The craft brewing business has misplaced a pioneer, one of many kindest and gifted folks to in craft beer, Oskar Wong, founding father of Asheville, North Carolina’s Highland Brewing.
From Highland:
Oscar P. Wong, lovingly often called the “Godfather of Asheville Craft Beer” handed peacefully at dwelling on Sunday, Could 25, 2025 with Anna, his spouse of over 57 years, and Leah, considered one of his two daughters, at his facet.
Upon his most cancers prognosis, Oscar’s physician gave him 6-12 months, but he lived effectively for the higher a part of three years. He valued high quality of life and spent his remaining time totally immersed within the love of his household and people he cherished deeply. He preferred to say, “Private relationships are the foreign money of life,” and not too long ago, he repeatedly expressed deep gratitude for an enriched life that exceeded his wildest creativeness.
Oscar Wong is widely known as a trailblazer, mentor, and good friend to so many. From his humble beginnings because the son of Chinese language immigrants in Jamaica, to Notre Dame, to a profession as an engineer, to neighborhood service on the ARC, Rotary and UNC Asheville, to handball, to Highland, Oscar’s legacy is woven into the material of each neighborhood he touched.
Oscar was an engineer-turned-entrepreneur who embodied generosity, humility, and above all else, connection. Whether or not telling a narrative of the previous Highland days, giving recommendation to an worker, or hand-writing a heartfelt word in beautiful penmanship, Oscar had a present for making folks really feel seen and valued. Anybody who had the pleasure of figuring out him, and even assembly him as soon as, doubtless felt touched by Oscar’s honest and vivacious spirit.
To Oscar, success was not nearly achievement however about giving again. His management and keenness turned a post-retirement passion right into a pioneering brewery that formed a metropolis. All through his lifetime, he was honored with numerous awards, amongst them: the US Small Enterprise Administration’s Particular person of the 12 months for NC; the Order of the Lengthy Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian award; and the Brewers Affiliation’s Recognition Award for “people whose inspiration, enthusiasm, and help have contributed to the craft brewing motion.”
Oscar’s legacy lies within the lives he touched—as a loving father and good friend, a job mannequin for workers, a humorous and inspirational determine in the neighborhood, and a form soul who believed in constructing companies and bonds. From sipping scotch with pals each Friday to enjoying handball at 84, Oscar lived totally and all the time inspired these round him to do the identical.
Editor’s Be aware: The primary time I met Oskar, it was at an occasion at Taco Mac in Atlanta for Highland Brewing and Paul Phillpon of Duck Rabbit Brewing. Round 5 pm, Oskar strolling into the bar space and introduces himself to everybody, shaking palms in smiling. A number of hours later, Oskar goes to go away, tells every individual goodbye by title, as hours later he nonetheless remembered the title of each individual he met, and left. I by no means forgot that night, it left such a optimistic impression of Oskar Wong I’ve by no means forgotten. Top-of-the-line people I’ve ever met within the beer business.
