AUSTIN, Texas (October 26, 2017) — In November, the classic Celis Brewery Grand Cru Tripel Ale will begin hitting taps in bars and restaurants throughout Texas. The venerated Belgian-style Tripel, brewed with the same recipe created by Pierre Celis in 1967 in Hoegaarden, Belgium, will be released as a winter seasonal beer and available only on tap through the season.
The original Celis Brewery in Austin first released Celis Grand Cru Tripel in the Autumn 1992 using the same recipe as Pierre Celis brewed in Hoegaarden. Grand Cru developed a strong following among beer lovers all over the world in the 1990s. Celis Grand Cru Tripel won several awards including a Silver medal at the 1998 World Beer Cup and Gold medal at the 1998 Great American Beer Festival (GABF).
Celis Grand Cru returns as a winter seasonal after a 17-year hiatus. Celis Grand Cru is a traditional Belgian-style Tripel Ale with the characteristic deep golden color, sweet soft maltiness, fruity and spicy flavors, with a dry finish. The original recipe is now brewed on the state-of-the-art brewing equipment at the new Celis Brewery. The Celis brewing team brought back one of the original Celis brewers to ensure the ale stays true to its roots.
“Celis Grand Cru was the second beer my father created in 1967 at Celis Brouwerij in Hoegaarden,” says Ms. Celis, founder of Celis Brewery. “It was a style that was only brewed for special occasions because as a high alcohol beer, it’s not an everyday beer. It is a beer to be savored on special occasions. We are excited to brew Grand Cru again and over the moon happy that it is even better than before. It is a complex beer to make, and a beer with complex tastes. It is the perfect time to introduce this remarkable ale to celebrate the holidays.”
Introducing Celis Grand Cru Tripel Ale
Celis Grand Cru Tripel Ale is brewed with pale barley malts, along with Saaz and Cascade hops, and the same special yeast strain used in the original recipe and the original Celis White since 1965. The rich ingredients give it a silky body, and subtle fruitiness and complex malt aroma with hints of citrus and spice. It has multifaceted fruity flavors with spicy accents and a delicate sweetness with a lingering dry finish. While it has a relatively high 8.6 percent alcohol by volume, it is a well-balanced ale that does not taste boozy.
Celis Grand Cru Tripel Ale will be introduced at a special release party dubbed the Ghouly Grand Cru Gala. The release party will be held Saturday October 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Celis Brewery, 10001 Metric Blvd., Austin, Texas 78758. The party will feature beer specials, food trucks, a DJ, a photo booth, and a Halloween costume contest.
Celis Grand Cru Tripel Ale joins a line-up of three year-round beers that are sold throughout Texas. This seasonal release will be available only on draft during November 2017 through February 2018. Celis Brewery beers are available at hundreds of retail stores, bars and restaurants in Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, Gruene, New Braunfels, San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country, Temple, and Waco. 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.
For more information about Celis Brewery, see our latest article: Celis Brewery, Austin’s First Craft Brewery is Now Open
