Cheers to Two Years Spreading Beer Love in Fort Lauderdale

Craft Beer Cellar located at 2301 NE 26th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305. Photo from Amy Abralde, co-owner of Craft Beer Cellar.

Tomorrow, Craft Beer Cellar bottle shop and taproom will celebrate its anniversary with a limited beer release and more.

Last March, Amy and Eddie Abralde hosted a beer release for the FemAle Brew Fest. Three days later, Florida officials ordered their bar and bottle shop closed and the festival was canceled.

The release was called “She’s Crafty,” a fruited Gose with red dragon fruit, pineapple, cranberry, and lime zest. It was a collaboration brewed by women from LauderAle, Yeasty Brews, distribution company Crafty Connoisseurs, and Bangin’ Banjo Brewing Company, now known as Pompano Beach Brewing Company.

The Abraldes remember everyone who attended seemed a little nervous about news of COVID-19.

“It was a fun event but you could tell everybody was on the scared side,” Eddie Abralde tells Broward Beer. “We knew what was going to happen, we’re going to lockdown. We didn’t know exactly to what extent.”

The bar was closed for another six months. They were able to stay afloat with to-go and delivery sales.

By the time they reopened, Eddie says it felt like the business was “starting over.”

“It was rough,” Eddie said. “We opened in October 2019. Finally February-March it felt like we’re onto something. Things are starting to get cranking. Next thing we know, boom, we get locked down for six months.”

View our full video interview with Amy and Eddie here:

The anniversary bash

The party is from 6 to 10 p.m. For $30, you’ll get a commemorative glass, full beer pour, three birria tacos – a Mexican-style stew served in fried corn tortilla shells with a dipping sauce – from the La Catrina food truck. Tickets are available here.

Miami-based Shōjō Beer Company brewed “Taro Express,” a small batch porter with Tahitian vanilla beans and taro. From 7 to 10 p.m. local bands Hank Watts and Aaron James will perform in the beer garden.

“Taro Express,” a porter with Tahitian vanilla beans and taro. Brewed by Shōjō Beer Company exclusively for the anniversary party.

Reflecting on the past two years, Amy Abralde can’t help but feel like the toughest time of this pandemic is in the past. The couple says their regulars and locals helped them get through.

“We’re thankful and really grateful,” Amy said. “Things are looking up.”

Craft Beer Cellar is located at 2301 NE 26th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305.

About Joe Pye

My name is Joe Pye. I believe in local beer and local journalism.