With the money, Pierre emigrated to Austin-Texas and started brewing the same beer again in a brand new brewery he built, but, since he had sold the brand-name, he had to find another name and thus he named the beer : CELIS-WHITE. A few years in operation, and the emerging of a new success-story, the mega-brewer Miller bought the Celis brewery and the Celis White brand-name at the height of the microbrew-hype in 1996. Amazingly, the only thing they did with the brewery was down-grading it, taking the Celis White brand of almost all the markets, and eventually closing the brewery in 2000. This Miller adventure was such a disappointing experience for Mr. Celis that he had already moved back to Belgium.

Fast forward to late 2002, when Miller sold the brewery equipment of the closed Celis brewery to a small brewer in Michigan, who also bought the Celis White brand from Miller.

Back in Europe, Pierre Celis, started to brew his beloved beer again under contract by the De Smedt brewery, and sold it under the brand-name CELIS WHITE all over Europe. He had retained the rights to that brand-name in Europe. But not more than a year later this brewery was bought by the mega-brewer Heineken, and Mr. Celis was again without a brewery. Then he found the Van Steenberge brewery who bought the brand-name Celis White from Mr. Celis plus the whole brew-recipe. Together with the brew-crew of the Van Steenberge brewery, Pierre Celis re-invented again his original white beer and hopefully so for the last time, allowing Mr. Celis finally to live knowing that his original beer is still alive! Celis White is sold all over Europe.

This same beer is now kegged under the brand-name Ertvelds Wit to be sold in the USA, since the rights to the Celis White brand-name for the USA are in the hands of the Michigan brewery.
Ertvelde is the village where the Van Steenberge brewery is located.

Michael Jackson Tasting Note:

Ertvelds Wit (5v)has a dense head, like the topping on a Key Lime pie. There is a bright sheen on the beer's yellowy color, despite the traditional heavy sediment. The aroma is markedly spicy. The palate begins with a spritzy attack; softens into a more texture, lemony sweeenbess; and finishes with a spicy dryness.

Food Pairings:Key lime pie, lemonmeringue pie. American apple pie. Or as a summer refresher.