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Mythos Beer
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 | |
| Type | Beer |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Olympic Brewery (Carlsberg Group) |
| Introduced | 1997 |
| Alcohol by volume | 5% |
| Style | Lager |
| Variants | Mythos Ice Mythos Radler Mythos 0.0% |
| Website | mythosbeer |
Mythos (lit. 'myth') is a Greek beer created in 1997, and since 2015 produced by the Olympic Brewery, a subsidiary of Carlsberg Group.[1]
History
[edit]In 1992, the Boutari Group purchased the Henninger Hellas S.A. company, the local Greek distributor of the German Henninger beer, founded in 1968, and in 1994 it was renamed as Northern Greece Brewery S.A., as part of a strategy to turn it into a genuine domestic Greek beer company. This was accomplished by the introduction of Mythos beer in 1997, and in 2001 the company renamed itself as the Mythos Brewery S.A., as Mythos had become its primary product. In 2004 Scottish & Newcastle became majority shareholders. Since 2008, it has been a subsidiary of Carlsberg Group which finally, in 2015, reformed Olympic Brewery after the merger of Mythos and Olympic Brewery, which it already owned.[2][3][4][5][6]
Products
[edit]Mythos (Μύθος) is a light straw-coloured, lager beer introduced in 1997. It is available in both 330ml and 500ml bottles and cans. The alcohol content is 5%.[7] Mythos Brewery also produces Mythos Ice (filtered and chilled at -1°C at the same time) in 330ml bottles and Mythos Radler (with lemon) in 330ml bottles and cans.[8] In 2007 Mythos Red was introduced in 330ml and 500ml bottles but has been discontinued since then.
Availability
[edit]Mythos has broad Greek distribution and is exported to a number of European countries as well as the US, Canada, Panama, Taiwan, Israel and Australia.
In addition to Mythos beer, Olympic Brewery also produces and distributes in Greece, the former Mythos Brewery products the German brands Henninger lager and Kaiser pilsner and the local brand Golden, available at selected outlets in the local market. It also imports and distributes Carlsberg Beer (Denmark).[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Mythos-Olympic merger completed, says Carlsberg | Kathimerini". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ "Who we are » About the Carlsberg Group » Global Presence » Greece « Carlsberg Group". Carlsberg Group. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ "Mythos Brewery Ltd. – Brewery International". brewery.no. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "ΜΥΘΟΣ". www.dimokratis.gr. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Historical Background". Boutari Group. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Mythos and Olympic breweries near merger | Kathimerini". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ "Mythos Beer".
- ^ "Mythos Beer". mythosbeer.gr. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "OLYMPIC BREWERY". olympicbrewery.gr. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
External links
[edit]- Official site
- "Mythos Breweries at RateBeer". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- Untappd
Mythos Beer
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Origins and Launch
The origins of Mythos Beer trace back to Henninger Hellas S.A., established in 1970 as the Greek distributor of the German Henninger beer brand.[5] In 1992, the company was acquired by the Boutari Group, a major Greek winemaking enterprise, which integrated it into its operations and renamed it Northern Greece Brewery Ltd. in 1994 to focus on expanding local beer production.[5] This acquisition laid the groundwork for developing an original Greek beer amid a market dominated by imports. Mythos was developed and launched in May 1997 as a premium lager, positioned as the first authentically Greek beer to capture the domestic market with its distinctive profile.[3] Drawing its name from the Greek word for "myth," it was crafted by Greek brewmasters in collaboration with European experts from Germany, Ireland, Denmark, and France, resulting in a bright blonde lager with rich foam, hoppy notes combined with mild malt aromas and subtle citrus hints at 5% ABV.[1] In 2001, the company was renamed Mythos Brewery Ltd., as the beer had become its primary product.[5] Initial production occurred at the brewery's facility in the Sindos Industrial Area near Thessaloniki, with an emphasis on high-quality barley and hops to create a refreshing, easy-drinking option reflective of Greek heritage.[3] From its debut, Mythos was marketed as a symbol of modern Greek identity, emphasizing its cultural roots and summery appeal through distinctive packaging and promotions in bars, restaurants, and supermarkets across Greece.[5] It rapidly gained traction, securing second place in its category and third overall in sales during its inaugural year.[5] Export trials commenced soon after launch, targeting European markets in the late 1990s and expanding in the early 2000s to countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Israel, where it became Greece's top exported beer.[4] Production later transitioned to Olympic Brewery facilities in 2015.[4]Ownership Transitions
