RIP Pierre Celis

Pierre Celis passed away in Belgium over the past weekend. He was 86. Celis was the person who revived the Belgian Wit style, and after losing his brewery in a buyout by a large multinational. He came to Austin, Texas and started Celis Brewing, bringing his witbier recipe with him. In 2000, after a too-rapid, debt fueled expansion, Celis brewing was purchased by Miller Brewing, which promptly killed the brand, replacing all those rows on store shelves with Miller Lite (which is what has Goose Island fans worried now). Michigan Brewing bought the rights to the Celis line and is currently producing Pierre's recipes