Craft Breweries in Italy

Discussion in 'Rest of Europe' started by cal_golden_beer, Apr 3, 2014.

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  1. cal_golden_beer

    cal_golden_beer Devotee (314) Feb 27, 2014 California
    Trader

    I'm travelling to Italy for two weeks in May and I'd like to spend a few weeks learning about the exciting Italian craft beer scene. I must apologize in advance; I know little to nothing about Italian beer.

    I'm looking for 2 things:
    1. Where do I find more info (books, articles, websites) to educate me on the Italian craft beer scene?

    2. Discuss your favorite Italian craft breweries and beers

    I suggest that we NOT focus discussion on pubs, bottleshops and restaurants in this thread. There is already a ton of that information floating around this forum. I'll try to consolidate some of it and start discussions in separate threads. I first want to figure out what I want to try and then figure out where to get it.

    In case it matters, I'm going to Venice, Bologna, Parma, Florence and Rome. Ten years ago, I studied abroad in Italy for 6 months so I'm slightly familiar with the geography and culture. Sadly, I knew little about craft beer then and even less about Italian craft beer. My Italian is very bad but I've been told it gets better as I drink more

    Anyway, I already did some homework on both topics. Please help me fill in any holes that you see.

    1. For more info, I ordered this book:
    http://www.italybeercountry.com/
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...ry-of-italian-craft-beer.165868/#post-2300948

    Do you have any other suggestions?

    2. I've done some quick research via the BA forums and google. Here's some breweries and particular beers that sounded exciting to me. I'm ashamed to say that I've never had any of these but I hope to real soon. What am I missing?

    Le Baladin, Piemonte
    - Nora
    - Xyauyu

    LoverBeer, Piemonte
    - BeerBara

    Birra del Borgo, Lazio
    - ReAle
    - Etrusca
    - Duchessic

    Birrificio Italiano, Como
    - Tipopils: unfiltered Pilsner (controversial to Pilsner purists)

    Birrificio Torrechiara (Panil), Parma/Emiglia Romagna
    - Barriquee

    Again please excuse my ignorance about the exciting Italian beer scene; instead help me eliminate my ignorance. Please help me learn about another great subculture of the craft beer world.

    Thank You
     
  2. IckyFlix

    IckyFlix Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2012 France

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  3. mmmbirra

    mmmbirra Pundit (877) Apr 19, 2009 Italy

    www.microbirrifici.org has a good list of Italian breweries.
    You probably weren't missing much 10 years ago, most breweries are younger than that.
    Good breweries in and around Bologna are StataleNove(they're keller pils is real nice, as is their bock,) Birrificio Emiliano(more hop forward and american style beers,) and the brewpub in the center, Birra Cerqua, isn't bad either.
    The former brewer from Panil has his own production now called Black Barrels. If you find any of it, grab it. Really nice sours.
     
  4. -N8

    -N8 Initiate (0) Feb 7, 2014 Germany

    x2 for Birrificio Indipendente

    Their beers did quite well in the Mondial de la bière fest last Sept in France. I was there and I can vouch for em.

    They took Gold with their:
    Punks Do it Bitter
    Grunge IPA
     
  5. mmmbirra

    mmmbirra Pundit (877) Apr 19, 2009 Italy

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  6. dcmchew

    dcmchew Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2013 Romania

    When in Venice you should try Birra Venezia. Just because you're there, it's like a tourist go-to beer, and it's rather decent. Also you can stop at small pubs, don't know exactly how they're called, in Spain they're "cervecerias" (with ham and cheese all over the place, you know what i mean), and they usually have their own fresh craft(s), stuff like http://www.birramorgana.com/en/come-mai-about-morgana/.
    These guys are also easy to find, and they have some nice niche stuff, like chestnut and saffron beers. Personally their Contessa remains one of my favourite beers ever: http://www.birra-amiata.it/index.php/Birre
    +1 for Panil
    Still, italians have a long way to go, so don't expect too much. Have fun!
     
  7. wewantbeer

    wewantbeer Initiate (0) Nov 28, 2013 Italy

    I have recently been to Italia Beer fest, where a huge amount of microbrweries were presenting their products. I have to admit that at the moment, you can find in northern Italy a lot of them, and the general quality, though not yet a European level excellence, is undoubtedly increasing. What I appreciated the more is the fact that those breweries are now focusing on different styles of beer than the usual "weiss - lager - strong lager" that were very popular until like 5/6 years ago in Italy.

    My 2 cents, 7 breweries I would suggest you to try:
    1) Toccalmatto http://www.birratoccalmatto.it/
    2) Retorto http://www.retorto.it/
    3) Birrone http://www.birrone.it/
    4) MC77 http://www.mc-77.com/
    5) Hibu http://www.birrificiohibu.it/
    6) Buttiga http://www.labuttiga.it/
    7) Bi-Du http://www.bi-du.it/

    please, consider that my list is biased by my preference for breweries with a vary and vaste selection!
     
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  8. cal_golden_beer

    cal_golden_beer Devotee (314) Feb 27, 2014 California
    Trader

    I've read through "Italy Beer Country" http://www.italybeercountry.com/ and it got me totally excited about Italian beer. It exposed me to breweries and beers that I've never heard of.

    I'm leaving for Italy in a few days and here is what I'm interested in try (in no particular order; not sure if they are even available):
    Le Baladin, Piemonte
    - Nora
    - Xyauyu
    - Leon
    - Isaac

    LoverBeer, Piemonte
    - BeerBara
    - Beer Brugna

    Birra del Borgo, Lazio
    - ReAle
    - Etrusca
    - Duchessic
    - Equilibrista

    Birrificio Italiano, Como
    - Tipopils: unfiltered Pilsner (controversial to Pilsner purists)
    - Flourette
    - Cinamon Bitter

    Birrificio Torrechiara (Panil), Parma/Emiglia Romagna
    - Barriquee
    - Black Oak

    Grado Plato, Piemonte
    - Sveva
    - Sticher
    - Chocarrubica

    Montegrioco, Peimonte
    - Quarta Runa

    Del Ducato, Emiglia Romagna
    - Viaemilia
    - Nuova Mattina
    - Black Jet Verdi
    - Beersel Mattina

    Toccalmatto, Emiglia Romagna
     
  9. mmmbirra

    mmmbirra Pundit (877) Apr 19, 2009 Italy

    All of those Baladin beers are available at Eataly in Bologna, as are most of the Birra del Borgo beers
    http://www.eataly.it/blog/negozi-italia-bologna
    Those BeerBera beers, TipoPils and Birrificio del Ducato beers are usually available at Astral Beers, as are the Black Barrels sours(former brewer from Panil)
    http://www.astralbeers.it/
    and Green River pub and La Tana del Luppolo in the center have some of these as well as other Italian beers on tap from time to time.
    https://it-it.facebook.com/GreenRiverPub
    http://www.birrotecalatanadelluppolo.it/

     
  10. latestart

    latestart Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2012 Florida

    The Drunken Duck is a cool beer bar with some nice lambic offerings, near Vicenza
     
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