Everyone loves Aubrey, so we got Ms. Herbert back to the bar to talk about Sierra Nevada Brewing and all the latest from Chico and Mills River! She also brings us a terrific lineup of beers: Sierra Nevada Stout, Celebration Ale and Estate Homegrown IPA!

You thought you would have a week off from MegaMergerMania? Hah! The San Diego Union-Tribune starts off with the shocking news that Ballast Point is selling to be sold to N.Y. corporation Constellation for $1 billion! We follow that with The LA Times’ in-depth analysis of the deal, and commiserate with Paste on the 5 stages of craft beer grief when your favorite brewery sells out. Moving on from M&A, Outside introduces the ultimate beer recommendation app, then Muchies/Vice reports on why women are leading Korea’s craft beer movement, Food & Wine (via @TheDA_Powell) gives us the ultimate American brewery tour, and Vinepair (via @BEAL187) believes that the Pilgrims would’ve landed in Virginia but didn’t because they ran out of beer.

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked “what international craft beer have you tried?” and this week we are asking “are you bummed out by the MegaMergerMania?”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

We love us some draft beer, and Joe Linquist from draft system maker Micro Matic joins us for a pint! Joe gives us the ins and outs of how draft beer works, issues that can come up, and how important cleaning draft equipment is. Then we reach into the secret beer vault for some new faves: Lost Abbey Witch’s Wit, Bull & Bush’s Miso Hoppy, and the astounding Oakshire Hellshire 5!

We introduce a new segment in the news given all the purchases etc. happening right now! It’s MegaMergerMania and it leads off with The BBC reporting beer giants AB-InBev and SABMiller have agreed to their mega-merger, and we have an in-depth companion piece from The New York Times. Leaving that deal, Forbes has a cool infographic showing the countries with the most craft breweries, followed by Reuters revealing that Britain has inked a $150 million barley deal with China's craft breweries, and we close with Eater asking is the craft beer and spirits movement threatening big brands?

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked “would you ever put a kegerator or some kind of draft system in your home bar?” and this week we are asking “what international craft beer have you tried?”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

There is no more storied beer company in America than its oldest, Yuengling Brewery, and we have 6th generation brewer Jennifer Yuengling joining us! Jennifer talks to us about the deep history of Yuengling, which has been brewing since 1829, shares some fun stories about growing up and working in the business, and tastes the classic Traditional Lager and the outstanding all-new IPL!

Beer news abounds this week! First up Forbes indicates that there is trouble brewing for craft beer as the aluminum can supply tightens, followed by Consumerist revealing that Guinness is tweaking its recipe so vegans can enjoy a pint, and Eater shows us that wild-fermented beer is the best way to drink pond water. Next we follow up from last week with Crowdfund Insider reporting that PicoBrew’s brewing appliance “Pico” surpassed $700,000 in its first week on Kickstarter, and we close with War on the Rocks talking about craft beer beyond IPAs.

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked “what is a craft beer?” and this week we are asking “would you ever put a kegerator or some kind of draft system in your home bar?

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

Beer is booming in Durham, NC and Bull City Burger & Brewery is a big part of the scene! Seth Gross, Grande Burger Flipper and Beer Tester joins us to talk about the history of the brewery and brings along some super brews to taste: Bryant Bridge Gateway Golden Ale, Pro Bono Publica Porter, and Harvest Ale 2015.

When has beer been in the mainstream news so much? It’s hard to pick which stories to share! We do anyway beginning with Consumerist asking will the mega beer merger lead to higher prices & fewer choices for consumers?, followed by Courthouse News revealing that MillerCoors has dodged a Blue Moon Craft-Brew War, and then The USA Today lists 5 schools where you can turn your taste for beer into a career. Next up is Forbes demonstrating that with Pico, the Keurig for beer is finally here, and we conclude with War on the Rocks offering craft beer beyond IPAs.

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked “what’s your take on the ABInBev-SABMiller deal?” and this week we want to know “what is a craft beer?”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

Robert Owen from Duck Rabbit Brewery has been on the show, and now it's his first time in our bar! He has returned to talk about the latest from the Farmville NC brewery, and he brought along some of their finest brews: Amber Ale, Brown Ale, and Wee Heavy Scotch Ale!

We school you on the news this week! What better education to begin than with a story from The Harvard Business Review showing A a simple graph that explains the logic of the ABInBev-SABMiller merger, followed by (thanks to listener and stringer @sfringer) Wired’s opinion that the potential merger could threaten real craft brews, and then The New York Times reeports that Beck’s Beer is offering a cash settlement to buyers over misleading packaging. Next up we have Shape asking beer with Superfoods: do or don’t?, then Beverage Daily looks at what creates consumers’ responses to beer, and we close on The Hill revealing an overnight regulation linking bees and beer.

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked for your holiday beer recommendations and this week we want to know “what’s your take on the ABInBev-SABMiller deal?”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

In our first conversation with Southbound Brewing Company we learn how Carly Wiggins and her childhood friend started out and the stories behind their unique labels and beer names!  She also brings us samples all the way from Georgia including Scattered Sun Wit, Hopl’in IPA, Loving Cup and Black Circle!