In 2008, the Carlsberg Group acquired Mythos Brewery as part of its larger purchase of Scottish & Newcastle, which had held a majority stake in the Greek brewer since 2004, thereby integrating Mythos into Carlsberg's global portfolio.[4][6] This ownership transition set the stage for further consolidation in 2015, when Mythos Brewery merged with Olympic Brewery in a €150 million deal announced in November 2014 and finalized in April 2015, with Carlsberg securing 51% control of the combined entity renamed Olympic Brewery.[7][8] The merger created Greece's second-largest beer producer, with a market share of approximately 29%, and led to the full shift of Mythos production to Olympic Brewery's facilities in Sindos (Thessaloniki) and Ritsona (Evia), standardizing operations across the integrated company.[4][7] The 2015 consolidation enabled significant scaling of operations, as Olympic Brewery's annual production capacity reached 2.1 million hectoliters by 2021, supported by post-merger investments such as a €3.2 million upgrade to the Thessaloniki plant in 2017 that added 250,000 hectoliters of capacity specifically for brands including Mythos.[9][10] These enhancements included advanced technology for efficiency and quality control, aligning with Carlsberg's international standards while ensuring compliance with European Union brewing regulations on hygiene, labeling, and environmental impact.[4][10] In February 2018, Carlsberg completed its full ownership by acquiring the remaining 49% stake in Olympic Brewery for an undisclosed amount, eliminating minority interests and streamlining decision-making for further growth initiatives.[11][4] This transition reinforced Mythos Beer's position within a unified corporate structure, facilitating expanded distribution and technological upgrades without disrupting production continuity.Products
Core Variants
The core variant of Mythos Beer is the flagship lager, produced by Olympic Brewery under the Carlsberg Group. This evergreen product emphasizes refreshment and accessibility, forming the foundation of the brand's standard lineup. The primary variant is Mythos Lager, a pale lager with 5% ABV, featuring a bright blonde color and a balanced flavor profile that includes hoppy notes, mild sweetness from malt, and subtle citrus undertones for a refreshing finish.[1][12] It is available in 330 ml green bottles emblazoned with iconic mythological labeling evoking ancient Greek heritage, 500 ml cans, and 330 ml draft format for on-tap serving.[1] Nutritional information per 330 ml serving provides approximately 126 calories, derived from 38 kcal per 100 ml, with negligible fat, protein, and salt content.[1]Special Editions and Innovations
Mythos Beer has expanded its portfolio through innovative variants designed to cater to evolving consumer preferences, particularly in refreshment and health-oriented options. These include lighter and non-alcoholic adaptations introduced since 2014. Mythos Radler, introduced in 2014, is a low-alcohol lemon-infused shandy blending the base lager with natural lemon juice at 2% ABV, catering to preferences for lighter, thirst-quenching options with prominent citrus flavors.[13][14] Available in standard bottle formats similar to the core lager, it provides around 116 calories per 330 ml serving from 35 kcal per 100 ml, featuring higher sugars from the lemon component but still minimal fat and protein.[15] In 2020, Olympic Brewery launched Mythos Ice, a pale lager filtered and chilled simultaneously at -1°C to deliver enhanced crispness and a cooling sensation, bottled at 4.4% ABV in a distinctive flint glass for visual appeal.[16][17] This innovation focuses on sensory refreshment, distinguishing it from the standard lager through its process that preserves hop aromas while reducing perceived heaviness. Per 330 ml serving, it contains about 116 calories based on 35 kcal per 100 ml, with low carbohydrates and no fat.[17] Mythos 0.0% is a non-alcoholic lager retaining the original's hoppy and fruity notes but with zero alcohol, no added sugar, and 21 calories per 100 ml.[18] Targeted at markets seeking alcohol-free options without compromising taste, it aligns with broader trends in responsible drinking. Under Olympic Brewery's "Together Towards ZERO" sustainability plan, part of the Carlsberg Group's global strategy, products including Mythos incorporate efforts to minimize environmental impact through recyclable materials and reduced resource use in production.[19][20]Production
Brewing Process
The brewing process of Mythos Beer, a premium Greek lager produced by Olympic Brewery, follows traditional lager methods, utilizing water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. This results in the beer's characteristic light body, slight bitterness, and refreshing finish. The process emphasizes quality control at every stage to achieve an International Bittering Units (IBU) rating of approximately 17, contributing to its mild hop character without overwhelming bitterness.[21][22][23] Mythos employs barley malt, including Thracian blond malt from Greek two-row barley sources, selected varieties of hops such as Hallertau and Tettnang for aromatic and bittering qualities, and bottom-fermenting lager yeast strains that promote subtle fruity esters through controlled temperature profiles. These esters, including citrus and light fruit notes, develop during fermentation, enhancing the beer's complex yet approachable flavor without dominating its crisp lager base. The use of Thracian blond malt adds a slight bread-like undertone, harmonizing with the hop-derived aromas.[24][25][26] The production follows a series of precise stages to transform raw materials into the final product:- Malting: Barley is steeped in water to increase moisture to about 45%, then germinated for 5 days at 12-16°C to activate enzymes like amylase and protease, followed by kilning at 80°C to halt germination and reduce moisture to 4%, producing the malted barley base.[27]
- Mashing: The malted barley is milled and mixed with hot water in a mash tun, where temperatures are raised progressively to convert starches into fermentable sugars, forming the sweet wort.[27]
- Lautering and Boiling: The wort is separated from the spent grains in lauter tuns, then boiled with timed hop additions—early for bitterness and late for aroma—sterilizing the liquid, concentrating flavors, and extracting hop compounds before cooling via a plate heat exchanger.[27]
- Fermentation: The cooled wort is pitched with bottom-fermenting yeast and fermented at controlled low temperatures for 5-9 days, allowing alcohol production, CO2 generation, and the development of fruity esters through specific yeast strains and temperature management.[27]
- Clarification and Lagering: The young beer undergoes centrifugation or filtration to remove yeast and solids, followed by lagering (maturation) at 0 to -1°C, where secondary fermentation refines flavors, clarifies the beer, and builds its signature smoothness and stability.[27]