EVIA (Greece) (AFP) - Bent at a barrel, Greek microbrewer Sophocles Panagiotou lovingly draws a criterion of his Septem Red Ale into a cup cylinder and expertly transfers it ought a glass.

A decade ago at the commence of the econmic crisis, the chemistry graduate and preceding winemaker took a opportunity at building his Septem microbrewery at a family domain at the island of Evia, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) east of Athens.

"It was a mad idea. at the time, they looked at me because if I were an alien," Panagiotou told AFP, at his fully-automated plant and bottling plant, which now produces 12 various beer labels.

Tens of thousands of tiny and medium-sized enterprises were obliterated by the economic emergency at 2010 that brought Greece ought its knees and sent unemployment soaring.

But the microbrewery sector managed ought fetch among the ruins, because local products benefited from a autumn at imported goods.

Greece had fewer than a dozen breweries 10 years ago.

Today, there are 45 microbreweries, said Panagiotou, recently elected principal of the college of Greek Breweries, which represents both micro and bigger firms.

- convert at habits -

The econmic crisis, which saw Athens granted a eurozone bailout at reply because swingeing austerity measures, helped spur the microbrewery sector.

Foreign suppliers began demanding upfront money payments that many Greek companies could no meet.

"Habits changed during the crisis," says Yannis Kefalas, a beer enthusiast and brewer.

"Demand is now centred at local products because a method ought assist the Greek economy."

Perusing the supermarket shelves because local beers, Spyros Paraskevopoulos said that microbeers offered "extraordinary taste".

"They are complete consequently different, depending at the area they fetch from," he enthused.

Three years ago, Kefalas decided ought stop Athens and relocate ought his family island of Ikaria, where he opened his microbrewery, named Ikariotissa after the island.

He now exports ought Germany and aims too ought tap markets at Sweden, Canada and the United States.

- Wine, ouzo, then beer -

Given that Greece is more commonly associated with wine and spirits and does no consume a capital beer culture, the originate of microbreweries is maybe even more surprising.

The people consumes and exports wine and there is too healthful appeal because traditional alcoholic beverages such because ouzo and tsipouro.

Greece is among the bottom three beer consumers at the European Union, with an annual median of 35 litres (74 US pints) drunk per person, fair at France and Italy.

While microbeers are becoming more popular, the most widely consumed beers are produced by Athinaiki, one of Greece's biggest breweries.

It makes more than five various brands of largely lagers and imports almost 10.

- Ginger, honey, cardamom -

On Evia island, Panagiotou says that his manufacture has increased 15-fold at the past decade, from 80,000 bottles at 2009 ought 1.2 million this year.

Yannis Marmarellis, a brewer from the northern city of Serres, has experienced a comparable growth spurt.

Opening his microbrewery, Siris, at 2014 after his meat plant intimate down, he has increased his cane from three ought 14 and quadrupled the size of his facilities.

"There is an expand at appeal because trait beer," says Christos Vassiliadis, one of many Greeks who began with a family brewing kit ago graduating ought a full brewery.

He now runs Noctua, an Athens microbrewery.

But producers speak that little factors are holding help farther growth, including bureaucracy, an customary Greek bugbear.

They too complain of tall taxation and a legal framework dating from the early 20th century.

After Finland, Sweden and Britain, Greece has the highest tax at alcohol at the European Union.

And outdated laws at beer manufacture intend there is no legal provision covering beers made with spices or at fruity flavours -- an zone some microbrewers are exploring.

"I fetch from the wine industry consequently I comparable ought test different flavours," says Panagiotou.

His products now embrace beer with honey, ginger, cardamom and mahleb, an aromatic spice from the seeds of the St Lucie cherry, a especial version because cold Christmas nights.

The hops because his beer comes from his father's fields, fair after the factory.

"The microbeers are a greet convert at condition of mount of both option and taste," said Craig Morrison, a British long-term inhabitant of Athens.