Celis Brewery Set to Reopen In Austin, TX

Discussion in 'Beer News' started by Jason, Feb 21, 2017.

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  1. Jason

    Jason Founder (0) Aug 23, 1996 Massachusetts

    AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 21, 2017 - Austin, Texas is about to witness the rebirth of its first craft brewery with the resurrection of Celis Brewery, which was originally founded by Belgian brewer Pierre Celis in 1992. Christine Celis, Pierre's daughter and partner in the original Celis Brewery, is restoring the family legacy with a new 22,000 square foot brewery in northwest Austin that is expected to start production in early Spring 2017.

    The original Celis Brewery, which was located on Highway 290, became enormously popular introducing Texans to Belgian witbier, a refreshing style for the Texas heat. The brewery and "Celis" brand was later sold to Miller Brewing Company. In 2001, the brewery closed its doors, while the brand lived on under new ownership.

    Now, the brand has found its way home with Ms. Celis having reacquired the "Celis" trademark from the then-current domestic and international rights owners, Total Beverage Solution (TBS) and Craftbev International Amalgamated., Inc.

    "TBS is pleased to be able to help reunite the family with the brand," says President and CEO of TBS, Dave Pardus.

    Sushil Tyagi, President of Craftbev, who had originally acquired the Celis brand from Michigan Brewing Company and had retained international rights until now says, "We worked for years for this day to come when Celis is restored to its hometown and we look forward to helping further expand Celis beers around the world."

    "Rebuilding the Celis Brewery has been a labor of love that has taken me many years to accomplish," says Ms. Celis. "We have a new location and new state-of-the-art brewing equipment, but will brew the same great Celis beers like the famous Celis Wit and Celis Grand Cru, to name a few. This new brewery has the capacity to brew more than 50,000 barrels per year, including Pierre Celis' recipes from both the original Celis Brewery and his earlier days in Belgium. It's an honor to carry on my family's brewing legacy with my father's original 1965 recipes using the proprietary yeast from Belgium."

    Celis Brewery will not only brew the original Belgian recipes, but it will do so with members of the brewing team from the original Celis Brewery. Led by Christine Celis, the team will include the master brewer and the Belgian brew engineer who designed the new brewery. Daytona Camps, daughter of Ms. Celis, will also join the brewing team.

    A centerpiece of the original Celis Brewery, its massive copper kettle, was sold along with the original brewery and moved out of state. It has since made the journey back to Texas to be reunited with the family, and will be used as a beautiful bar in the new brewery's taproom.

    The new Celis Brewery is rapidly taking shape with the recent installation of a 50 HL Braukon brewing system. The packaging line and fermenters are scheduled to arrive later this month, while construction of the taproom continues. To preserve brewing history, Celis Brewery has shipped the historic brewing equipment used by Mr. Celis in Belgium to make his famous witbier. The equipment arrived in Austin in December 2016 and will be on display at the Celis Brewery in 2017.

    Connect with Celis Brewery
    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. 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.
     
    #1 Jason, Feb 21, 2017
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  2. StoutElk_92

    StoutElk_92 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,045) Oct 30, 2015 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    This is good news! I had a bottle of Celis Grand Cru that was outstanding. Hopefully I'll be able to get it again in the future. Would like to try their other beers as well.
     
    #2 StoutElk_92, Feb 21, 2017
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  3. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sounds like they're going about it the right way. I'm cautiously optomistic about this, and wish them all the best.
     
    #3 TongoRad, Feb 21, 2017
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  4. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Can't wait to have some good Celis back in my life :slight_smile:
     
    #4 champ103, Feb 21, 2017
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  5. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    What about Flemish Fox?
     
    #5 zid, Feb 21, 2017
  6. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    When the details come out I'll bet we hear that Flemish Fox was basically the back up name in the event they were unable to buy back the Celis name for use on a Brewery and its beer.
     
    #6 drtth, Feb 21, 2017
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  7. jhavs

    jhavs Grand Pooh-Bah (3,587) Apr 16, 2015 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I hope early spring = before mid-april when I'm heading to Austin.
     
    #7 jhavs, Feb 21, 2017
  8. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The one thing that gave me pause is that I seem to remember their jack of all trades plan with regards to physical space and beer output. I could be remembering that wrong though. Not sure where I read that. If true, it also might be good business for them to take that path, rather than going for a modest space and a specialty focus... but it gave me pause.
     
