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Media Contact:       Molly McQuillan                                  828.299.3370 ext. 333                                  mollym@highlandbrewing.com

Highland Brewing Company to Release Second Warrior Series Beer

Bold, High-Gravity Double Chocolate Milk StoutConfirms Expansion of Taste from Highland Brewing Company 

ASHEVILLE, N.C. Sept. 29, 2015 – Highland Brewing Company will release Black Watch, the second brew of its high-gravity, limited release Warrior Series on Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. The Warrior Series and this double chocolate milk stout demonstrate the brewery’s move to experiment with bolder styles and higher gravity beers.

“The Warrior Series expands some definitions and expectations of Highland beer,” said Leah Wong Ashburn, president of Highland Brewing Company. “The talent of our brewing team allows us to push the boundaries of what we can do very well. Black Watch is a perfect follow-up to our debut Warrior beer, the King MacAlpin Double IPA. It’s totally different, yet follows the vision of the series.”

The name pays tribute to Scotland’s historic military regiment known as The Black Watch. With their dark tartan and mission to keep watch over the Highlands, Highland salutes these warriors with a dark mahogany colored brew that pours silky smooth. Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout combines more than 100 pounds of cacao nibs with five malts, roasted barley, and flaked oats to create a rich, high-gravity ale reminiscent of brownie batter and marshmallows with an aromatic nose and a lingering dark chocolate finish.  

Born in the Highland’s pilot room, this beer is the brain child of bar tender J Unger. The recipe was a crowd favorite in the brewery’s Tasting Room and was refined for the Warrior Series release.  A confirmed chocoholic, Unger said, “I drink stouts year round, and I’m constantly searching for the most chocolaty beer I can find. When it was my turn in the brew house, I figured why not make a beer that is rich, velvety and chocolaty?”

Black Watch will be available for purchase on draft in Highland’s tasting room, located at 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Suite 200, in Asheville, on Fri., Oct. 30, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free live music starts at 6 p.m., and local food trucks will be on site. The beer will also be available for purchase in four-packs during the release party and in four-packs and on draft at exclusive retailers throughout Highland’s nine-state distribution network.

“We plan to release four Warrior Series brews in 2016,” said Ashburn. “The excitement about these beers runs through the whole company. Releasing pilot system favorites on a bigger scale and developing new recipes shares our most talked-about beers with more people.”

About Highland Brewing Company

Highland Brewing Company has crafted the highest quality beer with North Carolina mountain water since 1994. Family-owned and Asheville’s first legal brewery since Prohibition, it is a local favorite for beer fans, music fans, and families. Highland’s name honors the Scots Irish who settled in the Appalachian Mountains in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Adding to the tradition of honor, Highland’s seasonal beers are named after protected features of the North Carolina and Tennessee landscapes. The flagship beer, Gaelic Ale, and other styles of Highland beer are available in nine states and Washington, DC. For details on tours, special events, concerts, sustainability efforts, the new event center and more, visit www.highlandbrewing.com. 

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