As we reported yesterday, it looks like the Brickskeller, once having the “World’s Largest Selection of Beer”, will be closing its doors very soon. Our friends over at J Street Beer say that a reliable source has the bar’s last day of business as December 18. Regardless, The Brick’s head has been on the chopping block for years now, and it seems almost imminent that this institution will be closing its doors for good very soon.

Some call it the end of an era, like those of us who have lived here long enough to know the Brickskeller as the bastion of craft beer in the sea of swill that Washington D.C. was, even as recently as five years ago. (In fact, the bar holds a special place in history for DCist — the site’s first staff meeting was held at the Brickskeller.) This was a time when it was hard enough finding a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale — never mind something a little more exotic that we beer nerds now take for granted. Since then, the landscape of the D.C. beer scene has changed dramatically. We’ve been lucky enough to watch this town become one of the best beer destinations on the East Coast. While everyone knows most things are better in New York City, D.C. has been able to stay in the ring with the best of them as far as quality beer bars and brand availability goes.