Owners, brewers, and industry professionals have all voiced their sadness about the closure of DC’s Craft Beer Cellar. They’ve told me both personally and have posted these sentiments online. While the retail space on H Street will be taken over by High Spirits, LLC, the work owner Erika Goedrich has put in will continue influencing people in the beer business for years to come. Below you’ll read reflections from folks we reached out to, to share their memories and what they’ll recall of their time spent working with Erika Goedrich and DC’s Craft Beer Cellar.
Before the people speak from themselves, I’ll share what my editor has already shared: this one really hurts. Erika is my friend. Over the last three years we’ve had lunch beers (typically on Mondays, traditionally her one day off weekly) at local places we love: Blujacket, Right Proper, Atlas, and more others than I can remember. I don’t want to say this to shame people who have not been to the store for some time, but simply as a warning: support the places you want to see survive. It was not enough for me and my frequent trips to the shop to keep it open, and there is a massive sea change in how people buy beer afoot, nevermind the economy and value propositions we consumers have before us. I feel good knowing I supported the shop week in and week out, and that my friend tried her hardest to keep the shop open, despite the odds thrown her way. Finally, I’ll say, she did have hype beer. She got exclusives. It just wasn’t enough in the end, and that sucks, but ultimately her work speaks for itself and you needn’t take my word for it, you have the dozen folks below to corroborate.
Emily Brown, Beverage Director, Andy’s Pizza
Erika Goedrich is one of the kindest people I’ve met in the beer industry– She passionately gave me advice and spread the word about the Andy’s Pizza NoMa beer program when I shared with her that I didn’t think beer drinkers knew we were there. She generously donated amazing prizes from her shop for the Beneficial Beers events to help raise money ( when perhaps that wasn’t the easiest choice considering this closing).
Erika supports others with an open heart, and while I am so sad to see her shop close and this chapter in her life end, I hope this experience has only prepared her for what is following in her life: something great right around the corner. I am not an expert on all things H Street & I certainly want the best for the business there, several of which I like to frequent– from what I have come to understand from the effects of Covid on that neighborhood leading to a big newspaper headline article that would undoubtedly discourage new apartment and business leases ( I am not commenting on whether or not this article was factual, again I am not well versed enough to do so) — my comment is only to say that Craft Beer Cellar is not closing due to a poor selection, due to a lack of beer knowledge, due to not working hard enough or the pricing being off, I believe this closing has nothing to do with how Erika ran that shop and everything to do with things entirely out of her control. Everybody, when you see Erika, buy her a beer; she deserves it; she’d do the same for you!
Bill Butcher, Founder, Port City Brewing Company
We are saddened to hear the news of Craft Beer Cellar closing. Erika Goedrich has been a strong and positive force in DC’s local craft beer scene. I especially appreciate her efforts to push breweries, distributors and other craft beer retailers to be more inclusive and to call out discrimination and harassment in our industry. She gained my deep respect in 2021, after Brienne Allan (@Ratmagnet) pointed out the need for our industry’s reckoning with sexism and harassment. Erika sent me and others a questionnaire with specific, pointed questions to answer about our views and policies against sexism and harassment if we wanted CBC to continue to sell our products. I welcomed her efforts to align these important values to her business. I found it a great opportunity to review and share our policies and continue to push for increased diversity, equity and inclusion in our industry. Erika’s brave stance helped reinforce the idea that craft beer is about much more than just a beverage, and that we all need to be held accountable for our own actions, and to speak up when we see something wrong. I think she helped us all do better in this regard, and I appreciate her for that effort! I wish Erika all the best!
Thor Cheston, co-owner/co-founder, Right Proper Brewing Company
It is tremendously sad. Erika has been a bright spot of passion, kindness, and hospitality in the years that Craft Beer Cellar has been open. Her tireless support of DC’s craft beer industry will certainly be missed. I will never forget participating in a few of her zoom beer tastings during the pandemic. They were always so well organized and executed. I look forward to seeing what Erika does next. Hopefully we can continue to work with her in the future.
