Celis Waller Kriek

I've been on a fruity and sour beer kick of late, so much so that i actually had to decide which one to write up today.  I settled on the Waller Kriek, a Belgian Kriek Lambic from Celis here in Austin due to the brewery's recent financial struggles.  The 5% ABV beer pours a pink hue with a white and quickly dissipating head, and smells of tart cherries and a slight funky spice.  The flavor is sweet and tart, the cherries up front with a sour finish, a great Saturday afternoon kind of brew.  Get it while you can.

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Celis Raspberry

I've been pretty stoked since Celis Brewery came back from the dead to start making delicious Belgian-inspired brews again here in Austin, and their latest is a fruity take on a classic.  The Celis Raspberry combines the brewery's original Celis White with a whole lot of raspberries.  Pouring a pinkish/reddish hue with light pink head, the beer smells of...you guessed it...raspberries, along with some floral notes, spices, and a wheat-y breadiness.  The flavor is tart, a mix of sweet fruit and spice with dry and crisp finish.  This beer is certainly not for everyone, but if you're looking for something a little different, this 5% ABV concoction is a great summertime brew.

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Celis Citrus Grandis IPA

I've been pretty stoked ever since Celis Brewery returned to Austin a few months ago, and i've got to admit that i'm surprised that the brewers have been able to make a beer that i actually like better than their classic White witbier.  But their New England IPA, the Citrus Grandis is just too damn good to ignore.  Coming in at 5% ABV and pouring a hazy, light gold with a foamy white head, the beer smells of citrus, fruit, spice, and just a little bit of funk.  Flavors of fruit and citrus, along with some notes of bread and spice mesh well together in a crisp and refreshing, full-bodied blend.  The sweet and the bitter play well together, making it remarkably easy to drink.  It's almost like crossing and IPA with a Hefeweizen.  It's a perfect year round drinker.

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Celis White

Although i was too young to be able to really enjoy, and i was not nearly versed enough in beer outside of your standard American lager when i first made my way to Austin back in the late 90's, I was really bummed when Austin's Celis Brewery closed down back in 2000.  It was part of a larger wave of change in the city at the time, with many of the old stalwarts, bars, clubs, stores, and more, shuttering and making way for the oncoming gentrification and commodification that would come to Austin in over the next 15 years.  Celis ended up being acquired by Miller, and then just kind of disappeared here in Texas.  As the trademark passed hands over the next few years, it somehow, by the grace of whatever higher power you want to have faith in, ended up with the daughter of the original owner here in Austin.  And now it's back.  And i'm stoked.  Kicking it off with an old classic, the Belgian-style Witbier, Celis White pours a light, slightly murky gold with a quick dissipating white head, and smells of wheat, orange, and coriander.  The beer is crisp and tasty, the notes of orange and coriander never overpowering the brew, and meshing well with hints of spice and sweetness.  And it all comes in at 4.9% ABV...and it's hot here...so...drink this all day.

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Adelbert's Gypsy Belgian IPA

Austin brewery Adelbert's just released their first collaborative beer, a Belgian IPA called Gypsy that was brewed with Kim Clarke, formerly of the Celis Brewery, and more notable the first female brewmaster in Texas.  The Gypsy is a medium bodied, golden brew with a light and thick head.  The beer smells of citrus and bananas with some light floral hints.  The taste is sweet and hoppy, a light, easy to drink IPA.  If you're not normally an IPA drinker, you may enjoy this tasty collaboration.  Hopheads on the other hand, should probably look elsewhere.

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