Owner of Fountainhead Taproom ( a self-pour beer & wine bar) 

burt caseyTell us about yourself. 

I grew up in Virginia but lived in Chicago for the past 14 years. I also lived in Vienna, Austria for a couple of years, and that’s really where I fell in love with beer. My family and I moved to Chattanooga in September of 2019. We enjoy the outdoors, and Chattanooga is truly a hidden gem when it comes to natural beauty. I spent many days hiking the Appalachian mountains growing up and wanted to live near this area again. We knew Chattanooga was the place for us on our first day here. We enjoy the small-town feel with welcoming and friendly neighbors, coupled with impressive and growing diversity and innovation. 

Can you describe the self-pour experience? 

Our self-pour system allows customers to walk right up to our wall of 60 taps and pour themselves as much or as little of any drink they want. You can create your own flight, try just a small taste or pour a glass of a favorite. It’s a great place to try new drinks without having to commit to a pint. Also, because you pour your own, you don’t have to flag down a bartender or wait to get your next drink. We keep a selection of local Chattanooga brews on tap as well as regional and international selections. We also have wine, kombucha, mead, and local cold brew coffee on tap, along with a cocktail bar for mixed drinks— an incredible selection — truly something for everyone. We have amazing staff to help you navigate how to pour and offer suggestions on some great things to try as well.

What can people expect for Fall at Fountainhead Taproom? 

We have 42 beers in various styles and 18 gluten-free, non-beer options. We rotate these constantly so there’s always something new to try. We have a seasonal section to highlight some of the wonderful brews that show up in autumn, such as Oktoberfest or pumpkin options, but we keep the other styles on year-round, so you can find an amazing stout in the middle of summer or a delicious fruity sour in the middle of winter, along with the options you would normally expect for the season. Currently, we have several amazing local Chattanooga brews along with beer from all over the U.S., as well as Belgium, Austria, Germany, and even Iceland.

Anything else you'd like visitors to know about the craft beer scene in general in Chattanooga? 

Chattanooga is poised to become the next great craft beer city. We already have a world-class list of beers from our local breweries, and I expect many more new and innovative breweries will be popping up in the near future. Great beer festivals throughout the year, home brewer groups, and more. There is nothing like coming back from a breathtaking hike, soaking in the natural beauty of Chattanooga and the surrounding area, and enjoying a cold, local brew. 


The original version of this article first appeared in a previous edition of our Magazine.