    #8 zid, Feb 21, 2017
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  9. SunDevilBeer

    SunDevilBeer Pooh-Bah (1,945) May 9, 2003 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I tried the Grand Cru a year or 2 ago (TBS version) & it brought back many fond memories . I hope they plan to brew it regularly.
     
    #9 SunDevilBeer, Feb 22, 2017
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  10. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Brewbound's article on the new Celis deal article says:
    :astonished:
    Mighta been here - Atwater Partners with Celis Family to Build Austin Brewery

    Sure adds confusion to the already ...uh, "complicated" history of Celis...
     
    #10 jesskidden, Feb 22, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2017
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  11. rgordon

    rgordon Pooh-Bah (2,701) Apr 26, 2012 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Just so long they don't fold in Kid Rock Bad Ass Lager and Eminem Wit, I'll gladly try a remake of Celis Wit.
     
    #11 rgordon, Feb 22, 2017
  12. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    And this makes me a little sad...

    http://spirits.blog.mystatesman.com...fox-will-bring-belgian-legacy-back-to-austin/

    "But when visitors come to Celis Brewery in its first month being open, that beer probably won’t be available just yet. She says she wants to launch with a trio of IPAs — a Belgian-style IPA and two New England-style IPAs — and have Pierre’s original brews debut in the following month or two, “to give (people) a reason to come back to the taproom,” she says."

    I want Celis White and Grand Cru, not the newest fad :slight_frown: Still very much looking forward to the traditional offerings though.
     
    #12 champ103, Feb 22, 2017
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  13. saintcdc

    saintcdc Initiate (181) Mar 8, 2016 Texas

    Just a distribution issue at launch, or did their business plan just miss the fact, as beer scenes go, Houston>DFW>San Antonio?

    Excited for the nostalgia trip of a refreshing Celis White. Hope they have it dialed-in soon.

    Best of luck on the grand reopening!
     
    #13 saintcdc, Feb 22, 2017
  14. eppCOS

    eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    That's great news! I was in Austin (94-99) during the first wave of micro-brewing and craft beer and Celis was one of the early succesful ones...so that's fantastic. Welcome back, Celis! Now, if only Waterloo Brewing could come back... (only sorta kidding - never that great, but you know, fuckin' nostalgia and whatnot).
     
    #14 eppCOS, Feb 22, 2017
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  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    In the long run this will likely be a very good idea. Every business wants (needs) repeat business and it sounds like the Celis folks recognize what is popular these days and will provide those popular beers along with the 'classic' beers at a later date.

    From a business perspective this appears to be a Win-Win strategy.

    Cheers!
     
    #15 JackHorzempa, Feb 22, 2017
  16. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yeah I get that, though to me a win win is just making good beers...period. In Texas people are clamoring to have any local brewery make this ridiculously hyped NEIPA style, it won't matter that we have no idea of the quality these will be. I am sure it will be a good seller. I just hate to see any brewery, or any business for that matter, chase trends and fads instead of making what they are good at. In this case, they should be making their fantastic Wit from the start, and if that is of the same quality it was then they don't need to chase trends. Just my opinion of coarse...but hopefully there are enough people around that understand the beer world does not revolve around NEIPA's.
     
    #16 champ103, Feb 22, 2017
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  17. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    That assumes that there is a robust enough customer base to keep the brewery profitable by just selling Witbier, Grand Cru,... While you and I will buy and enjoy Celis Wit are there enough other customers to keep Celis Brewing Co. in business with these 'classic' beers?
    But if Celis Brewing Co. can make some money (most of their money?) servicing that market they they will remain in business to continue to produce Witbier, Grand Cru,...

    It does not have to be an either/or situation and it appears that the Celis folks fully recognize that.

    Cheers!
     
    #17 JackHorzempa, Feb 22, 2017
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  18. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Oh, I get that, and I am coming off as much more upset in my replies than I actually am. Can I just have my Celis White already :slight_smile:
     
    #18 champ103, Feb 22, 2017
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  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Good things come to those that wait.

    Maybe buy some St. Bernardus Wit or Allagash White to tide you over?

    Cheers!

    P.S. On another homebrewing forum I just posted my recipe for brewing a Witbier. Maybe you could homebrew your own Witbier?
     
    #19 JackHorzempa, Feb 22, 2017
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  20. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,790) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Is this the brewery with the White that apparently inspired blue moon. ? Just curious.
     
    #20 Urk1127, Feb 22, 2017
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