nradisis

www.beerbartender.gr

[nradisis-blog]

Having a busy day at office.. Tasting and pairing beers with whiskies with @dimitrisrim Thank you Whisky Magazine and @rifkavital for the Glencairn glasses. #beer #whisky #tasting #pairing #beerlab #beerlabgr #beerbartender #beerbartendergr #egem #glencairnglass #whiskymagazine (στην τοποθεσία BeerLab)

[brewberlin]

Introducing Greek beer expert and BeerBartender Nicola Radisis

Funnily enough, Nicola Radisis got into beer by way of spirits. Once a bartender serving beer, cocktails and coffee, the native Athenian and marketing graduate was enjoying the fledgling cocktail wave in the early 2000’s and tasting new types of cocktails. He then one day was drinking a beer and thought: “why I am not searching for different beers for the bar menu too”?

He got researching, learning about and tasting new types of beer, just before the micro-brewery trend emerged in Greece. He also started to experiment with beer cocktails. It all leads up to his work as head honcho at BeerBartender, the Greek site for beer he launched in 2012 and the BeerLab, established in 2014, which organizes professional services, tastings and beer. He also organizes the BeerBartender Awards in Greece, is responsible for the beer selection at the HouseOfWine Greek online shop and is a member of various important beer groups and organizations, including the Hellenic Barmen Association, British Guild of Beer Writers and CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

That’s a beer-based résumé to marvel at. But that’s not it. As well as representing BCB in his native country - to bring more exhibitors and industry guests over for the annual show - this year he will be a guest-speaker at the International Beer Trends talk (Wednesday 12.10.16, 14:00 - 14:45, Beer Stage). Looking for a preview prior to the big event, we decided to catch up over an IPA. What’s the deal with the Greek beer scene?

Speaking to BREW BERLIN, he describes a scene that is - on the whole - expanding. It’s a scene dominated by two big brewers to the tune of 75% of the market, the Athenian Brewery, a part of the Heineken Group with brands including Heineken, Amstel, Fischer and the Greek beer ALFA, and the Olympic Brewery, newly created after the 2014 merger of Carlsberg owned Mythos Brewing and Olympic Brewing. Their homegrown brands include Fix Hellas, relaunched into the Greek market in 2010, and Mythos, alongside Tuborg, Kronenbourg, Baltika and other international brands. “According to the Brewers of Europe in Greece we produce about 3.750.000 hectoliters (*2014), from which the two big breweries, who produce the majority of it, while microbreweries and gypsy breweries produce in total 35.000 hectoliters/year.”

“By now we have more than 25 microbreweries around Greece. From the small Aegean islands to the North of the country.”

He goes on to describe the microbrewery scene further. “By now we have more than 25 microbreweries around Greece. From the small Aegean islands to the North of the country,” he summarizes. “And in the last year we also have a lot of gypsy breweries making their first appearance in the Greek Market.” Some examples of craft breweries in Greece well-worth your attention include the Chios Microbrewery (Chios), Septem Microbrewery (Evia island), Siris MicroBrewery (Serres), and Patraiki Brewery (Patras). Unlike in other countries, the micro-brewery trend spreads far from the capital and major cities in Greece.

What types of beers do Greeks enjoy? He describes a traditional preference for Lager and Pils - undeniably perfect for a balmy Greek summer evening - but paints a picture of an almost accidental move hopwards in the last few years. “A minor group of consumers like high hoppy beers but the financial crisis led a lot of people to Greek brands and reduced the consumption of imported beers,” he says. “By this a lot of people who would not dare drink a Greek beer “met” the new Greek beer scene and supported Greek microbreweries.”

“The economic situation and capital controls we are facing, especially last year, is causing the overall reduction of beer consumption.”

But don’t think the continuing difficult economic situation in Greece is helpful - far from it. “The economic situation and capital controls we are facing, especially last year, is causing the overall reduction of beer consumption,” he says. “And the rising prices after the last VAT and alcohol tax, which was increased by the government, is not supporting the growth of the local beer industry either.”

