: On Monday, Nov. 16 at 12 noon, Highland’s campus will be open to the public with no ticket required. Cold Mountain will be available on draft and in packages, and the Highland merch store will be open.
Oscar’s Pizza, Highland Brewing’s new on-site restaurant, will soft open with a limited event menu Nov. 13–16 during the Cold Mountain 30th anniversary festivities. Oscar’s Pizza will introduce a more robust menu Thanksgiving week.
Throughout the Cold Mountain event, you can partake in libations at the Wolf’s Den Cocktail Bar, enjoy a Cold Mountain flight, and check out the Thirst For Good partner tents to see how Highland Brewing gives back. And don’t forget to capture the moment with the free, on-site photo booth!
Three decades after its debut, Cold Mountain remains rooted in the same simple idea: brew something special for the season, bring people together, and give them a reason to return year after year.
See ticket information for this year’s Cold Mountain event here or visit https://highlandbrewing.com/for more information.
Highland Brewing was founded in 1994 by Oscar Wong, a retired engineer and entrepreneur, making Highland the pioneer of Asheville’s craft beer scene. Since 2018, the minority-founded company has been proudly woman-led by Oscar’s daughter, Leah Wong Ashburn. Highland is the largest family-owned brewery native to the Southeast, distributing beers across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. Committed to quality and sustainability, Highland operates one of the largest solar arrays in the U.S. craft beer industry. The hilltop destination welcomes visitors for limited-release beers, tours, disc golf, live music, outdoor retail shopping and private events, with Oscar’s Pizza opening in November 2026 and a rock-climbing gym planned for 2027.
