AUSTIN, Texas — Celis Brewery has reopened and is set to hold its Grand Opening on Tuesday, July 11, exactly 25 years to the day of the original’s brewery’s grand opening in 1992. The celebration marks the official return of Austin’s first craft brewery founded by famed Belgian brewer Pierre Celis. The legendary Celis Brewery has been rebuilt by Christine Celis, Pierre’s daughter and partner in the original brewery, and it is reintroducing Celis White, the beloved Belgian-style witbier that started Austin’s craft beer craze in 1992.
Celis Brewery gained national and international notoriety with its Celis White, a Belgian witbier that Pierre Celis championed in his hometown of Hoegaarden, Belgium. Its popularity led to the rapid growth of the brewery, which was subsequently sold to the Miller Brewing Company. In 2001, the brewery closed its doors.
“Austin has its first craft brewery back,” says Ms. Celis, founder and CEO of Celis Brewery. “It has been a labor of love to reopen Celis Brewery, and it is incredibly exciting to be back brewing my father’s original recipes like the famous Celis Wit and Celis Grand Cru using the proprietary yeast from Belgium. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and enthusiasm we have found in Austin as we have started reintroducing our Celis beers around town in a series of tastings this month. We are thrilled to celebrate our return with a Grand Opening party on the 25th anniversary of the first grand opening. We are giving Austin a part of its history back.”
The Celis Brewery Grand Opening party will be the public’s first opportunity to tour the 22,000-square-foot brewery in northwest Austin that has the capacity to brew more than 50,000 barrels per year. The brewing team will show off the technologically advanced 50 HL BrauKon brew system, some of the original equipment from Belgium, and the new brewery’s taproom with its majestic centerpiece: the original Celis Brewery’s massive hand-beaten copper kettle from the early 1900s which has been converted into a beautiful bar. Guests will have an opportunity to taste not only the original recipe beers, but also try new beer recipes. The party will feature live music and food on site.
The Celis Brewery adheres to the same stringent consistency and quality protocols that propelled the original brewery to prominence. The investment in state of the art brewing equipment is matched by the investment in top-quality brewing personnel.Christine Celis leads a team which includes head brewer, Craig Mycoskie, who joins the team from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, and brewer and Daytona Camps, who is the daughter of Ms. Celis.
The brewery was design for efficiency by distinguished brew engineer Bert Van Hecke, who brings more than a decade of brewing experience in, brewery management and consulting experience at prominent breweries in Belgian, South Africa and the United States. The brew system was modified specifically to use old Belgian brewing techniques.
Celis Beers
Celis Brewery returns with three year-round beers that are now available year-round on tap in central Texas.
Celis White: the legendary “Father of Witbier” first brewed by Pierre Celis in 1965 is back. The signature witbier is made with the original Celis recipe including Cascade, Saaz and Willamette hops, coriander and orange peel, as well as the proprietary yeast strain from Belgium. This traditional witbier is hazy bright yellow with strong citrus with spicy fruity scents. Celis White sparkles slightly tart fruit flavors balanced with light maltiness and wheat. It finishes with complex citrus and spice for a refreshing taste that is perfect on a warm Texas afternoon.
Celis Pale Bock: Christine Celis has revived her father’s Belgian Pale Bock recipe with the same amber color and lingering warm rich flavors as the original. It’s brewed with caramel malts, and Saaz, Willamette and Cascade hops, giving it a deep copper and a creamy Belgian-white head. The Pale Bock has dry berry with caramel-malt and citrus aromas, and delicious flavors of subdued berry, malt, a touch of citrus, hints of herbs and spices, and a touch of bitterness at the finish. This easy drinking, full-flavored beer is sure to inspire engaging conversations with friends.
Celis Citrus Grandis IPA: Celis Brewery’s first new recipe is an East Coast style IPA made with the finest Azacca and Citra hops. This zesty Caribbean-inspired brew mingles juicy citrus and tropical fruit aromatics in its hazy golden depths. The IPA pours hazy pale orange with frothy, paper-white head. The effortlessly drinkable beer has bold flavors of grapefruit, orange rind and melons followed by light peach, passionfruit and pineapple notes. It finishes with lingering piney, hop bitterness that begs for a second sip.
Celis Brewery will introduce more beer styles in fall 2017, including Celis Grande Cru.
Celis Brewery beers are now available on tap at more than 100 bars and restaurants in central Texas. Availability will expand to Dallas Fort Worth in July, and San Antonio and Hill Country in August. soon in bottles Celis beers will be available in bottles in retail locations in August 2017. Celis Brewery is distributed by Brown Distributing Co. Inc. in Austin, Andrews Distributing in Dallas Ft, GLI Distributing in San Antonio, and Tri-City Distributors in New Braunfels, TX.
About Celis Brewery
Celis Brewery, founded by Christine Celis in Austin, Texas, brews Belgian-style ales and other beers, including the original witbier that Pierre Celis brewed in Hoegaarden, Belgium. The brewery is an extension of the Celis family legacy and builds on the award-winning craft beer heritage for which the family is known. Connect with Celis Brewery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.