Asheville’s Highland Brewing Company has legions of fans who look forward to a sixer of Gaelic Ale, Oatmeal Porter, or another of the year- round favorites each time they shop. But Highland Brewing has some noteworthy seasonal beers too, one of which is brand new to the lineup in 2017. The beer is Southern Sixer IPA, a beer that drives home the simple point that hops are central to the taste of an IPA and the right combination of different hop varieties can yield heavenly results.
Highland Brewmaster Hollie Stephenson says this new beer is brewed using hops that Highland hasn’t used previously and the result is nothing short of spectacular.
“I am excited about Southern Sixer because the bulk of the hops we are using, Equinox now rebranded as Ekuanot™, have never been used in a Highland beer before. Ekuanot™ and Mosaic® will carry the beer together, and the complementing four others are in the dry hop. Ekuanot™ is a very unique flavoring and aromatic hop that will give us cool characteristics, like ripe berry and cedar forest. Mixed with tropical Mosaic® and others, Sixer is going to be a uniquely fruity and resiny IPA, not just classic citrus and pine”, Stephenson said.
Southern Sixer was named in advance of knowing how it would be brewed and with the emphasis on the number six, the brewing team tried to use this in every way possible. The beer utilizes six different hop varieties- Equinox, Mosaic, Columbus, Cascade, Chinook, and Simcoe. It also contains six percent alcohol by volume, has 60 IBU of bitterness, and will be sold only in six packs.
Southern Sixer was not just randomly named. Similar to other Highland seasonals, this beer takes its name from a protected feature of Southern Appalachia. Located near Asheville, the Southern Sixers refers to a cluster of mountain peaks that exceed 6,000 feet in elevation. It seemed like an appropriate name for a beer and a positive way to bring attention to an important region that deserves attention and protection.
Highland Brewing plans to tap the first keg of Southern Sixer at the brewery on January 27th at 4pm. It will be the first keg tapped of the 2017 year and the festivities will include live music and food trucks. Hollie Stephenson will offer a special hop tour of the six hops showcased in this beer, offering craft beer fans an opportunity to learn more about the unique flavors and aromas that combine to create this seasonal beer. Brewery tours will follow and six packs will be available for to- go purchasing. Hollie’s hop tour will take place during the normally scheduled 5:45 tour, which is limited to 25 people. In addition, Highland Brewing will donate $1 from every glass sold of Southern Sixer to the Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
Highland Brewing has been thrilling the craft beer crowd since 1994 with its high quality brews and its seasonal lineup just keeps getting more intriguing with each passing three- month period. Look for Southern Sixer starting in late January and if you live close to Asheville, North Carolina, be sure to pay a visit on January 27, 2017 for the ceremonial tapping of the first keg of this special beer.
For more information on Highland Brewing, go to www.highlandbrewing.com.
For more information on the Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, go to www.appalachian.org
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