CRETE CRAFT BEER GUIDE Part 2: West Crete
Updated: Jul 4
Craft beeR in Crete?
You bet !!!
Here is our official Craft Beer Guide of West Crete: Chania & Rethymno.
Before we show you the way to Crete's passionate & talented craft breweries of Western 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 2: WEST CRETE
CHANIA - timeless & picturesque city
LAFKAS BREWERY
Belgian-Greek Fusion. White mountains. Summer beer-patio.
Visiting the Lafkas Brewery on the outskirts of Chania City is a casual beer hangout with a playful twist. Picture a bright space with shiny fermenters, picnic tables, a state-of-the-art arcade tower, surfboards & beer patio. Michalis & Aurélie brew their go-to Triple Hop Pale Ale; a standard craft brew in the region and across Greece. They brew one-off yearly brews with distinct character as well. Make sure to freshen up with their Summer-Belgian Style Orange Wit Chaniotissa.
XAOS BREWS
https://www.facebook.com/XAOSBrews/
Aficionados. Crew. Think outside the box.
This beer-loving squad has been turning heads for the past few years here in Chania & across the country. Meeting the fellows behind Xaos (pronounced “Ha-os”, meaning "chaos" in Greek) was a refreshingly down-to-earth rendez-vous with a welcoming, professional & gung-ho beer team. Their Pale Ale '' Locki'' is a must taste beer, while you're on Crete. Find their beers at craft beer bars & stores.
CHARMA CRETAN BREWERY
Fresh. Innovators. On tap.
Charma (pronounced “Harma”) is one of the first pioneers of Cretan beer & the first beer in Chania. It began in 2007 with a vision of providing a high-quality & taste, local option for Cretan beer drinkers. Their beers are available in barrels exclusively, both at their brewery or at various places (restaurants, bars, coffee shops) across Chania and Crete. They are eager to collaborate with other breweries & trying new recipes. The result is tasty, fresh beer.
LYRA HANDCRAFTED BEER
Tradition. Pioneers. Dedication.
Located in Kissamos Bay, Lyra has been a standard for Cretans looking for a well-made local beer with a step into the tasty world of great beer. Their hand-crafted production is focused on a signature beer: the Golden Ale. Since 2015, this ale has established itself on the island & across Greek islands for locals and visitors as an alternative to the mass-produced light beers. We haven’t yet visited the brewery and we’re keen to meet the people behind this established microbrewery.
AZATIS BREWING LAB
The Rookie. Engineering mastermind. Brew-geek.
One of the newest brewers on the Cretan craft beer scene, Azatis is one to keep up with. This one-man show is the fruit of a handy engineer with a passion for nothing less than terrific beer. His micro-brewery is impeccable, clever, creative & a true beer-lab. Beer brewing is essentially a fine balance between science and art; Azatis exemplifies this to the benefit of all beer lovers. Looking forward to what's next!
RETHYMNO - simplicity & charm
BRINK’S: RETHYMNIAN BREWERY
Eco-Responsibility. Their own style. Surprise.
Located in the outskirts of Rethymno, Brink’s is the new name of Rethymniaki Beer, due to the new law that does not allow names given by geographic areas. They are the longest-standing brewery in Crete since 2001, brewing according to the German Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) and were the first to produce Greek Biological Beer! We haven’t had the chance to visit them in person yet. Find their swing-top glass bottles at certain markets or in unexpected places.
CRETAN KINGS BEER
https://www.cretankings.gr/en/
Mountain beer. Light. Modern profile.
This Pale Lager beer became known in Crete through its sponsorship of the local Rethymno basketball team, under the name Rethymno Cretan Kings. Produced in two bottle sizes and a can, Cretan Kings is easily found in corner stores, markets & pubs across Crete. Just what the weather order; a great choice for a hot day in Crete!
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Find our Crete Craft Beer Guide - Part 1: East Crete
for Heraklio, Ierapetra & Agios Nikolaos.
Until then, support your local craft brewery & cheers!
Bonnie