A mixed portrait emerges from Radisis. Traditionally drinkers of Lager and Pils, Greeks are becoming more and more interested in craft beer and a micro-brewery trend is spreading   around the country, further than just Athens. The economic situation on the other hand is still hindering growth. We can’t wait to hear even more from him at the BCB in just a couple of days…

Text: Andrew Wilkin Photo: Nicola Radisis

[nradisis-blog]

Έτοιμοι για το @brewberlin!

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[nradisis-blog]

Καλοκαιρινές συμβουλές για μπυρόβιους

Μια που έχουμε μπει στην περίοδο καλ&omicr

[tastefullyoffensive]

[nradisis-blog]

Ισπανική #Estella με πολύ γευστικές απολαύσεις σήμερα στο #Cinco. #beer #beerbartender #beerbartendergr #lager #tapas (στην τοποθεσία Cinco)

[nradisis-blog]

Χαζεύοντας από το παράθυρο προς τα Νότια.. #view #window #athens #morning #sky #city #cloudy #buildings (στην τοποθεσία Ampelokipoi, Athens)

[nradisis-blog]

Και τα είπαμε και τα ήπιαμε (φτιάξαμε #beercocktail) ανοίξαμε και μερικές μπύρες, με τον Δημήτρη και τα παιδιά. Ο Γιώργος @georgegeorgoulakis κατέγραψε τα πάντα που συνέβησαν στο χώρο του @beerbartendergr για την εκπομπή #pamemiavolta που προβάλλεται στο #action24tv #beerlab #beer #beerbartender #shooting #gyrisma #tv #ekpompi (στην τοποθεσία BeerLab)

[nradisis-blog]

Εδώ είμαστε.. Μετά το γύρισμα, ήρθα να τσιμπήσω φαγάκι από τον Άγγελο. ΚαφεΟίνοι στην Βολανάκη λίγο πιο πέρα από το #BeerLab και τον Ερυθρό Σταυρό. #eating #athens #oinomageirio #selfie

[nradisis-blog]

Just tasted @fritzkola from Hamburg! I liked it! #hamburg #fritzkola #berlin #germany #deutschland #beverage #limonade #refreshment (στην τοποθεσία Berlin, Germany)

[nradisis-blog]

Εδώ μιλάμε για επαγγελματίες!! Τα βλέπεις κύριε @spiros_liapis !! #cycle #post #mail #germany #street #deutschland #berlin (στην τοποθεσία Potsdamer Strasse , Berlin)

[nradisis-blog]

Gutten Morgen aus Berlin!! #goodmorning #berlin #door #yard #windowview (στην τοποθεσία Potsdamer Strasse , Berlin)

[nradisis-blog]

Ένα γρήγορο καφεδάκι στο Θησείο.. Στο @the_underdog_project θα βρείτε και μεγάλη ποικιλία από μπύρες που ξεφεύγουν από τα συνηθισμένα #coffee #espresso #underdogathens #underdog #sugar #cactus #relaxing (στην τοποθεσία The Underdog)

[nradisis-blog]

Και στο ράδιο παίζει.. Πασχάλη Τερζή - Φθινοπώριασε #terzis #autumn #rain #athens #clouds #officeview (στην τοποθεσία BeerLab)

[nradisis-blog]

Μέσο μεταφοράς, υλικό κατασκευών ή ο,τι άλλο σκεφτεί ο καθένας. Φαντασία να υπάρχει.. #wood #pallets #delivery #warehouse

[nradisis-blog]

Working at #BeerLab... Using a #barmat as #mousepad #office #mouse #turbox #plaisio #havingfun #athens #beerbartender #ampelokipoi #greece #douglas #celticbeer #beer #anthonymartin (στην τοποθεσία BeerLab)

[nradisis-blog]

It could be any place in the UK, but it's downtown Athens (Monastiraki) #greece #athens #monastiraki #indian #indianfood #restaurant #sign #memories #loveindianfood #indianmasala #athenstour (στην τοποθεσία Indian Masala)