By Alexia Evripidou
It’s here, finally! Pivo Microbrewery, a bar with a real difference. Tucked away in a beautifully renovated historic building within Nicosia’s walls, buttressing the green line, Pivo offers freshly brewed beer on tap. Pivo is the place for both beer fans to revel in the professionally prepared rich and naturally flavoured ale, and for imminent beer converts to succumb to the charms of the pint alike. And I haven’t even mentioned the food, glass floor and excellent service yet!
Off I popped on a Wednesday night, dragging myself and reluctant partner in crime to a beer bar. Barely open for two weeks, I anticipated few customers and little atmosphere. But as I walked into the brightly lit walls of the newest and highly promising bar in town I realised that the ‘joke’ was actually on me. Impressive, funky, professional, spacious, bright and European were words that initially jumped to mind. It is a dapper venue with excellent beer, food and service.
The owners – three brothers and their cousin – who’ve worked on making their dream a reality for the past three years, are so confident in their beers, that they’re focusing on service and ambience as a priority. I offer genuine congratulations on all accounts. Owners and staff are always on hand to chat with you and explain the brewing process, which you can see while sipping a cold brew. What you don’t learn from them, you can read about on the inside walls. Much attention to detail has been placed on everything and it is a delight. From the wooden box that the taster beers arrive in, to the named hop plants growing in the garden, to the glass floor outside exhibiting the Ottoman/ Frankish antiquities.
The menu was simple. In addition to the beers there’s an adequate selection of red, white and rose wines ranging from €13 to €26. Plus your basic soft drinks.
The food looked and smelt simply divine. I watched salivating as huge and attractive platters swept past me carrying schnitzel with mashed potatoes and coleslaw, salads adorned with rich and creamy cheeses and juicy mouthwatering towering burgers. Food ranges between €9 and €14.
However, the pièce de résistance are the four beers brewed with sweat, love and passion. I tasted all of them. There was not a drop left by the end and both of us were pleasantly surprised. As the evening unfolded, my taste enjoyed picking up hints of coffee, mango, banana and kidney.
My favourite was the Weis beer; a Bavarian type, golden honey coloured with a strong white frothy head that enticed with the smell of banana. Christos confirmed my banana suspicions, explaining that all of their beers use only barley, malt, hops, water and yeast; nothing else whatsoever is added to it. The extra flavours and scents come out in the fermentation and brewing process.
Then there’s Blond lager, 100% Pilsen malt, strong with spiciness of the hops. This is clear, smooth and bitter. Dark lager, a Pilsen style consisting of dark, Munich and caramel malt, has hints of coffee. And finally my second favourite brew, the Red IPA American style beer called hoppy; a smooth bitter bursting with fruit flavours, especially mango. All of the beers have crisp clean tastes and cost between €2.50 and €4.50.
Pivo is most certainly a hit for me and it seems with the customers too, as it was pretty full by 9.30pm. Probably worth booking a table!
Pivo
Where: Asklipiou 36, Nicosia
When: 19.00 – 01.00, Tuesday – Sunday
Contact: www.facebook.com/pivomicrobrewery, www.pivomicrobrewery.com.cy/
