No small beer!
This month an article about our white beer appeared in the Leuven city magazine LVN. Below the full article. Enjoy and Santé!
Kevin Celis moved to Leuven with his girlfriend five years ago. They bought a house in La Vignette, a side street of Fonteinstraat. At that time, the city was celebrating 50 years of Leuven Flemish. 'Why do we live in a street with a French name?', Kevin wondered – and he decided to investigate.
Kevin: 'Nobody could help me. Until I ended up in the City Archives and found out that the name 'La Vignette' referred to a brewery that was there at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It must have been the largest in the region, and the first to operate on steam power. I'm still piecing together the story, and unfortunately many things remain a mystery.'
'During my research I came across a beer recipe from 1851. I really felt the urge to try it out. Coincidentally, I had met Marc from the De Vlier brewery, and thanks to him I made an interpretation of that recipe, which I called La Vignette. I didn't skimp on ingredients, and you can taste it! I've also used it in dishes - in stew, mussels, meat croquettes... - and it certainly gives them a special touch.'
'Actually, that was the end of the story, but during the first lockdown I started brewing again. In the meantime, it has gradually become too big to do as a hobby, but I don't see producing more for the time being. You have to think more commercially, and that means, for example, that I would have to get rid of my large bottles. Small bottles sell better in the catering industry, while I consciously chose the shape of a champagne bottle. You share La Vignette with friends at special moments. I call it my beer of friendship.'