The history of the country’s largest Brewery
In 2023, Athenian Brewery celebrates 61 years of productive action and constant development. The largest and most historic Greek brewery took its first steps by only brewing one beer and since then continued to evolve and expand the range of its products through strengthening its manufacture base in Greece.
At Athenian Brewery, we have been “Brewing a Better Future” for almost 60 years; we honor our commitments and directly associate our business activity with the concepts of responsibility and contribution to the national economy, the society and the environment.
The most important milestones in Athenian Brewery's history
1963
ATHENIAN BREWERY FOUNDATION
June 12th, 1963. 102 Kifisou Avenue. Diogenis Choursoglou, Giorgos Chatzivasileiou and Leonardos Merkatis, three pioneering entrepreneurs of the time, join forces and establish ‘Athenian Brewery’.
1965
AMSTEL LAUNCH AND PRODUCTION IN THE GREEK MARKET
Production will officially begin two years later. In 1965, the brewery starts to operate under the supervision of the French Chief Brewer Paul Delisée. At the same time, the first advertising campaigns for the launch of AMSTEL appear in the Greek market.
1975
OPENING OF SECOND BREWERY IN THESSALONIKI
Ten years later, AMSTEL has become the top beer in the preferences of Greek consumers, and the opening of a second brewery is being considered. Therefore, in 1975 in Northern Greece the second brewery opens its doors and Athenian Brewery is now in possession of two factories in Greece.
1981
HEINEKEN LAUNCH IN GREEK MARKET
In 1981, Athenian Brewery leads the way once again by starting the production of Heineken in Greece, a beer that is well-known and recognized all over the world.
1985
NEW BREWERY IN PATRAS
Athenian Brewery holds a steady upward course in the following years through its innovative ideas, and in 1985 it opens its third brewery at Patras. The old Löwenbräu brewery is converted into a state-of-the-art facility – the company’s largest one – absorbing its 240 former employees.
1990-1998
FAMOUS BEER BRANDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE IMPORTED
Between 1990-1999, dozens of well-known beer brands from all over the world are imported, such as McFarland, Erdinger Weissbier and the Japanese Kirin. Athenian Brewery now plays a key part in the development of beer culture in Greece.
1993
1999-2000
FISCHER AND ALFA BEERS LAUNCH IN THE GREEK MARKET
In the late 90’s, Fischer from the Alsace region comes to Greece and, for the first time in its history, it is brewed in a city outside of France. At the same time, ALFA beer, which was first introduced in Greece in 1961 noting great success, makes its comeback through Athenian Brewery’s facilities.
2004
HEINEKEN SPONSORS 2004 ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES
A milestone year for Athenian Brewery will be 2004, when Heineken becomes one of the official sponsors of the Athens Olympic Games.
2010- 2013
ATHENIAN BREWERY WINS DISTINCTIONS
In 2010, Athenian Brewery wins first place in the ‘Best Workplace’ competition in Greece. Three years later, in 2013, it gains the Diamond Distinction in the National Corporate Social Responsibility Index, following two consecutive years of platinum distinctions.
2013
60 YEARS WE ARE PRESENT
At Athenian Brewery, we have been “Brewing a Better Future” for more than 60 years; we honor our commitments and directly associate our business activity with the concepts of responsibility and contribution to the national economy, the society and the environment.
2013- 2014
LAUNCH OF NEW INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS
In addition to corporate distinctions, 2013 is a very important year for Athenian Brewery, at it is the year when many new innovative products are launched. Among these products is Amstel Free, the first Greek beer with 0.0% alcohol and ALFA Weiss, a Greek unfiltered wheat beer.
2014
OUR PRODUCTION WITH 100% GREEK BARLEY
In 2014, Athenian Brewery produces beer using 100% Greek barley, thus supporting local producers and the Greek economy as a whole.
2015
ATHINEO IS FOUNDED
In 2015, ATHINEO is founded. It is the first venue for creative brewing, also housing a small “museum” dedicated to beer. It produces limited release micro-brewery beers. ATHINEO is housed at the same location where Athenian Brewery opened its first brewery 50 years ago. During the same year, Strongbow cider is launched in the Greek market in two flavors, Gold Apple and Red Berries.
2017
LAUNCHES OF HEINEKEN LIGHT, MAMOS & MILOKLEFTIS
Athenian Brewery makes two new launches in 2017. One is the launch of a new cider, Milokleftis, and the other is MAMOS beer, which is brewed again in Patras as a result of the collaboration (trademark licensing) of Athenian Brewery and the Mamos family. MAMOS is re-released based on the original recipe of the first-ever certified Greek brewer, Petros Mamos.
2019
CIDER PRODUCTION LAUNCH AT PATRAS BREWERY
The first cider production line in our country started its operation at the Athenian Brewery factory in Patras. Thus, the Milokleftis and Strongbow labels are now produced in Greece from 100% Greek raw materials.
