The Brickskeller: Dupont’s Legendary Basement of Beers

Ever stumbled into a dark basement in Dupont Circle only to find yourself face-to-face with a beer list thicker than a phone book? If you were lucky enough to experience The Brickskeller at 1523 22nd Street NW before it closed in 2010, you know exactly what we mean.

This wasn’t just any bar. This was Washington’s original beer cathedral. A place where hops and history intertwined, and ordering a lager could feel like spinning a globe.

A Corsican Couple and Their Rathskeller Dream

Let’s rewind to 1957. Felix and Marie Coja, a pair of Corsican immigrants, decided to open a bar in the basement of their Marifex Hotel near 22nd and P NW. Inspired by German rathskellers, they built something dark, cozy, and wildly ahead of its time: The Brickskeller.

Felix, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef (yes, seriously), had already sharpened his knives at the Blackstone Hotel. Now, he and Marie poured that same passion into beer—and the atmosphere to enjoy it.

Beer Before It Was Cool

Decades before the words “craft beer” graced a hipster’s lips, The Brickskeller was hoarding bottles from around the globe like precious artifacts. Belgian lambics? Got ’em. English bitters? Naturally. Obscure brews from Bulgaria? Why not!

By the time their daughter Diane and her husband Dave Alexander took the reins in the ’80s, the beer list had ballooned to over 1,200 bottles. That wasn’t a typo. The Brickskeller eventually landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its staggering selection.

Beer Tasting, Brickskeller Style

Picture this: It’s 1985. You’re sitting in a dark booth under low-hanging lights. A beer writer named Bob Tupper and Dave Alexander are hosting what many now consider the first commercial sit-down beer tasting in the U.S.

Ten international beers. A humble buffet. A room full of adventurous palates. That night helped launch a new American tradition: beer dinners and educational tastings. And it all started in a Dupont Circle basement.

The Scene: Politicos, Tourists, and the Beer Prophet Himself

The charm of The Brickskeller wasn’t just in its dusty bottles. It was the vibe. Barrel stools. Sticky floors. A bar that felt like a secret club. Everyone from college kids to Capitol Hill staffers packed in—and occasionally, so did legends.

The British beer guru Michael Jackson (no glove, just hops) was a regular presence. One night, fresh off a transatlantic flight, he requested a bitter and was handed a Stone Ruination IPA. Later, he cracked open a ’97 St. Louis Gueuze with the staff, praising its funk and finesse.

Also spotted at tastings? Fritz Maytag (Anchor Brewing), Garrett Oliver (Brooklyn Brewery), and Larry Bell (Bell’s). Yep, before they were beer gods, they were Brickskeller guests.

The Closing Pour

Sadly, all good things ferment and fade. By the 2000s, shiny new beer bars with sleek taps and trendier menus began to pull attention. The Brickskeller’s infrastructure—and let’s be honest, sometimes its service—couldn’t keep pace.

On December 18, 2010, Diane and Dave poured the final pints. The spot was sold and renamed The Bier Baron Tavern. It still slings solid beers, but for longtime fans, the heart—those creaky floors, dusty corners, and encyclopedic menus—is missed.

Raising a Glass to Dave Alexander

Dave Alexander wasn’t just a bartender. He was a mentor, a beer scholar, and a cornerstone of D.C.’s craft scene. When he passed in 2023, it was a gut punch to everyone who ever raised a glass in that dark basement.

Ask any former staffer or regular, and they’ll tell you: Dave made beer fun, approachable, and deeply communal. He didn’t just build a beer list. He built a culture.

Still Thirsty for History?

The Brickskeller may be gone, but its ghost lingers in every DC bar with a beer list longer than a legal brief. If you ever find yourself in Dupont, take a stroll past 1523 22nd Street NW. Raise a silent toast. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll hear the faint clink of long-gone pints.

Because The Brickskeller wasn’t just a bar. It was a beer-soaked legend.