I went to a 40th on the weekend and amidst all the plate breaking, gyros eating and watching my mate’s uncles do the zeibikiko dance (Google it), I was introduced to a new Greek delicacy, Mythos Hellenic Lager.
Mythos beer as it turns out is Greece’s third highest selling beer; the brewery in Thessaloniki is the second largest in Greece. It hasn’t been available in Australia for that long, but it has a plenty of the qualities which should appeal to a broad beer drinking market. The beer, it seems, came about when people realised that drinking bucket loads of Ouzo or Raki with your moussaka didn’t improve either the drink or the moussaka.
Of course, it’s a well known fact that beer makes everything better, and so Mythos beer was born (although with a little raki you can suddenly become a better dancer and much funnier)
I was a little shocked really. I didn’t really associate Greece with having a beer that would appeal worldwide. It’s like associating Brendan Fevola with the words “alcohol and drug free” or Saint Kilda with “premiership winning team”, and the Italian soccer team with “clean players of the game who would never milk a penalty”.
But appeal it does, and in spade loads. Mythos has a pilsener-ish, subtle hop/barley aroma but doesn’t taste like a pilsner; it does have that European flavour though. It has a good golden colour with a fine white head and is clean and crisp across the palate, a crispness that many beers claim to have but fail to create. There is just enough bitterness to draw you back in terms of quenching a thirst. It had a very refreshing taste, and at first, I thought it would only be a matter of time before the pleasure factor dropped, but it finishes just as nice as it starts, it has a decidedly more-ish taste to it which draws you back for another…and another. And it’s there that I must admit that my ninth or tenth one was not as great as the first eight, but still very good. It is definitely what I would class as a “cleansing beer”; it is super easy to drink and has great session-ability.
Mythos is about $45 for the carton and is 4.7 % alcohol, and while it could be compared with some blonde style beers this offers more flavour-wise.
Funnily enough, there is a warning on the label that says “women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy”. I think it’s important that we all take note of that warning. If you’re pregnant then you should be focusing on the health of your unborn infant……and being a designated driver.