Exploring Life & Business with Christa Donofrio of Beer Tooth Taproom

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christa Donofrio.

Hi Christa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I started looking into craft beer the year after InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch because there wasn’t a Clydesdale commercial in the Super Bowl. I loved Budweiser and really loved those commercials. As I started trying other beer styles, the bartenders always tried to give me IPAs because the color was similar to Bud. I didn’t care for those piney IPAs so I had to find a style on my own. I read everything I could find and went to many beer tastings. However, my craft beer journey got derailed when I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, which ended up involving 2 surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation.

While preparing to start chemotherapy, my oncologist gave me a list of items to pick up to counteract the side effects of my chemo. I thought of myself as a strong individual but I sat in the car at the drugstore unwilling to go in and buy what I needed. My compassionate wife, Christy, understood and told me to go try the new taproom next door while she picked up my items. When I walked in, I felt just like I did when I walked onto Main Street USA in Disney World for the first time when I was 5 years old. I wanted to try everything and talk about all of the styles, most of which I did not recognize. I told the owner that working there would be my dream job. She said they were hiring but I explained that would have to wait until after my cancer battle.

Fast forward 18 months…I was cancer-free and got hired as a bartender at the taproom. I continued learning about beer and took the online exam for Certified Beer Server through Cicerone.org. 6 months later I became the taproom’s manager. I was selecting the beers we purchased and trying samples from all over. I spent much of my time helping new craft beer drinkers understand what the different styles offered. A close friend suggested going into business for myself to create an educational taproom. It took me several years to actually like the idea let alone think it was plausible.

In December of 2018, I resigned as the taproom’s manager and started working on a business plan with my wife as well as studying for the Cicerone exam. After we found our ideal location, the shopping center had to do a parking study before they would let us sign a lease. In January of 2020, I was informed that I passed the Cicerone test; we signed the lease and were on cloud 9. Ironically we got the keys on March 16th and it seemed like the whole world shut down on May 17th. I thought, optimistically, that would proceed and not have to rush as Covid-19 ran its course in the US. I did not take into account how hard it would be to get drawings and permits with everyone working from home. I definitely did not predict that the cost of building material would triple in 6 months. Our buildout costs increased by almost 50% of the original estimate. We realized we had to make a choice – either quit or press forward. Christy and I did not sleep for 2 nights. I realized I didn’t want to be asking “what if” a few years down the road, so I cashed in my retirement and we continued moving forward.

After all of the delays and stress, Beer Tooth Taproom opened its doors on November 20, 2020. Although capacity was reduced due to Covid restrictions, we didn’t give up. Now that those restrictions are lifted and folks are getting vaccinated and feeling comfortable going out again, we can start doing the educational things that make us different from other taprooms.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Getting cancer was a huge speed bump. The six months of treatment were pure misery. I am thankful to be cancer-free. However, I am living with lymphedema from radiation and lymph node removal. Covid-19 through a giant wrench into our gears. The pandemic made opening any business more difficult, but restaurants and bars/taprooms really had it hard.

As you know, we’re big fans of Beer Tooth Taproom. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Bee​r Tooth Taproom, named after the great song “Beer Tooth” by Shelby Merchant, is a neighborhood taproom with a focus on beer education for all levels of beer drinkers. We are committed to going above and beyond the industry standard for cleaning and maintenance of our draft system to ensure that each beverage served at our taproom tastes exactly as intended. You will taste the difference.

Working with wholesale distributors and local breweries allows Beer Tooth to have the newest releases, freshest seasonal beer, and international brands on rotation to make the selection dynamic.

As part of our educational focus, we are excited to offer flight school once a month to help our customers expand their craft beverage knowledge base. Each class is curated and led by Christa Donofrio, Certified ​Cicerone® and owner of Beer Tooth Taproom. The hour-long sessions include a preset flight of four beer styles that will be discussed in relation to the topic.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
I have not considered myself a risk-taker in the past. I do think, after my cancer treatment, I have become a calculated risk-taker. I now do things outside my comfort zone because I don’t want to have any regrets or say “what if”. I am a scientist (MS in molecular biology) so I think more than I dream. I never would have taken the risk of opening a business, had I not had cancer

Contact Info:

• Email: beertoothtaproom@gmail.com
• Website: www.beertoothtaproom.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beertoothtaproom/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beertoothtaproom

Image Credits
Swigs Photography