Julie Verratti, owner and founder, Denizens Brewing Company
Erika and Craft Beer Cellar have been such an integral part of the growth of craft beer in the DC metro area. Erika ensured that local breweries had an opportunity to get their beer on her shelves, and she walked the walk when it came to supporting other women and marginalized communities in beer. Erika pulled people up with her while creating a welcoming environment. Her absence is going to be deeply felt throughout the industry.
Josh Chapman, co-founder, brewer, Black Narrows Brewing Company
What I’d say is that Erika and CBC DC have been the best of what craft beer was meant to be for 7 years. Her and her team were able to bring people truly together, no matter the circumstances/differences/backgrounds.
Brandon Skall, CEO & Co-Founder, DC Brau Brewing
CBC has been a mainstay for craft enthusiasts since opening. Their contributions to this city’s beer culture will continue to be felt long after the doors are closed. Erika and her team proudly carried the torch and connected with their customers by conveying the spirit, friendship and knowledge of Craft Beer. CBC supported all of us local brewers by carrying our products, posting about our beers on social media, and telling our stories and we brewers will forever appreciate them.
James Warner, CEO and founder, City-State Brewing Co.
CBC has meant so much to our industry, and it’s sad that there wasn’t enough business to support it. Erika has been a leader in making the local scene more inclusive, and we all look forward to what she does next.
Elliott H Johnson II, owner and founder, Soul Mega Beer
My fondest memories are the days when I stopped into CBC to stock up on brews during my walks and Erika would always put me onto the new brands she was carrying. Erika has been a continuous supporter of the Soul Mega brand since we started. Whether it be promoting us through different audiences via CBC programming, or inviting us to participate in things like virtual panels and tasting events- Erika has always included us and we are grateful. I am very disappointed to see the store close as it is one of the premier places to find a great variety of exceptional craft beers. I think the next few years will present a unique transition for brick and mortar consumer facing stores that have been operating before the pandemic. I’m not sure what that means for all small businesses in the DMV but it’s definitely super important for people to patronize these businesses and support them in any way that they can.
Anne Choe & Jared Pulliam, co-founders/co-owners, Lost Generation
CBC DC closing is a huge, huge loss. For nearly a decade now, Erika has been one of the true taste makers of the city’s craft beer movement, expertly curating a phenomenal selection. She also understood the importance of uplifting females in beer through access, education and community, and giving opportunities to anyone that had an interest in beer. She was one of the first (if not the first in DC!) to host females in beer events to help build the growing, strong, thriving community we have today. To say Erika will be missed is an understatement. We’ve lost one of the greats this year and we’re mourning a very significant loss.
Steven Cardello, Vice President of Sales, Aslin Beer Co.
Selfishly, I will miss the Craft Beer Cellar, personally and professionally. However, Erika (and her staff) have been outstanding members of the community who have exhausted themselves adding to our great beer culture in the District and I am excited that they are able to move on to the next chapters in their lives. Craft beer has always been about great people willing to take risks for what they love. I am grateful for the time they have dedicated to beer & will always value their friendship.
Ryan Gordon and Roneeka Bhagotra-Gordon, Granville Moore’s and The Queen Vic
Erika has been an amazing supporter of The Queen Vic and Granville Moore’s as well as the DC beer scene in general. She helped us through Covid by offering advice, ideas, product and her own personal time to organize virtual beer dinners and then when we were able to re-open she was there to offer her support and expertise whenever we needed it. She is a great friend and truly a force in the DC Beer Scene, we will be incredibly sad to lose Craft Beer Cellar on H Street, but we know that Erika will be a friend for life.
Derek Brown, Positive Damage and Mindful Drinking Fest
Erika runs a beer store. So when she contacted me about doing a class on non-alcoholic beverages it initially threw me off. Her goal was to showcase new products she was carrying and it was entirely ahead of the curve for retailers. Now Total Wine and Target have their shelves stocked with NA beverages but just a few years ago it was still brand new and only dry bottle shops carried the products.
That was one thing, but as we got talking she had the idea to throw an entire festival around it. The result is now Mindful Drinking Fest, and the next one 1/26-1/28 is an entire weekend filled with events, classes, and 120 NA products at our grand tasting hall. The most NA products under any one roof ever! Though her store closes, her legacy is intact. She has been a leader in adult beverages with and without alcohol and, I’m quite sure, will continue to leave her mark.
