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After Hurricane Helene struck Asheville, North Carolina, on September 24, 2024, the mountain town known for its creative spirit and craft beer scene faced unimaginable destruction. Now, as the city continues to recover, Asheville’s tight-knit brewing community stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and renewal. In this episode, This Old House visits Highland Brewing—the city’s first craft brewery—to explore how the industry that helped define Asheville is now helping it rebuild.
Founded in 1994 by engineer-turned-brewer Oscar P. Wong, Highland Brewing sparked a downtown revival that transformed Asheville into “Beer City USA.” What began under the floorboards of Barley’s Pizza grew into a thriving business with a taproom, event center, and community hub—one that inspired nearly 50 other breweries to take root across the region.
But in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the same pristine mountain water that made Asheville’s beer world-famous became a force of destruction. Flooding left the city without potable water for nearly two months, shuttering breweries large and small.
Yet amid the hardship, the spirit that defines Asheville’s craft beer scene—collaboration, creativity, and care for community—rose stronger than ever.
Kevin O’Connor sits down with Highland’s head of operations, Brock Ashburn, to discuss how brewers across the region supported one another, shared resources, and found ways to give back. Highland even launched “Highland Haze,” a draft-only beer with proceeds supporting the local hospitality industry—a crucial step in helping service workers and small businesses recover.
Despite the challenges, Asheville’s breweries are open and pouring once again. Their story is more than one of craft—it’s one of perseverance, gratitude, and the unshakable belief that good people, like good beer, can bring a community together.
Watch the video to see how Asheville’s iconic beer culture is rebuilding a city—one pint at a time.
