It wasn’t long ago when an “all-Carolina” beer was nothing more than a pipe dream. But thanks to some savvy farmers in North Carolina, we were able to get pretty damned close with Highcountry Pale Ale.

This beer was brewed with 100% Pale Malt from Riverbend Malt House in Asheville, NC, a relatively new, artisan maltster that sourced their first crop of barley from Hoffner Organic Farms in Mt. Ulla, North Carolina. The only non-Carolina ingredient was a Simcoe addition in the boil, but we dry-hopped with Cascade from Echoview Farm, another fledgling NC producer.

We love their products, but also hope that Riverbend and Echoview prove out the idea that quality craft beer ingredients can be produced in the Southeast, given care and commitment.