High Branch Brewing is a family-run, artisanal brewery with two locations in Concord, NC (Gibson Mill Market) and Mooresville, NC (downtown). While versed in many styles of beer, we are best known for our Hazy IPAs!
What does High Branch mean?
High Branch symbolizes always reaching for the "higher branch" and constantly trying to improve the quality of our beer! We will always strive to provide the best experience possible, whether that means providing the best service and being the best place to work or making the best products and using the best ingredients. This is done simultaneously in an unconscious effort to create something people naturally gravitate towards and appreciate.
Our History
TJ discovered his love for making beer in New Hampshire in 2009 after receiving his first home brew kit. From there, it quickly grew and was overtaking his free time. It was inevitable that this would turn into something more and High Branch was founded in November 2015. We were a bit naive and quite underfunded, but from the help of family and friends, our passion for beer kept us going. After signing a lease, we carved out our little corner of an old textile mill and got to work. While quite small, High Branch was the first operating brewery in Concord.
Taking a step back in our story, it should be mentioned that our beer journey started in New England, and for that reason we based the business on what we knew. We produced beers unique to NC (at the time) and felt that if the beer was good enough, people would come. The brewery and tap room space had no frills, while we aimed to keep the quality of the beer as our top priority. We like to think people appreciated that, and one night in 2015 our dream was born. High Branch was only open 3 days a week, since we couldn't produce enough beer. Honestly, we were lucky it was right before Thanksgiving because it gave us a good reason to close the tap room the second weekend and get more beer ready. But we made it, and for several more years we reinvested and grew the business. We had some amazing people join our team and with them, High Branch grew to the point it is now (often where most breweries start these days). We were ready for whatever came our way.
The brewery started on a very limited budget with little knowledge of the road ahead. Blood, sweat and tears (literally), this whole experience has been very humbling, and it has had its share of ups and downs. We wouldn't recommend anyone start a brewery like this, yet we wouldn't have it any other way. And for that, we will never stop reaching for the High Branch!
Our Team
Meet our talented team below!
TJ Creighton
Owner + Head Brewer
Fall '15
The boss. The brains. The heart and soul of High Branch. He would never write that, but we did. If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting and talking to TJ, you'd know he is extremely passionate about craft beer and brewing. Always striving to be better, whether it be personally or for the business, TJ will never settle - it's just who he is. We're truly honored to have him as our humble, fearless leader.
Likes: beer obviously, smoking meat, wetting a line, listening to podcasts
Bret Haynie
Design + Production
Summer '16
Affectionately referred to 'round here as "Dad", this guy does it all! He's the creative force behind our labels/website/merch and isn't afraid to throw down in the brewhouse. He keeps us organized and looking good. The best lawn this side of the Mississippi, ask him he'll tell you (but for real). Oh and he's also the guy we call when the internet is down or the point of sale stops working. His job truly never is done!
Likes: gaming with the boys (shady rep), runnin' early in the morn, a nice cup of french vanilla creamer with decaf, graphic design
Amanda Hucks
Tap Room
Spring '18
We still remember when Amanda would come in and drink us out of our Norway Hill, our OG Barrel-Aged Saison. Those were the days! Our wood-burning, tender of all the plants, and lover of Barrel-Aged Sours, Amanda has been a loyal fan since the beginning and with us since 2018! Favorite High Branch beer? Amalgam and Escalante (for obvious reasons). Her blue eyed Siamese cat, King Gloid, runs the show at home!
Likes: pyrography (wood-burning), nature, music
Jadrian Escalante
Assistant Brewer
Summer '18
Jadrian is our Assistant Brewer, but he's so much more than that. As our resident black metal dude, "Juice" does it all in the brewhouse. Make beer, yes! Run the canning line, uh huh! Take out the trash, of course! A quick learner and an even bigger lover, "Jason" earned his spot at High Branch very early on. Don't have anything nice to say? Well, he's got our back yo, so watch out for that flying headbutt!
Likes: nerd life
Kirk Werth
General Manager
Fall '19
Kirk, our biggest sports fan, leads the front of house at High Branch. Strongest personality trait? A mix of stubborn and determination. Depends how you look at it! His favorite thing is connecting customers with a beer or style that they have pre-conceived notions about and changing their mind about it. Kirk's favorite beer would most likely be Caroline or Amalgam (Mmmmmm).
Likes: watching tv + having a few, Seminoles, Jets, Lightning, Braves, Hornets, Manchester City
Gabe Jaklik
Private Event Rentals + Tap Room
Fall '20
A photographer, a gym junkie, and a pizza fanatic walk into a bar. Just kidding, that's one person! Gabe is our master planner of all private event rentals, a job that requires an excessive amount of coffee. Gabe is also a server in our tap room and loves talking to unique and different people from all walks of life. His bucket list: Summit Machu Picchu, explore New Zealand, and have his own farm animals!
Likes: film photography, cooking, lifting, hiking, definitely pizza, definitely making my own pizza, definitely adding too much cheese to my pizza, gaming, magic the gathering, nerding out on coffee, good talks, beer, music
Brandon Dolce
Tap Room
Fall '20
Pump The Brakes! No, really, this is Brandon's favorite High Branch beer. A lover of sours and IPAs, he's quick witted and enjoys meeting all sorts of interesting people! He is also a teacher and has a cat named Tatum. When asked what's on Brandon's bucket list, he replied, "Go to a Wrestlemania for the experience" - so if anyone has any tickets, hit him/us up!
Likes: pizza, chinese, collecting video games + systems, drinking beer
Danielle Moore
Tap Room
Winter '22
Danielle's favorite kind of beer is something "super fruity, non-beer tasting", ahem, can you say Boujee? We think she'll fit in just fine around here. Danielle is also a professional hairdresser. That is something she wanted to be when she grew up and she's doing it, something most people can't say. She loves talking to new people and (hopefully) giving people a bright spot in their day!
Likes: wine, cats, elephants, hair, Maine
Michael Prichard
Tap Room
Summer '24
An enthusiast of the finer things in life, Mike can be found at our Mooresville tap room bringing a smile to just about anyone's face. He is your go to for anything and everything local, as well as very knowledgeable in all things beer (and also too many other things to list)! As a former gaming streamer, Mike is truly a people person. Even in your blackest night, he says, always shine bright!
Likes: homebrewing, most outdoor activities, lax (Go 'Cuse!), hockey (Go Checkers!), football (Go Bills!), sushi, pizza, a smoked Manhattan, live music, art, retro & modern video games, comedy shows, movies, meditation
Kris Elmore
Tap Room
Summer '24
Halan Brydy
Tap Room
Fall '24
Brian Henretta
Tap Room
Winter '25
Erin Kalina
Tap Room
Winter '25