During the news segment we discuss the breaking news from CNN Money regarding the ABInbev buyout of SABMiller, the Yakima Herald has us following a British brewer and four lucky consumers on their trip to Yakima valley, and get the latest beer app that delivers growlers to your doorstep!  We also get the latest from the source on the ever changing beer scene in San Diego from the Tribune.  

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked “What collaboration would you like to see between a European Brewery and an american craft brewery?” and this week we are asking you to send us your questions on holiday food and beer pairings!”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

We are thrilled to have a very special visit from superstar brewer Rudi Ghequire from Rodenbach, the legendary Belgian brewery! He first visited us via satellite in Episode 101 on April 01, 2015 and this week he joins us at our bar! We talk about the history of Rodenbach, the differing taste preferences in areas of Belgium and the U.S., and we sample the delicious Rodenbach Session and Caractère Rouge!

We have a lot of fun news items for you this week! The Chicago Tribune reveals that Modelo is collaborating with restauranteur Rick Bayless on a craft beer, while The Washington Post shows us how to find out which beer is made closest to you, and Techdirt reports that LMFAO the beer survives LMFAO the band's lawyers to keep its name. We follow with Vice letting us know that ‘Salmon-Safe’ beer is a thing now and we wind up with Quartz’s list of the most beautiful beer bottles on the planet.

Last week for our #caskquiz Audra Gaiziunas asked the questions “if you are a homebrewer, what’s your fave hop? And for beer enthusiasts what is your fave brand in terms of image?” and this week we want to know “what collaboration would you like to see between a foreign brewery and an American craft brewery?”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

We are so psyched this week because our good friend Audra Gaiziunas from Brewed for Her Ledger is in the bar! She fills us in on the latest in the world of craftbeer finance and lets us know what she’s been up to. And in a special twist, friend of the show Dan T. from Oakshire Brewing, who we met through Audra, sent us some extraordinary beers: Gose to 11, Hopollo 7 Northwest IPA and the stupendous Brewer’s Reserve 8th Anniversary Ale!

Is there any more deal news? You betcha! We begin with Business Insider revealing another beloved craft beer has found a deep-pocketed backer, and Fortune tells us that there are big changes coming for Samuel Adams beer. Next we get into Shape with a beer-protein shake for weightlifters, then Vice reports that women who drink beer regularly run a lower risk of heart attack, Live Science visits our buddy John Sheppard at NC State and learns that wild yeast could yield new kinds of beer, and we wrap up with The USA Today and a love boat for beer!

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked “where do you see craftbeer in 2020?” and this week Audra asks the questions “if you are a homebrewer, what’s your fave hop? And for beer enthusiasts what is your fave brand in terms of image?”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

We are all back this week as Chip returns from the beach tanned, rested and ready to podcast! To celebrate 2 birthdays this week, we keep the bar to ourselves and open some major-league beer goodness: Short’s Brewing’s Good Humans Dry Hopped Double Brown Ale and ControversiALE, and the breathtakingly awesome AleSmith & Mikkeller collaboration Beer Geek Speedway Imperial Oatmeal Stout with Kopi Luwak Coffee!

After a fine job by Tony & Jenn last week, Chip retakes the newsdesk with the latest on the ABInBev-SABMiller merger rumblings! We start with The Independent’s opinion piece that the merger makes sense when lager is in the last chance saloon followed by Main Street’s belief that it's time to say goodbye to craft beer as you know it. Next up is Bloomberg noting that beer cans are giving the Wall Street derivatives regulator a headache, then The Denver Post warning us to beware the kettle sour beer, and Tech Times offering to help us drink like an ancient Sumerian with the oldest beer recipe ever discovered. We close out with VinePair revealing the price of a beer at every NFL football stadium, Fortune’s coverage of the Super Bowl of craft beer, and CNNMoney showing us that Pope 'Phrancis' dolls, beer and cheese are for sale in Philly!

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked “what beer do you want to see pumpkinized?” and this week we are asking “where do you see craftbeer in 2020?”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!

We venture over the river and through the woods to the Starpoint Brewery Garage in scenic Carrboro, NC!  Jenn and Tony get the latest scoop from owner and brewer Tim Harper on his expansion plans and what’s in the tanks.  Tim does not disappoint and we get to sample some extra special brews.  Our own estate hops are used in the “I know a guy” Cream Ale, we sneak a taste of Barrel Aged DUH! with Peppers, AND we get a nip of some Whiskeytown hiding in the cooler!

There’s plenty of news to report on as well, we cover the scene at the first California Craft Beer Summit, get one writer’s opinion of Flavored Beers that shouldn’t have been made, and continue our breakfast discussions with Beer Flavored Syrup!   On a more serious note, we  learn that the first brewery to brew Miller Genuine Draft  is closing partially due to the increase in the craft beer market.  We are excited to visit the Denver Airport as they will be bringing back the Beer Flights Fest just in time for the Great American Beer Festival and hear how the Pope’s first US visit is commemorated in a beer by Cape May Brewing!

Last week for our #caskquiz we asked “what is your take on the Lagunitas-Heineken deal?” and this week we are asking “which style of beer would you like to see pumpkinized?”

We love hearing from you! Please send in feedback and beer suggestions by calling us at (919) 502-0280, tweeting us @talescask, following our Instagram @talesfromthecask, posting on and liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromTheCask or emailing written or audio messages to talesfromthecask@gmail.com! And please rate & review us in iTunes or Stitcher if you haven’t done so!