i have posted this question once but no one replied and i thought beer was an important part of holiday. what is keo, beer or lager is it stong is it on draft?

When I was in Cyprus in June when we went for a meal I was either ordering wine by the glass or half bottle and I prefer rose, most of the time I had Pink Lady which is medium sweet and is a Cypriot wine...its very more-ish!! Keo is lager similar tasting to Stella, I think its about the same strength of Stella as well. Hope that helps.

Keo is the local lager type beer, it comes in bottles or draught, or even cans from the supermarket. Some people prefer the other local beer- Leon.
We like rose wine as well, and have found it in some restaurants in Cyprus but not all, can't remember which ones.

Keo is a very light lager-type beer about 4.5%. Brewed from maize, ice cold so it drips off the outside of the glass...mmmm, Keo!

Just to clear this beer thingy up, locally brewed Carlsberg outsells all beers on Cyprus by three to one, even the locals are going over to it now, and of course you can buy Rose wine here, as any other form of wine, surprising fact booze on Cyprus is amazingly cheap, why, not a lot of tax compared to UK prices, in our local supermarket at this very moment, a Ltr of Teachers whisky for £6.95cyp and you get the other one FREE!!!

As for Leon is it really a beer?? personal opinion of course..yuk!!

Have a look at Cyprusvines.com before you go and make a list!
As well as the Keo and SODAP wines that you'll find everywhere you'll also find details of other smaller wineries which are producing some really good wines.
There are quite a few Rose's listed now although you may not find them in many restaurants. I've found though that most places carry a decent selection of local wines so you should always find something. If all else fails you'll get Keo's Couer de Lion rose just about anywhere and usually SODAP's Santa Marina and Kokinelli rose's as well.

SODAP, by the way, is the CO-OP which is why you'll find Cyprus Red and White table wines at your friendly local store back home under the name of Island Vines.

As for the Keo/Leon/Carlsberg debate I think it's a matter of what you like.
I'm quite partial to Carlsberg but when I'm in Cyprus I tend to stick with Keo.
The reason? I can buy Carlsberg anywhere but you can't get Keo lager off the shelf in the UK.....and somehow, sitting in the Cyprus sun a cold Keo just seems to taste right.

Yamas!

Well yes you can buy Carlsberg in any country in the world, but as I said it is brewed on the island and it tastes different to that I was used to in the UK, and also as posted it is the biggest selling beer now, and for a good reason..I was always a Keo guy, but I am afraid not any more..but I have both in my fridge..but not Leon..

Ouzo as it comes, over ice, with water or for your first time with sprite...

Keo tends to be cheaper than Carlsberg by a few cents (but sometimes they might only have bottles of one or the other type)

Brandy sours vary greatly as its a fine art to get it right, so far the best place around Pernera is the Nautilus Bar.

Steve

(leon is a sort of brew that you would drink if short of alternatives...)

"Leon beer, the first Cyprus brew, is relaunched 4 decades after it was last produced and traded in the market of Cyprus. Based on the original Leon recipe that was used in 1937, Leon is a pure all malt beer characterised by a rich and strong taste and aroma.

Leon beer is back to remind us life's true values of the past as well as to enjoy simple things in life." Well maybe

"Leon beer dates back to 1937, when Christodoulos Platanis founded the first brewery in Cyprus. It is the first beer that was brewed in Cyprus and for many years it was the only locally-produced beer.

In 1962 Mr Photos Photiades joined the company, which was renamed M. Chr. Platanis and Co Ltd, and stopped the production and trading of LEON Beer. In 1969 the company started brewing and trading CARLSBERG Beer. In 1985 the company was bought out by Mr Photos Photiades and changed its name to Photos Photiades Breweries Ltd. Forty years later, June 2003, the Photiades group relaunched the historic Leon Beer.

Leon beer is brewed in the premises of one of the most advanced breweries in the world today. It is based on the original LEON recipe that was first used in 1937 and it is characterised by a rich and strong taste and aroma.

LEON beer is an All Malt Beer and it complies with the German Reinheitsgebot Law, which dictates that only malt, hops and yeast are to be used to create an All Malt Beer."

"Carlsberg is the No1 selling in Cyprus, with over 51% of the total market and one of the fastest growing beer brands worldwide. It is a premium quality lager, synonymous with international sports and music sponsorship that is popular with regular and occasional beer drinkers of all ages.

Since 1969, Carlsberg has been brewed and bottled locally in Cyprus by Photos Photiades Breweries Ltd. - proud of the fact that it holds the first-ever brewing license awarded by Carlsberg International outside of Denmark.

The traditional, high quality brewing philosophies that have made Carlsberg Beer probably the best beer in the world are as important today as they were over 150 years ago, when Carl Jacobsen produced the first barrel in Copenhagen. To this day, its famous all malt recipe still comprises of simply malt, hops and water.The malt and hops are still sourced and selected from Denmark, to form the essence of the beer's unique smooth and refreshing character.

Enjoying the beer - poured from either from bottle, can or draught keg - the drinker is always assured that its quality meets Carlsberg's highest standards and traditional commitment to beer perfection."

Keo 4.5% ABV is a pils/lager. A pale lager with a full body and mild hop taste.

Keo Beer: Keo Ltd., founded in 1927, began operations by acquiring its first winery in Limassol. The company is publicly owned, with the vine growers comprising approximately 90% of the shareholders. Keo is the largest industrial employer on the island, with over 600 employees. Each department is run by a team of thirty professionals that work together to exploit every opportunity to improve the company and increase sales. Keo has also expanded into the beer market by brewing Cyprus' only home brewed beer, Keo Beer."

Try 'em all and make up yer own mind. Yer'on holiday take a small beer and sit and relax in the open and enjoy

Whatever you do check the brandy you order! I ordered a staright Brandy after a meal thinking that it was the mellow typical Keo Brandy.
I ended up with something that I think was called 5 King's Brandy and despite being a Brandy lover I had to take a deep breathe and close my eyes before drinking it.

As I remember it was very very very nice -------- as I 'remember'!

I always bring two bottles home with me

pende regus or 5 kings is the primium brandy of cyprus and i think it great always bring at least 1 bottle home

I find the 5 Kings very smooth.

I think it was a bit of a shock after rather a large bottle of wine or more!
Wasn't expecting it! (Thought I'd ordered the normal Keo tryp) I think the large brandy glass made it seem more potent!

I miss it already though, so will have to make do with the Martell's for another 12 months. I will try more of it next time we visit on your recommendations folks!

Just re read your message Kath ---smooth ---- smooth! Compared to what?!

Have you tried it with Baileys mmmmmmm

Nope - me I do the Port and Brandy

Yummy

No kiddin' ---- will make sure we try the Bailey's version this Christmas though! Sounds horrible!

Does anyone know where we can buy Cypriot wine etc in the UK ?