ASHEVILLE, NC — November 20, 2025 — Highland Brewing invites dark beer lovers and holiday shoppers to their annual Black Watch Release Party & Holiday Market on Friday, November 28. The Holiday Market takes place in the Event Center and Barrel Room and features over 50 local craft vendors selling Asheville-made goods and gifts.
The centerpiece of the celebration is the return of Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout (8% ABV) — a rich, decadent seasonal favorite brewed to warm your soul. First crafted in 2014, this velvety stout has become a beloved tradition, balancing layers of specialty malts, cocoa nibs, and flaked oats for a luxurious mouthfeel.
“There’s a sensory nostalgia to brewing Black Watch that hits like baking a favorite dessert,” says Josh Jiles, Highland’s Innovation Brewing Manager. “The classic combo of chocolate and bourbon makes this beer an excellent candidate for barrel aging, and its full-bodied nature ensures it stays rich and balanced.”
For those seeking something truly special, Highland will also release a limited run of Barrel-Aged Black Watch, a 10% ABV edition aged in premium bourbon barrels and packaged in 500ml wax-dipped bottles. This year’s Barrel-Aged Black Watch is especially meaningful. It was aged in bourbon barrels from Cooks Mill Original American Whiskey, personally sourced by Highland Brewing founder, Oscar Wong.
Event Details:
- Highland Brewing Company
- Friday, November 28, 2025
- Beer Release: Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout + Barrel-Aged Black Watch
- Live Music in the Taproom:
- Jacktown Ramblers | 1-4pm
- Sun Goblin | 6-8pm
- Black Friday Holiday Market in the Event Center | 11am-4pm
Why Black Watch Matters:
While Highland’s Cold Mountain Winter Ale often steals the spotlight, Black Watch has quietly earned its own cult following. Developed by former head brewer John Lyda and longtime bartender J Unger, this stout has remained a staple of Highland’s innovation program for over a decade, with occasional small-batch twists like raspberry, peanut butter, and vanilla.
For more information, visit highlandbrewing.com or follow Highland Brewing on Instagram @HighlandBrewing.
Highland Brewing was founded in 1994 by retired engineer and entrepreneur Oscar Wong, establishing it as the pioneer of Asheville, NC’s now booming craft beer industry. Proudly regional, Highland’s beers are distributed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Highland is committed to quality and sustainability, boasting the third largest solar array in an American craft brewery. Today, the company is led by Wong’s daughter, Leah Wong Ashburn, and serves as the largest family-owned brewery native to the Southeast. Located in a rehabilitated manufacturing facility on a hilltop, the brewery affords space for thousands of visitors to enjoy limited release beers, tours, and live music. In addition, the Event Center and Rooftop are available for private events. For more information, visit www.highlandbrewing.com
