A clause that would have imposed a special consumption tax on beers produced by small and micro-breweries was withdrawn during discussion of a draft omnibus bill before a Parliament committee on Wednesday, after the government’s junior coalition partner, the Independent Greeks (ANEL) party, withdrew its support for the tax hike.
The proposed tax, which was only supported by the 145 ruling SYRIZA MPs, was therefore removed from the bill.
In the diminishing beer market, several small local breweries as well as some bigger Greek owned brands like Fix and Mythos are fighting for survival against the German/Dutch brand dominance of the beer market.
These are some of the less well known small Greek breweries :
Volkan
Produced with the famous honey of Santorini and the citron of Naxos island, Volkan Beer won the “New Section Product Innovation of the Year” award at the International Beer Awards 2013 that took place in Prague on May 14th.
Famous Greek artist Alekos Fasianos designed the Volkan beer bottle, and a large percentage of its proceeds go toward the program Greece Debt Free- a program helping to reduce the national Greek debt.
NHSOS
New, Cycladic and physics! This beer is not subjected to heat treatment, and is produced without preservatives. Produced in Tinos island NHSOS has been in the market for a year.
Septem
The idea was born on June 2009 somewhere in Evia. The name is of latin origins and means seven-a number which symbolizes creation. If you want a Septem beer you have the following three options: Pilsner, Pale Ale and Honey Golden Ale.
B29
An organic beer with a strange, sweet story… B29 was created by a brewer to celebrate the birth of his child. Of the barrels created, the one with number “29” had something special that remains a mystery to this day.
NEDA
Started production in 2009, in the region of Messinia. The name was borrowed from the only female river of Messinia, Neda. According to Greek mythology Neda was the goddess of water.
Vergina
Has its own particular tradition. Indeed, the location at Rodopi northern Greece, was not random. Rumors say that there was a place, where the first form of Greek beer in antiquity was produced!
Macedonian Recipe and ZEOS
ZEOS Brewing Company produces Macedonian Recipe Lager, Black Weiss and ZEOS Pilsner. It is a nice, characteristic bottle, and most of all……Greek!
Craft
Pilsner, Red Ale, Smoked Lager, Weiss, Athens Lager or Black Lager, the choices are endless. Produced by Craft Microbrewery, since 1997.
Peiraiki
An organic beer, fermented and aged. In about six weeks you can enjoy it either in Pils or Pale Ale version. Produced since 2005 from Piraeus Microbrewery.
Rethimnian
Blonde or Black? Produced in Rethymno, Crete, this is an organic beer you can find primarily in Crete.
And from Platanias in Chania
Corfu Beer
Royal Ionian, Real Ale Bitter, Ionian Epos and Real Ale Special are your options. The name comes from Corfu island, where it is produced.
Magnus Magister
Produced by the brewing of Rhodes, Magnus beer or Knights beer, and its name refers to the Grand Master of the Knights era and indicates the highest office thereof. These beers arrive in many islands of the Aegean and the Ionian Sea.
