Highland Brewing Co.'s Cold Mountain Spiced Winter Ale Returns

Highland Brewing Co. in Asheville, North Carolina has announced the return of its popular Cold Mountain Spiced Winter Ale season release. Full details from the brewery are below.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Asheville’s original craft brewery is once again kicking off the holiday season with a release party for fan-favorite Cold Mountain Spiced Winter Ale! As with many things this year, Cold Mountain 2020 will look different, including a ticketed weekend of celebration sessions and online pre-orders for the beer.

While historically Cold Mountain release weekends have welcomed more than 3,000 people to the brewery, Highland’s leadership team decided to extend the 2020 release festivities over nine days to space out guests and reduce crowds creating a safe and fun environment for everyone looking to take part in the seasonal tradition.

“We started receiving messages in May asking about the dates for the Cold Mountain release,” said Nikki Mitchell, Highland’s Hospitality Director. “While this will not be the typical Cold Mountain experience, we are doing our best to make Cold Mountain magic.” Mitchell continued, “Our property will have themed spaces to encourage guests to spread out. Safety for our guests and staff is key. We have table seating in all venues. Guests must wear a mask any time they are not seated.”

Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8

Cold Mountain opening weekend celebrations will require guests to purchase an access pass to enter the property. Passes are $10 per person (children 5 and under are free for afternoon sessions). Each day has two sessions offering a family-friendly afternoon session (12-4 p.m.) and an adult 21+ evening session (6-10 p.m.). Along with the Taproom, the Meadow will be open with a heated tent and the Event Center will be decked out as a rustic ski lodge. Each celebration session will feature table seating, live music, Cold Mountain cask tappings, food trucks, and additional packaged beer allotments and merch for sale. Music includes:

• Friday, November 6: Afternoon: Sidecar Honey, Evening: Random Animals, Event Center: DJ Ryan (6:30-9:30 p.m.)
• Saturday, November 7: Afternoon: Hustle Souls, Evening: Pleasure Chest, Event Center: DJ Mitch (6:30-9:30 p.m.)
• Sunday, November 8:Afternoon: Eleanor Underhill & Friends, Evening: Get Right Band, Event Center: DJ Mitch(6:30-9:30 p.m.)

Guests will not need an access pass to enter the property for festivities after Sunday, November 8. These events include:

• Tuesday, November 10, 5-9 p.m.: Cold Mountain Flights and Morsel Cookie Pairing
• Wednesday, November 11th, 6-8 p.m.: Live music from Woody Wood
• Thursday, November 12, 6-9 p.m.: Cold Mountain Beer Dinner in the Barrel Room (Tickets required)
• Friday, November 13, 6-8 p.m.: Live Music from Ashley Heath and Her Heathens
• Saturday, November 14, 6-8 p.m.: Laura Blackley and the Wildflowers

Pre-Ordered Beer Packs

Daily allotments of beer packs are available to pre-order online for pickup on a designated day between November 6 - 14. The pre-made packs are the only way to purchase packaged Imperial Cold Mountain and the blue 1-liter bottles of Cold Mountain.

• Holiday Pack ($124 + tax) includes Cold Mountain (one 1-liter bottle, two 22oz bottles, case of four 6-pack bottles), Coconut Cold Mountain (one 4-pack of 16oz cans), Imperial Cold Mountain (one 4-pack of 16oz cans).
• Cheer Pack ($61 + tax) includes Cold Mountain (three 22oz bottles), Coconut Cold Mountain (one 4-pack of 16oz cans), Imperial Cold Mountain (one 4-pack of 16oz cans).

Additional Beer Highlights

Daily allotments of smaller Cold Mountain quantities are available at the brewery each day.

• Cold Mountain 6-pack bottles ($13 + tax) - Limit 4 per person (1 case).
• Coconut Cold Mountain 4-pack of 16oz cans ($20 + tax) - Limit 2 per person.
• Cold Mountain Gift Bag ($28 + tax) - (1) 22 oz bottle of Cold Mountain, a limited-edition Spicewalla Cold Mountain spice blend, and cookie-cutter all wrapped up with a bow. No limits on purchase.
• Highland will also release several small-batch and barrel-aged beers on draft beginning Nov. 6.

Cold Mountain will make its way out to stores across Highland’s distribution footprint beginning Monday, Nov. 15. For more information on Cold Mountain or to purchase tickets and pre-order beer, visit highlandbrewing.com/coldmountain.