Chios Brewery
Chios Brewery is a characteristic example of the emerging Greek craft beer scene, which combines modern brewing techniques with the use of unique local raw materials. The company began operating in 2011, with the first bottling of “Fresh Chios Beer” in early 2012, making it one of the first microbreweries in Greece. What sets it apart and has made it widely known is the innovative addition of the island’s premier local product, Chios Mastiha, to one of its core labels, creating a product of global uniqueness that indissolubly links the beer with the island’s distinctive aromatic identity. The brewery’s philosophy revolves around the production of unfiltered and unpasteurized beer, thus preserving to the fullest the taste and nutritional characteristics of the final product.
The most recognizable product of Chios Brewery is Chios Wheat (Beer with Mastiha), a Witbier (Belgian-style wheat beer) that is radically differentiated by the addition of authentic Chios mastiha. This beer has been described as unique in the world, offering a velvety texture, notes reminiscent of bread from wheat malt, while the finish leaves a pleasant touch of mastiha, evoking the taste of the traditional mastiha “submarine” sweet. Production is carried out in small, unique batches, ensuring quality control and the intensity of the mastiha aroma. Other variations from Chios Brewery include House Ale (Fresh Chios Beer), Smoked Robust Porter (Black) and Chios IPA (India Pale Ale), which reinforce its profile as a quality craft brewery.
- Specifications of Chios Wheat with Mastic:
- Type: Witbier (Wheat Beer)
- Alcohol: 5.5% vol
- Ingredients: Wheat malt, authentic Chios mastiha
- Characteristics: Unfiltered, unpasteurized, hazy blond, with bread notes and a pleasant touch of mastiha.
The brewing activity began in the Kambos area of Chios, a place of great historical and architectural importance, characterized by its Genoese mansions and fertile orchards. In 2019, the production unit was moved to a larger space near the area of Vavili, a small village just outside the town of Chios. The choice of Chios as the place of production is not accidental, as its unbreakable link with mastic—produced exclusively in the southern part of the island (the Mastihohoria, or Mastic Villages)—gives Chios beer its unique advantage and identity. The use of local and high-quality raw materials, such as the water of Chios, reinforces the local character of the beer. Now established in Vavili, the brewery keeps its doors open to visitors, offering an experiential encounter with the production process and the tasting of fresh beer.
The production of Chios beer, especially the Wheat with mastic, follows the basic brewing process, enriched with the addition of the aromatic ingredient. Chios Wheat with Mastic is produced using wheat malt, similar to that used in Weiss or Witbier beers, combined with authentic Chios mastic. Research studies have explored the optimal use of mastic (whether as resin, essential oil, or hydrolate) in brewing, in order to achieve the desired aroma and flavor. The addition of mastic, particularly during the maturation period, appears to be effective in positively enhancing the aromatic and flavor profile of wheat beer. Production is carried out in small batches and the final product is bottled unfiltered and unpasteurized (fresh beer), a practice that preserves its hazy blond appearance, velvety texture, and all its flavor and aromatic characteristics, as well as the nutritional components (yeast, polyphenols) that are often removed through filtration and pasteurization.
The establishment of the Chios Brewery has had a significant impact on the local economy and the cultural image of the island. On the one hand, it represents a successful and innovative entrepreneurial initiative that combines a traditional product (mastiha) with a modern one (craft beer), enhancing the added value of Chian production. The use of authentic Chios mastiha in the recipe of the Wheat beer promotes internationally the island’s flagship PDO product in a new beverage category. On the other hand, the brewery has contributed to the development of agritourism and industrial tourism, as the brewery in Vavyli is open to visitors, offering tours and tastings to tourists and residents. This creates new jobs and revitalizes economic activity in areas outside the central urban fabric.
Chios Brewery constitutes a newer chapter in Greece’s history in the field of craft beer, which began to develop rapidly after 2010. The business was founded by Manos Nazlidis in the summer of 2010 as “CHIOS BREWERY,” with the facilities in Kampos being set up in 2011. The first bottling, Fresh Chios Beer (House Ale), was released in 2012 and was quickly embraced by the local community, marking the beginning of modern brewing on the island. Its success lies in the incorporation of Chios’s cultural heritage, dominated by mastic, into beer production. While mastic is traditionally used in sweets, liqueurs and ouzo, its use in beer bridges the past with contemporary gastronomic creation. The brewery was one of the first microbreweries in Greece, actively contributing to the national development of the sector.
Beer consumption in Chios, as in the rest of Greece, is not associated with particularly old customs or rituals, as beer is a relatively new product compared with wine or ouzo. However, the Mastic Beer has been linked with local tradition and transforms the traditional flavor of mastic into a modern, refreshing alcoholic drink. In addition, the practice of offering free tours and tastings of fresh beer straight from the tank at the Vavyli brewery is part of Greek hospitality culture and the direct contact of the consumer with the producer.
Chios Brewery and its beers have received recognition in the sphere of Greek and international awards. Specifically, the brewery has participated in competitions such as the Greek Beer Awards, where some of its labels have been among the award-winning entries or have been highlighted as important examples of Greek brewing.
The nutritional value of Chios beer, being an unfiltered craft beer, is based on the general characteristics of beer, with the added bioactivity conferred by mastiha. A typical beer, as well as the variations from Chios (e.g. Chios Wheat with 5.5% alcohol), yields approximately 30–40 calories per 100 ml. Beer is about 95% water, while it contains carbohydrates, B-complex vitamins (such as niacin and folic acid), as well as minerals and trace elements (such as magnesium and potassium) that derive from the malt and the yeast.
Particular emphasis is placed on the bioactive compounds:
- Antioxidants and Polyphenols: Beer, especially unfiltered beer, contains antioxidant components. In the case of beer with mastiha, Chios Mastiha is known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, thanks to the presence of terpenes and other resinous compounds.
- Calories and Alcohol: The alcohol content of Chios Wheat is 5.5% vol. Alcohol contributes to the calories, but moderate beer consumption has been associated with benefits for cardiovascular health, mainly due to the antioxidants it contains, while the presence of vitamins and minerals enhances its nutritional value compared with other alcoholic beverages.
- Additional Note: Certain Greek craft beers have received the European AFQ Certification Mark for their high bioactivity, which indicates the increased presence of beneficial compounds in the non-pasteurized versions.
The nutritional value of Chios beer, being an unfiltered craft beer, is based on the general characteristics of beer, with the added bioactivity conferred by mastiha. A typical beer, as well as the variations from Chios (e.g. Chios Wheat with 5.5% alcohol), yields approximately 30–40 calories per 100 ml. Beer is about 95% water, while it contains carbohydrates, B-complex vitamins (such as niacin and folic acid), as well as minerals and trace elements (such as magnesium and potassium) that derive from the malt and the yeast.
Particular emphasis is placed on the bioactive compounds:
- Antioxidants and Polyphenols: Beer, especially unfiltered beer, contains antioxidant components. In the case of beer with mastiha, Chios Mastiha is known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, thanks to the presence of terpenes and other resinous compounds.
- Calories and Alcohol: The alcohol content of Chios Wheat is 5.5% vol. Alcohol contributes to the calories, but moderate beer consumption has been associated with benefits for cardiovascular health, mainly due to the antioxidants it contains, while the presence of vitamins and minerals enhances its nutritional value compared with other alcoholic beverages.
- Additional Note: Certain Greek craft beers have received the European AFQ Certification Mark for their high bioactivity, which indicates the increased presence of beneficial compounds in the non-pasteurized versions.
