Mellas' Greek beer reviews

A friend of ours, Peter Mellas, travelled to Greece and stayed with family. This is the story of the Greek beers he drank on that 2002 trip.

Alpha Hellenic Beer

BREWER: Athenian Brewery SA (also makes Amstel)
ALC/VOL: 5.0% (allegedly)
TASTED: 19.8.02 at Lefkas, Greece
PRICE: 0.40 euro (supermarket) for 330ml can
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE: 35 degrees.
BEER TEMPERATURE: Chilled.
TASTING NOTES: Poured to glass, good head (didn't hold, but then who does). Fine bubble right through. Light and generally indifferent (like the Greeks). Tastes like … beer.
SCORE: 3/5 (I'd probably never go lower, no such thing as bad beer, just more beer)

Fix

BREWER: Olympic Brewerey AE (may be a cover for the guys who make Amstel)
ALC/VOL: 5.0%
STYLE: Premium Lager (allegedly)
TASTED: 20.8.02 at Lefkas, Greece
PRICE: 0.97 euro (supermarket) for 500ml bottle.
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE: 35 degrees
BEER TEMPERATURE: Chilled
TASTING NOTES: Poured to glass, ordinary head (coarse). Coarse, highly dispersed bubble. Light and generally indifferent. Little after-taste. Tastes like … beer.
FOOTNOTE: This is one of the original Greek beers and was renowned in the old days as the best (unfortunate name for English marketing purposes). Disappeared a few years ago after Amstel bought the brewery and closed it down. Now resurected as a “premium” brand.
SCORE: 3/5

Mythos

BREWER: Mythos Brewery SA (owned by Boutaris Pty Ltd, wine makers)
ALC/VOL: 5.0%
STYLE: Lager (allegedly)
TASTED: 20.8.02 at Lefkas, Greece
PRICE: 0.80 euro (supermarket) for 500ml bottle
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE: 35 degrees,
BEER TEMPERATURE: Chilled.
TASTING NOTES: Poured to glass, good head, fine bubble right through. Nice colour. light and easy. Tastes like … beer. The best of the bunch. New venture by Boutaris and has been the subject of a heavy media campaign.
SCORE: 3.5/5

 

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