Italian beer?

My wife and I just went to Italy on a brewery tour. She has almost all of the posts from the trip on our blog if anyone is interested in checking that out. http://thebirchbar.tumblr.com/

We are let's say a bit obsessed with Italian beer right now.

 

It exists in 750's, although not as common as the 375's. I want a 750 that I can age for a few years and open on my anniversary with my wife. She's a sourhead, which my wallet does not enjoy much :|

 

A lot of great breweries mentioned so far. Maybe I missed it but I don't think I saw anyone mention Birrifico Barley or Troll. Both make some really interesting beers that are available here in the states.

 

Living in NJ, I'm surprised that I do not recall seeing any of these beers being listed (besides Moretti and Peroni--the signature beers of San Gennaro, and also the only negatives of the San Gennaro feast in little Italy). As an avid wine drinker, I LOVE Barbarescos and Barberas, and would love to see how good their beers can be. Especially their sours. Bring more our way!! Salute!!

 

Leveled up on this post!

 

i like Duchessic ale

 

I have enjoyed the Italian beers I have had, but the price of Italian beers limits their appeal at least here in the Midwest U.S.. $15 for 11.2oz of Loverbeer Madamin. Madamin is a nice Flanders, but I would rather just have Rodenbach, Monk's Cafe, Petrus, ... for a lot less. Maybe once there is a larger volume of Italian craft shipping to the U.S. the costs will improve.

 

Buona serra everyone, I just found this post. I was reading through everyone's posts and I can provide some insight in Italian beer, as I am slowly becoming a small expert in it as I have been tasked with tracking it down and purchasing it for our restaurants here in Italy Epcot.
In regards to Italian beer and it's pricing there are a few important things I have run into.
1) Italian taxes, When I was over there meeting with a few of the brewers they told me they have an extremely high rate of taxation, and the government does not really lift the tax for export as you see in many other countries in Europe. you are still paying a lot of Italian tax even in America, then you have the import tariffs, then you have the state and local taxes on top of that.
2) Few importers, There are very few importers for Italian beer in the U.S. I know of 5, with a majority coming from one, Don't get me wrong I love that one, and but a lot from them, but they have a vast corner of the market.
3) Italian breweries are still small and young. Some of the older ones (Grado Plato, Del Borgo and Baladin have b een around for about 15 years. Almost all the others were started in 2004 era when a law was passed making easier to own a birrificio.
4) They take a lot of pride and use qualityingredients, a vast majority of the hops come from the US, and when supplies run low, prices sky rocket. (Birra Amiata was trying to bid on some of the last Northwestern Hops from the particular season when I was there and the prices was outrageous, but they did not have a choice. German and Czech hops do not fit in their flavor profile.
5) The deposits on bottles and kegs are high, due to Europes big enforcement on recycling.
6) Ingredients and time. These guys are not just putting out simple lagers, the complexity of a majority of their beers is way out there, they are competing with wine in italy and they can't put something simple out.
7) Shipping, if you do not have a full container of beer to ship to the US, it is pricey (1800 for 4 pallets, or 2200 if you have a full container) So if the container is not full, the price is automatically higher.
8) Quality, the quality and craftsmanship is way up there. Almost everything coming across is a live beer, keg or bottle condiitoned or aged for years, as you were talking about with some of the afore mentioned beers.
They are absolutely amazing to pair with food.

9) Now I have currently 56 Italian beer tastings under my belt and will begin posting reviews soon, but my top few out of Italy?
Birra Amiata - Contessa (Italian Pale Ale)
Birra Amiata - Bastarda Rossa (Chestnut Beer)
L'Olmaia - PVK (5000 yr old etruscan recipe, wit beer using unmalted tuscan grains)
Birrificio Italiano -TipoPils one of the best pilsners I have ever had
Grado Plato - Strada San Felice - Chestnut Ale\
Del Ducato - Imperial Stout
Birra Del Borgo - 25 DoDici (Barley Wine Xmas)
and about 12 more I won't bother too much. But if anyone would like some more info let me know!

Also if you and the family are ever in Disney, stop by Italy. At all of our restaurants we have rotating craft beers on draft and in bottle.
Ciao!
L'Olmaia - La Cinque (Golden Ale)

 

Grazie per questo l'informazione!

Very glad to see support for the ever growing and beautiful world of Italian craft!

And I am glad that you get this whole concept of Italian craft! I have shared with many people this movement and some are sceptical and the proof is in the fact that many stores are carrying much more Italian craft then ever before. Either join us or not, but do not say we did NOT tell you the Italians are arriving on America's shore evermore!

 

I noticed. I think the BOA bock is pretty solid and underrated. Their other beers are supposed to be solid as well.

 

You must prefer Moretti.

 

I've only had three Italian craft beers.

Panil Barriquee was excellent, IMO, but you can take that with a grain of salt as it's the only Flemish red I've had.

Birraficio Del Ducato's Nuova Mattina was enjoyable. A saison with some interesting spicing. Also take my opinion with a grain of salt, as I haven't had a lot of saisons. Hennepin and Sofie are the only other two I think of that I've actually tried. This was very different than either, with it's lime peel and ginger spicing.

Fleurette by Birrificio Italiano was like a low-alcohol witbier with different spicing. A lightly coloured and cloudy wheat beer with a bit of sour twang, flavoured with elderberries, rose and violet petals, and black pepper. It was pretty good, but some other reviewers noted that it has a very delicate flavour profile. As much as I enjoyed it, I thought it was very overpriced.

 

Yes they can be overpriced, but I am glad as described above the reasoning beyond such a higher price. So many laws and taxes to be paid, and sticking to high standards...

 

The Fleurette really was overpriced though. I mean, it tasted good, but the flavour and aroma really was quite delicate and light. It was close to 20 US dollars, and this for a slightly larger than a bomber bottle of 3.8%ABV witbier. I understand that ingredient and shipping costs might be higher, but still - that's not a lot of malt, and there are wheat beers just as good or better at a not-so exorbitant price. It just seems to be priced out of the market.

By way of comparison, when I bought the Panil Barriquee it was 20 Canadian dollars, and it was worth every penny I paid for it. It was that good.

 

It can be a little difficult to track down stateside, but Loverbeer makes some fantastic beers. If you're in Rome, you can track down some of their stuff at Domus Birrae.