The chimes of the craft beer movement and microbreweries in Greece in recent years, sounds to the ears of all of us who love beer, enjoyable, just like the moment when the perfect beer falls into your glass, forming its head foam. Beer consumption has now escaped the shackles of a simple lager and a new audience has been created, an audience looking to learn its secrets, try new products, and even experiment with home brewing.
This is how the story of Paragon in Ilioupoli began, a hybrid microbrewery and taproom, which arrived in Athens, just at the beginning of December, to lead us on the exciting journey of beer, from fermentation to consumption.
Giannis Psimoulis, being a beer fanatic, started experimenting with combinations as a home brewer in 2015 and from there on, everything took the path of destiny. Beer seems to have completely defined the course of his life, as it not only led him to a change of profession, but also brought into his life his wife, Eleftheria Papadaki, when they met on a tour of the brewery where he worked. Eleftheria’s brother, Tassos Papadakis, was added to the Paragon team and the three of them started this amazing project, which without a doubt has come not only to give us pleasures, but also to teach us the American craft culture.
Paragon is housed in an impressive setting, with a strong authentic industrial aesthetic, as it was set up on the site of an old blacksmith shop, keeping the old identity alive. A huge space with iron arches, cranes, and an imposing bar to dominate and welcome you to be introduced to the world of malt and hops. Behind the bar, a huge window separates the taproom from the brewery, allowing you to have visual contact with the magic of the production. That, after all, was what was wanted. Get to know the process up close and taste fresh sterile beer that keeps all its aromas untouched.
Under the sounds of rock, punk rock hip hop from the 80’s and 90’s, music ideal to enjoy a beer, you can see the whole journey, from the fermentation, until the moment it reaches delicious in your glass, or to be bottled in a bottle to take with you. In the taproom, you will now find on tap, standard flowing beers, such as the California (American Pale Ale with American hops, notes of tropical fruit and coconut) and the Riviera (Helles Lager) from Paragon with names visibly inspired by Southern Suburbs and Indestructible (American IPA in collaboration with Anastasiou Brewery), while six more taps, host foreign and Greek microbrewers, to enrich the taste palette of a degustation very different and special from all the others. Also here is a very interesting list of whiskeys as well as wines from Nemea.
Everything new, fills you with a unique excitement, but the feeling that will be created when you arrive at the place, is really indescribable and is really something worth experiencing, as the level for beer goes very high. What you have read about Paragon so far is the beginning of an exciting sequel that you can already see. All you have to do is discover it, as it will be developed and enriched, with new beers in production, events and anything that will make the whole experience more excitingly complete.
The concept of craft beer, came – fortunately – to stay! For long-time beer lovers, but also for young, aspiring explorers, Paragon will definitely be the new talk of the town, giving the pulse for the new era of domestic micro brewing!
Paragon Taproom & Brewery
Limassol 3, Ilioupoli, 6981947030
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