Welcome back, Pierre?
If you find yourself with a little extra time in Austin, Texas, head toward the outskirts of the city to visit this building at 2431 Forbes Dr. With large shipping bays to the side and plenty of room for trucks to maneuver it looks like a perfect building for a brewery. That’s because it once was.
It’s now home to Aus-Tex Printing and Mailing, but this is where Pierre Celis founded the landmark Celis Brewery in 1991.
That Celis, a Belgian brewing legend, founded a brewery in Texas (in the middle of the United States, still considered a brewing desert by Europeans) was nearly as exciting a story as the classic beers he produced.
It seems he came and went so quickly. First, he sold the majority interest to Miller Brewing in 1995, then the rest in 2000 – and shortly thereafter Miller closed the brewery, eventually selling the beautiful equipment and brand names to Michigan Brewing.
“It’s a huge loss to Austin. It’s like if you had an internationally recognized symphony and no one came to hear it,” said Chip McElroy, co-owner of Live Oak Brewing Co., also in Austin. “Among beer people, the fact that Austin couldn’t support Celis is like Kennedy being shot in Dallas.”
It won’t at this location, but apparently the deal to return the 80-year-old Celis to the Austin area to brew is all but done. Where? That’s still a secret.
We’re already salivating.
