Cretan Brewery S.A is the first microbrewery in the prefecture of Chania, Crete. The brewery is located in Zounaki village, municipality of Platanias, just 25 km from Chania city center on the way to popular beaches such as Balos, Elafonisi, and Paleochora. Its industrial facilities occupy 2,000 m², surrounded by orange trees and olive groves.
Founded in 2007 by Ioannis Lionakis — a mechanical engineer and proud Cretan — the brewery’s goal is the production of excellent handcrafted beers without preservatives or additives that exude Crete‘s traditions through every glass. Following expansion in 2015, the brewery achieved a tenfold increase in brewing capacity.
Fresh, unfiltered, and unpasteurized — Cretan Brewery’s craft beers retain all nutrients from raw materials and the yeast. Guided brewery tours are available Monday to Sunday, where visitors watch brewers at work and experience the craft beer production process firsthand.
All tours include a beer tasting of different beer styles as well as a main dish if desired. The tap room and restaurant on the terrace offer a panoramic view of the brewing area and the surrounding river valley. Relax and enjoy meze or lunch with a cold fresh Charma.
Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting
- Pioneer Brewery Tour: Explore Chania’s first microbrewery and learn how Cretan Brewery is building a craft beer culture on the island
- Cretan Ingredients: Discover how local Cretan botanicals, honey, and other island ingredients are incorporated into the brewery’s unique beer recipes
- Beer Tasting: Taste Cretan Brewery’s range of craft beers — each one a creative expression of Crete’s rich natural and cultural heritage
