Beer is very popular in Greece, but it was not always a part of Greek culture. The landing of King Otto in Greece in 1833 signalled the arrival of numerous Bavarians to pursue business opportunities. Karl Fuchs was an experienced brewer who began producing beer in Athens. The drink helped strengthen Greek-Bavarian relations. In 1870 he opened a beer brewery called “Mets” on the shores of the river Ilissos, near the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The brewery eventually gave its name to the neighbourhood. The Greeks finally accepted the new beverage and assimilated it into their culture despite initial hesitation. In the late nineteenth century, the company built the large brewery, which still stands near the Fix metro station.