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Beer Reviews

Alfa Lager

Athenian Brewery
Athens
Greece
http://www.athenianbrewery.gr

Style: Lager
ABV: 5%

Rings’s Rating:
   (Drinkable, but flawed)


Comments:
The last time I was in Greece, I was barely sober enough to make it back to my ferry for the return sojourn to Italy, so I honestly don’t recall much in the way of the local beer among the buckets of Amstel and quarts of ungodly crappy Ouzo. Now, with my brow firmly high on my countenance, I was delighted to see if there was anything worth considering in trying a macro Greek lager.

Athenian Brewery was established in 1963 and is a part of the Heineken Group, so I wasn’t expecting much from my green bottle.

It’s a pale lager, pouring a light straw in color with virtually no head to speak of. The nose is earthy and the first sip is balanced by a moderate CO2 bite, but this was obviously light struck, so I’m sure it wasn’t exactly brewery fresh. It’s likely an adjunct beer as well, although I’m just guessing.

While there’s plenty of reason to go to Greece again—and I can think of several, including one Missus Rings need not know about (as this was long before I was smitten with my bride)—but this ain’t one of ‘em. I’d stick to the Amstel, were this my only other option.

Reviewed by Rings on February 18, 2013.

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