Scotty Is Back! Highland Brewing Refreshes Asheville’s Original Craft Beer

Highland Brewing is celebrating the vibrant legacy of its flagship Gaelic Amber Ale as Asheville’s original craft beer with a packaging refresh. The iconic beer’s new look reintroduces Scotty, the beloved character who first appeared in Highland Brewing’s logo in 1994. The new packaging is now available in updated 6-pack bottles and cans, 12-pack cans, and Highland variety packs.

Scotty is a cherished part of Highland Brewing canon and a nod to the ancestry of Western North Carolina, home to Scotch-Irish immigrants in the mid-1800s. The cheeky character sports a beard, traditional Scottish garb, and a mug of beer. When Highland rebranded in 2018, Scotty was retired, but fans never stopped requesting an appearance by the region’s first beer mascot.

First crafted using refurbished dairy equipment, Gaelic Ale was the beer that started it all, opening the door for what would become a thriving, world-renowned craft beer scene in Asheville. Scotty is back on Gaelic Ale packaging, exemplifying the pioneering spirit of both the Scottish folks who left their mark on North Carolina and of Highland Brewing Founder Oscar Wong, who introduced Gaelic Ale as Asheville’s first craft beer in 1994.

“Gaelic Ale’s new look brings Scotty back with all his original charm and our flagship’s classic flavor,” said CEO and President Leah Wong Ashburn. “It’s a nostalgic moment for us that honors our history and looks forward with a fresh take on Scotty’s role that is perfectly placed with Gaelic Ale.”

Today, Scotty embodies adventure, tradition, and the pursuit of an unforgettable beer experience. His return is more than just a nod to the past—it’s a celebration of Highland’s rich legacy in craft brewing and ongoing commitment to the company’s Thirst for Good.

Scotty’s reappearance comes during a period of recovery for Highland Brewing’s home in Asheville and Western North Carolina following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. When Helene left Asheville without drinking water for two months from September to November 2024, Highland Brewing stepped in to support the local community, raising more than $13,000 for impacted hospitality workers and transforming its public spaces, warehouse, and beer coolers into offices, a distribution hub, and food storage for multiple relief organizations and countless volunteers. Some Highland staff pivoted from hospitality and production to parking, forklifts, warehouse management, and inventory.

“We are so proud of the WNC region and our community’s resilience,” said Ashburn. “Scotty’s legacy reflects a connection to people and place. He also reflects the optimism we’ve encountered time and time again throughout the recovery process. We can all raise a beer to that.”

Highland’s original brew, Gaelic Amber Ale (5.5% ABV), is an amber ale with exceptional balance between malty sweetness and delicate hop bitterness. Its complex flavors and smooth drinkability make Gaelic Ale an easy introduction to craft, and a taste of home for two generations.

Find Gaelic Amber Ale and other Highland Brewing beers, like Highland Haze and Daycation IPA, on draft and at retail across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. To find Scotty near you, visit highlandbrewing.com/beer-finder.

About Highland Brewing

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 2016, the minority-founded company is proudly woman-led by Oscar’s daughter, Leah Wong Ashburn. Highland is the largest family-owned brewery native to the Southeast, distributing beers across NC, SC, TN, and GA. 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, and private events—and will soon feature an outdoor retail shop, a rock-climbing gym, and a pizza restaurant opening in 2026.