Highland Brewing Company Auld Asheville Vintage Ale (365 Day 353)

By scot in 365 Days of American Craft Beer, Beer on Sunday, November 20th, 2011

Highland Auld Asheville Vintage Ale

Ever had an American craft beer anniversary beer? Come on, show your hands. Now, think of what percentage of those beers that you actually thought delivered on the price point (since most cost more). Probably not as a sure thing as you would think picking up some special anniversary beer. You want to believe they are special and thus good. Not always the case. Are they worth the money? Are they worth the hassle? I have come to the premise that anniversary beers are more special with a day surrounding them as the day itself is much times better than the beer. To each their own to decide.

The fifteenth anniversary beer from Highland Brewing Company was Auld Asheville Vintage Ale. Doing a bit of research this Old Ale seems to have been released in late 2009 to commemorate the occasion. I don’t know how many bottles were released but I feel fortunate to have had one.

Being an English style, this is a malt forward beer that is manifested with caramel, toffee, and dark fruits with a touch of alcohol. Easy to drink in spite of the high ABV, Auld gives me hope that some American craft breweries strive to make the anniversary beer the center of the celebration. Enjoy!

Aroma: 9 (25%), Taste: 9 (25%), Look: 9 (15%), Drinkability: 8 (35%), Overall: 8.7

Useless Fact: The strongest bone in the body, the thigh bone, is the hollow. Ounce for ounce it has a greater pressure tolerance and bearing strength than a rod of equivalent size cast in solid steel.