So my family is travelling to Italy this summer and I was wondering if the big name Belgians (cantillon, 3F etc) are available anywhere in Italy? I believe they are flying into Rome and travelling around a bit from there. Thanks in advance for the info!
Affligem, Duvel, La Chouffe, and a couple others should be available in larger better-stocked supermarkets. Perhaps even Westmalle. For sours, and more obscure Belgian beers you'll have to seek out specialty shops. Some Irish-style pubs will have a Belgian or two on tap as well. Good luck!
I've bought all of these in various supermarkets in Italy along with St. Barnardus Abt 12 and Chimay.
Since you mention sours, possibly Bir & Fud in Trastevere. I've seen good (but non-lambic) Belgian sours there, and some Italian sours as well.
I'll be staying in Trastevere for a few days at the end of April. Will bars like Bir & Fud allow you to purchase bottles to go unopened?
I don't think Bir & Fud will sell bottles togo. Open Baladin will. I went to Italy last year and did a trip report if you want more info/details: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/italy-trip-report-venice-bologna-rome.198855/
I wasn't really looking for them while there last fall, but Ma Che had Cantillon on tap and in bottles. Fou Foune for sure. As mentioned, look for some Italian sours like beers from Loverbeer or La Luna Rossa from Del Ducato.
So my family is going to Rome, Sorrento and Florence for about 10 days total. Of these places where would they have the best chance of finding some Cantillon, 3F etc bottles to go? They aren't all that into beer themselves so I'd prefer not to send them on a wild goose chase, but if they are somewhere that has a good chance of finding a bottle or 2 then I'm sure they wouldn't mind.
In Rome, I would check Open Baladin. I was there a month ago, and they had a few different Cantillon. I was also in Florence and didn't find anything after scouring the city.
