ICYMI: This week we learned that @cavedave passed away. An OG BeerAdvocate, he'll be greatly missed by many here and everywhere else that he roamed. Speaking of which, here's a post from The Doom Saloon (a "private" bar in Gardiner, NY) honoring Dave. They've posted a bunch of photos and plan on a memorial night soon, so check out the link and page (public) if you're interested. --- from The Doom Saloon (Jan 24) on Facebook: Sharing the sad news that our Patriarch, Brewfather, co-creator of Stout Night, craft beer aficionado/connoisseur, writer, poet, legend, mentor, and very best of friends Cave Dave (Dave Fiekowsky) has passed on.... Words and photos can't, at this time, express the sadness we feel, the influence/effect he had on us...his kindness, stories, laughter, love, light and life... Plans for a cave Dave memorial night at The Doom Saloon night will be announced at some point in the near future.... Adios, amigo. 'Til we meet again, but we'll see you here and there for sure... And for now, as Trax said, we raise a toast, have a toke... ### Please raise your next beer to Dave. (PS - Dave's son also posted funeral information on The Doom Saloon page.)
I have raised a few, already, but appreciate this alert. He was/is best about this community. I loved him checking in after having to abstain for health reasons. This one goes up now No tokes, still verboten on the job
Aw shit. Although we never met in person, Dave and I cultivated an actual friendship that started here on BA. Return If Possible Dave.
Long live Dave Fiekowsky. His poem dedicated to the Stout shall live on forever. I tried quoting it but am unable to since the thread is locked. @Todd can you post it in here? It was a beautiful poem. Life is short boys, let's all live it up. Empty the stouts in your cellar for our fallen brother this upcoming month. Let's make him smile.
@Todd thanks for posting this with the link. For those of us who only had the provelege to interact with Dave via the interwebs it is great to put a face to the name (and the reality is pretty near to what my mind had conjured up). I learned a lot from Dave when I was wet behind the ears here. He was always kind and willing to help a noob. Beside the live for beer there was a mutual love for music that we only explored a little. His hosting of NBS with Utopiajane was legendary - the king of alliteration! I was glad to have "known" him - even though it was only remotely via this site, it felt like friendship.
I believe you mean this one, posted on Dec 21, 2025 in Imperial Stout Is Life (2025), which I'll now fully post here: ### Since this is a thread for stout lovers, I guess it's time I share one of these annual poems written for stout night at the Doom Saloon, where some folks just as admiring as us of stout get together. I no longer attend due to health issues, but I still write one of these and record me reading it for the event every year. Here is this year's. You'll have to imagine my Bukowski-esque voice reading it... so listen to me brothers, and here's the thing, if stout is imperial then who is the king? who is this ruler of this sacred brew, how can i find out if this imperial stuff is true? russian imperial stout the red and black label read so the king must be in russia, I thought, and off i sped. some folks told me Courage brand's the stout i wanted, its heritage was verified its credentials vaunted, so i carried a case of stout with me on the plane and kept it with me when i sat within a moscow train. i went to the kremlin, told the government my quest, "Until i find the king of stout i will get no rest!" i gave them all some Courage stout and wouldn't you know after drinking a glass or three they showed me where to go. the taxi took me into an ancient part of town and stopped beside a castle with stone walls half fallen down. but a light beamed brightly up above a rusty iron door illuminating roughly hewn slate slabs, which were the floor. a servant took my hand and to the throne room i was shown, and there the Stout King sat upon a black and ivory throne. he looked upon me with a gaze both friendly and severe, then bellowed, "Welcome friend, now won't you join me for a beer?" now. brothers. you don't need to guess what brew the good King served, the best stout's what the Stout King had, and what we both deserved. We quaffed and sipped and gulped and laughed, stout's magic had it's way Until at last the good king held glass high for his final say: "Here's to Chocolate Syrup, Roasted Coffee, Dark Spiced Rum, Molasses, Baking Chocolate. Toffee. Raisins, Tobacco, Plum, Here's to a stout that coats the glass like a Temporary Tattoo;. Happy Fucking Stout Night Doom Saloon and Stout Night Crew!" Change that last line to- ...Stout Love Thread and BA Crew!" ©David Fiekowsky (@cavedave) 2025 All Rights Reserved By Author ###
It’s very sad that we’ve lost one of the legends here on the Beer Advocate forums. I think more than ever we BA’s need to try to meet up in the real world every now and then. Anyone traveling through central MD, reach out to me.
In my experience on the forums Dave was always a refreshing measured voice of reason. Sad news to hear of his passing.
He was certainly likable, engaging and intelligent. As others, I remember the thoughtful start to New Beer Sunday about a decade ago, rotating with the nonetheless outstanding @utopiajane. Rest in peace.
I will miss all of the thoughtful interactions I had with you Dave, about music, beer, and other things concerning life. I also promise to never forget the beer lesson you taught me: nothing goes with breakfast for dinner like dry Irish stout. RIP my friend.
Unfortunately, I've only joined BeerAdvocate recently, so I didn't know @cavedave very well--but he sounds like he was a remarkable gentleman well worth knowing, and certainly deserving of a beer aficionado's devout respect. I wasn't planning on having a stout yesterday, but when I found out of his passing yesterday, and of his love of stouts, I found one in my stash and drank it in honour--the Yonder Oatmeal Stout, by Picton, Ontario's Prince Eddy's Brewing... May he rest in peace...and discover the finest tasting beers in the afterlife.
RIP CaveDave. I always enjoyed the NBS threads immensely, and CaveDave was a very prominent part of that enjoyment - making the threads feel homey, relaxing, and yet informational. Hopefully he's getting to drink more than a beer a week now.
I was considering trying a new BA stout this weekend that is named after the brewer / owner's son. Seems like a fitting bottle to toast to life and what is beyond. My intention is to spend some time savoring each sip alongside my notepad, but perhaps this is an instance where sharing is pertinent.
Damn. Never met Dave personally, but i felt that I have through our BA interactions. We had some good conversations about beer, music and mushrooms. He even sent me some of his private black trumpet mushroom stash. I will definitely have a stout for him in his honor and he'll be the first person I'll think of when I pick my first morel mushroom this year. "Reach out your hand, if your cup be empty If your cup is full, may it be again" -Ripple - The Grateful Dead
Sad news to wake up to. I thought Dave had his health troubles under control. Won't forget his contributions here.
Definitely will be missing the thoughtful contributions of this OG. Only got to meet up once but n person for a bottle share when I was living in the NYC area but shared a number of great brews that evening. Raising another one to you tonight.
That poem posted above is beautiful. Thanks for causing it to be posted, @Resistance88. I've hung out here long enough so that I developed an awareness and appreciation of CaveDave, and I'll miss him being here. RIP CaveDave. May you have no health limits on your imbibing in heaven.
One of my all-time favorite BAs. His thoughtful, measured posts were always a pleasure to read. He came across as a genuinely good guy who would have been a hell of a lot of fun to spend time with. Never met him but I'll miss him.
