CRETE CRAFT BEER GUIDE Part 1: East Crete
Updated: Oct 2
Craft beer, in Crete?
Say whaaaat ??? You bet !!!
Here is our official Craft Beer Guide of East Crete:
Heraklio, Ierapetra & Agios Nikolaos.
( Find our Crete Craft Beer Guide Part 2: West Crete ,Chania & Rethymno, here. )
Before we show you the way to Crete's passionate & talented craft breweries of Eastern Crete, let’s get some basics about why we care about our local craft beer scene anyway.
At Bonnie and Clyde Urban Tours we’re big time beer lovers & travellers!
In April 2021, a joyful French-Canadian Montreal gal sharing her joie de vivre, love for beer & people and a cosmopolitan Greek Athenian man with a sharp sense of how travelling can evolve for the better, co-founded our Travel Agency Bonnie and Clyde Urban Tours.
We, at Bonnie and Clyde Urban Tours, specialized in non-touristy tours and we are the leaders in craft beer tours of Greece, always on a human & Earth-friendly scale, promoting Crete's authentic character through alternative tours.
Pioneering in bringing Greek Craft Beers to world-travellers,
we proudly created the first ever Craft Beer Walking Tours of Greece!
JOIN US ON A NON-TOURISTY TOUR &
DISCOVER AMAZING GREEK CRAFT BEERS
Just think that until 2017, there were fewer than a handful of breweries on the island of Crete (the largest of all Greek islands). Since then, the number has boomed to 14 (and counting!) while Greece now counts over 110 independent microbreweries (incl. contract brewing)!
Until you can taste these fresh brews yourselves with us, look no further for your guide to craft breweries of Crete, for all you craft beer lovers, we’ve done the leg work!
CRETE CRAFT BEER GUIDE. PART 1: EAST CRETE
HERAKLION - Crete’s lively modern capital
NOTOS BREWERY
Beer people to the core. Strong teamwork. Good times.
This team of "brothers" take beer seriously, passionately and have created a stellar micro-brewery with a wide variety of styles - not to mention their terrific core selection. They’re the first brewery in Heraklio, beginning all the way back in 2010 fiercely independently. Hats off to them!
The guys behind Notos are casual, low-profile, with strong team work ethic & eclectic backgrounds.
Take it from us; go to their brewery with a designated driver or a taxi because they pour generously from their spirit into your glass!
SOLO BEER BREWERY
Pros. Clear vision. Character.
Solo claims to make craft beer with soul & holy smokes, they deliver! It’s something you can taste in every sip. From the team behind the bottle to the finished product, they embody a harmony of elements; people, ingredients, labour, philosophy & enjoyment. Since 2015, joining Cretan and Norwegian roots, they’ve been developing the right balance between these elements and create craft beer must-drinks. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of their branding; the product is top-notch. In addition to their great standard lineup, they strive to release monthly and seasonal limited editions; and we’re here with our beer-openers ready!
KASTA MICROBREWS
Style. One-man show. Passion.
Kostas, the passionate brewer behind Kasta, welcomes us into his beer world with a modern touch & excellence in quality. From the water profiles he configures himself to using a range of 9+ hop varieties in his lineup, his beers are an absolute delight for beer people. He serves remarkable beers & has already won Frankfurt International Trophies for his Oatmeal Stout and Immortal IPA.
KASTA is an acronym; K for the man behind it all Kostas, A for his lovely wife Anna, S for their daughter Sofia, T for Tita their dog, A for the family name Antonakakis.
Watch out for this one & get ready for well-crafted beer.
BARBANTONIS BREWERY
https://www.barbantonisbrewery.com/
Foodie. Alchemist. Forward-thinker.
A “Barbas” is a friendly old man. Antonis is his first name.
All of Barbantonis’ beers share his character and uniqueness in every gulp. They are truly his creations. From a young age, while working in the family fields of the Lassithi Plateau, he had ideas bigger than his village & society. He has lived many years abroad in Italy & Holland. Now back with his brewpub in Analipsi near Heraklion, this travelled man is eager for sharing stories, fresh ideas, great beer & good food. You can feel the authenticity of his roots & connection to nature in what he brews.
Harvesting. Cooking. Drinking. Thinking. Brewing. Laughing.
ZOURIDAKIS
Local. Roots. Flavour.
Following in the footsteps of the prolific ancient Minoan civilization of Crete, the Zouridakis family has their own beer lineup developed by one of the best brewers on our island. For generations they have strived to ensure the purity & quality of all their traditional products & honor their roots. Find their fresh beers, baked goods & more in Pitsida, south Heraklio, near Matala.
IERAPETRA - greenhouses town
HELMISONS BREWERY
Community. Innovation. Holy Water.
The southernmost brewery in all Europe, Helmisons is located in a charming village near Ierapetra on the South Eastern coast of Crete. Their beers are made with the unspoiled water from the nearby Dikti Mountains, giving them a unique profile. Although it was in January 2019 when they produced their first official lineup, their brewing days began back in 2012. They're opening roads in this more remote region of Crete, raising the bar for beer fans seeking real flavour in what they drink. Give them a shout & see for yourselves; it's a worthy detour.
AGIOS NIKOLAOS - CALM & beautiful
DEDALOS BREWERY
Fun. Good Vibes. Nerdity.
An enthusiastic new-comer to the Cretan brew scene in 2020, the brewers behind Dedalos have been developing a range of beer styles for over 10 years, with true beer-geekery. Their curiosity and passion has led them to spread a joyful approach to bottled and draft beer in the most Eastern corners of Crete island. Fun is a top priority for them! Having not had the chance to taste their beers yet, we look forward to meeting these brewers in person!
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Find our Crete Craft Beer Guide - Part 2: West Crete
for Chania & Rethymno.
Until then, support your local craft brewery & cheers!
Bonnie
