Rethymniaki

On Sunday I went to a Taverna here in Rethymno, Crete and I felt that the best thing to have with my food was beer. So I asked the waiter what was available and he mentioned many brands. I chose a beer called Rethymniaki which is a local beer that is made in Armenous, a small village and I think is only available in Rethymno. It could be available in other areas of Crete but I can’t be sure about that. Anyway, I am happy I made that choice!

Anyway, Rehtymniaki is a Biological beer that has two flavors. One flavor is Lager and the other is Dunkel. The maker of the beer, a German that has moved to Rethymno called Bernd Brink, calls the Lager version “Blond” and the Dunkel version “Black”.

The Blond version (called Xanthia in Greek) has a smooth taste and a nice deep gold color. It is very nice to have this beer with light food but I am sure that it would be great if served alone too. The Black version (called Mavri in Greek) is more thick and tasty with a deep redish color. When drinking it, you can feel that it is stronger than its Lager counterpart (if you have had the lager before that is). This beer is recommended for cheese and a selection of hams and meats. At least that is what I think.

According to the website www.all4beers.com, both Rethymniaki beers are made according to the German Law of 1516 concerning beer purity. So they are both traditionally made and have 4.8% Alcohol.

If you want to read more about this beer, just visit http://www.crete-connections.com/Commercial/Rethymnian_Brewery.htm.