The Cretan Original: natural distinct, good: just like the island itself. Celebrating the warmth and hospitality of the Cretan people, inviting you to experience their genuine love for life.
It started with a kiss…
Love and passion are the key ingredients that are behind our success. There's really no need for further explanation. When home brewer Bernd Brink embarked on his journey to visit the native land of his beloved Lia Evangelia Papadaki, on the enchanting Island of Crete, little did he know that his live was about to change forever. The moment that he set foot on this captivating paradise, he knew that he had found his forever home on the island.
Encouraged by friends who adored his homebrew, the dream of opening a brewery on this idyllic island quickly took shape, despite the bureaucratic hurdles. Their unwavering determination and support from family and friends helped them through their first setbacks. Being the first microbrewery on Crete came with its fair share of challenges and it was hard work to start the brewery, but Lia and Bernd loved it. They still view the brewery as their firstborn, a labor of love that has brought immense joy since 1999.
Initially, Bernd had to juggle between his also loved other home and university position in Stirling, Scotland, and his new life and occupation in Rethymno, Crete. However, as the brewery flourished, there was only one decision to be taken - he would become a full-time brewer.
During the early days when bottle washing and labeling were done manually, Bernd was fortunate to have the constant support of his parents, Christa and Bernd (senior), always willing to lend a hand. Soon enough, second hand machinery was acquired and installed, updating the production process. In 2007 Vaso Vasiliki Kakokeflou joined the brewery team as a permanent member and since then played a pivotal role in the brewery's success, becoming one of the driving forces behind its continued growth.
Christina and Marina Brink are the next generation, together our aim is to preserve what is good while staying at the forefront of innovation. In recent years, the brewery has made significant investments in a larger and more energy-efficient brew house, as well as a state-of-the-art bottling plant with a capacity of 5000 bottles per hour, always with a focus on resource conservation and enhancing the quality of our bottled beer. This includes minimizing oxygen absorption during bottling, resulting in a better taste stability and an even more satisfying taste experience for our customers when enjoying a Brinks.
Our brewery is a testament to the power of love and passion, and we are proud to share our passion for brewing with the world.