Highland Brewing founder Oscar P. Wong, known as the “Godfather of Asheville Craft Beer,” has died at age 84, the Asheville craft brewery shared today.
Wong died “peacefully in his home” on Sunday, May 25, in the presence of his wife, Anna, and one of his two daughters, Leah Wong Ashburn, the brewery shared. He was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and given an outlook of 6 to 12 months at the time.
“He valued quality of life and spent his remaining time fully immersed in the love of his family and those he cherished deeply,” Highland shared in a remembrance. “He liked to say, ‘Personal relationships are the currency of life,’ and recently, he repeatedly expressed deep gratitude for an enriched life that exceeded his wildest imagination.”
Wong, a Chinese-Jamaican immigrant and retired engineer, founded Highland Brewing in 1994. He brewed Highland’s first beer with refurbished dairy equipment in the basement of Barley’s Taproom, a space that he occupied for 13 years, brewing Gaelic Ale, Oatmeal Porter and Cold Mountain Winter Ale.
“It was accidental, and I ended up being introduced to an award-winning brewer,” he said during a video on Highland’s 30th anniversary. He stressed the importance of sustainability initiatives, community connections and being a family-owned business in the video.
“It all ties together,” he continued. “Being a good citizen means you care about what you do, how you do it and with whom you do it.”
Wong’s founding of Highland in Asheville three decades ago inspired many fellow craft beer entrepreneurs to do the same. Today, the area is home to around 50 craft breweries and production hubs for national breweries including Sierra Nevada, New Belgium and Monster.
The region’s craft industry is still recovering from devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Highland was a big part of aiding others in the recovery. Brewbound named Ashburn, Highland’s CEO and owner, its 2024 Person of the Year for her leadership in the wake of the storm.
Throughout his life, Wong received several honors, including being named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Person of the Year for North Carolina; the state’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine; and the Brewers Association’s Recognition Award.
The company wrote of Wong: “Whether telling a story of the old Highland days, giving advice to an employee, or hand-writing a heartfelt note in exquisite penmanship, Oscar had a gift for making people feel seen and valued. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, or even meeting him once, likely felt touched by Oscar’s sincere and vivacious spirit.”
A celebration of Wong’s life will be held at noon on June 29 at Highland Brewing in Asheville.
Update (6 p.m. ET 5/27/2025): The Brewers Association shared the following statement on Wong’s death.
“The Brewers Association mourns the loss of Oscar Wong, founder of Highland Brewing Company and a pioneer of the modern American craft brewing movement.
“Oscar’s legacy is not only defined by the beers he brewed but by the community he built. He welcomed fellow brewers with open arms, mentored a new generation of craft beer professionals, and embodied the spirit of independence and innovation that defines our industry.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Oscar’s family, including his daughter Leah Wong Ashburn, who continues his legacy as president and CEO of Highland Brewing, as well as to the entire Highland Brewing team. His legacy lives on in every pint poured, every brewer inspired, and every community strengthened through craft beer.”