Belgian Beer Bar Comes Alive in Downtown Austin

Look out for a new bar pouring Belgian beers to downtown Austin with Mort Subite. It takes over the shuttered wine bar and shop Cork and Co. on 308 Congress. The name translates to "sudden death" in French.

Update, September 29: Mort Subite is now soft open.

Owner James Jackson Leach, who also co-owns Lucky’s Puccias, wants to "go back to what inspires a lot of early brewers, Belgian beer," in the midst of Austin’s recent beer and brewery boom. The aim of the space is to "make you feel like you’re in Belgium.

For special occasions, Mort will offer sabering of bottles of Deus beer, then served in champagne glasses. Guests will also be able to partake in Belgian imports, with 24 on tap, and an additional 40 to 50 bottles. There will be an emphasis on Belgian and European liqueurs like genevers. A few local beers will pop up too.

Leach is looking at an early July opening for Mort Subite.