Newton brewery releases tulip-flavored beer in celebration of annual Pella festival

Francesca Block, Des Moines Register
·3 min read
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Have you ever wondered what a blend of 172 tulip petals brewed into the perfect springtime can of beer tastes like? If you're heading down to Pella for the annual Tulip Festival, now is your opportunity to find out.

Gezellig Brewing Co. created one of the first-ever tulip beers, inspired by the flower that brings thousands of visitors each year to Pella for the annual Tulip Time Festival. The Newton-based brewery's name comes from a Dutch word, which owner Betsy Duffy said means "that warm, comfortable feeling you get when you are surrounded by loved ones."

Duffy said she'd been toying with the idea of adding tulips to beer for the past few years, but never knew whether it would be possible. Luckily, Duffy found someone willing to try — her experienced head brewer Joe Kesteloot.

"I've used flowers before, like hibiscus and rose hips, but I'd never used tulips," Kesteloot said. "And I said, 'Ya, we can for sure try that.'"

More: What to do and know in Pella during Tulip Time 2023

Over the course of two months, Kesteloot researched and experimented. Partnering with Nunnikhoven Farm in Harvey, Kesteloot and Duffy tasted petals from a variety of tulip colors, evaluating their distinct flavors so they could create the ultimate balance of sweetness with a delicate, floral aroma.

The winning tulip was the Lalibela, a bright red flower that Melinda Nunnikhoven said her family farm just happened to plant in time to be used in the project.

"That part is wild because there's literally hundreds and hundreds of varieties of tulips and that was one that we chose to plant on our farm," she said.

The end result features a lighter wheat beer infused with fruit undertones, topped off with the subtle floral taste of the tulips, Kesteloot said.

"When you drink it, you'll get a slight fruity sweetness and then it turns to a light delicate floral taste," he said.

Gezellig Brewing Co. created a tulip-flavored beer in time for Pella's annual Tulip Festival in 2023.
Gezellig Brewing Co. created a tulip-flavored beer in time for Pella's annual Tulip Festival in 2023.

More: Your guide to 20 Des Moines metro breweries, taprooms and their craft beer

Everything about the experience, from the brewing process to the reception from the public, has exceeded the small brewery's expectations.

"Holy smokes," Duffy said, "Here in Pella, the No. 1 question we get is, 'Can we get some of that tulip beer?'"

Four-packs of the Tulip Bier sold out on the day of their debut, but visitors can still stop inside Gezellig Brewing Co. in Newton to try out the new flavor (and even take some refilled cans to go). For Tulip Time visitors, the beer is also available on tap in the heart of Pella at the Cellar Peanut Pub or at the One Eleven Public House in Knoxville.

While there's a limited supply of the specialty beer available this year, Duffy promised the flavor will be back next year to celebrate of the annual festival.

"I think we started a thing that we need to continue," she said. "So I think this is a new to Tulip Time tradition."

Where to find Tulip Bier from Gezellig Brewing Co.

Francesca Block is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at FBlock@registermedia.com or on Twitter at @francescablock3.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Tulip-flavored beer from Gezellig now available in Pella, Marion County