Italian Craft Beers

While Italy is widely renowned as a wine producing nation, there are several innovative small breweries that are making quite a stir for their exceptionally flavorful, creative offerings. Check some of them out here.

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Baladin Nora

Product - Baladin Nora
Brewed By: 
Baladin
Self-Defined Style: 
Ancient Egyptian Style Spiced Beer
Strength (ABV): 
6.8% ABV

The nose offers notes of violets, roses, cyclamen and citrus fruits. Nora is full bodied with an intense taste in which citrus aroma contrasts pleasantly the balsamic (mentholated) overtone. In the finish, bitter resins come through, especially in the end.

Best With: 
Enjoy with oriental food, fish and spicy white meats and Mediterranean dishes.
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Baladin Wayan

Product - Baladin Wayan
Brewed By: 
Baladin
Self-Defined Style: 
Saison
Strength (ABV): 
5.8% ABV

Le Baladin Wayan is made of 17 different ingredients {barley, wheat, spelt, oats, rye, different types of hops & many different spices besides coriander. Teo calls it a "Saison" but it is certainly his personal definition of a saison. Aroma & palate are rather complex, ie it takes some time to find your way through it, so to speak. The different hops are barely noticeable. The balance & bitterness is by a high degree provided by those many spices some of which are very unusual in brewing {Teo does not disclose them} .

Best With: 
Saisons are incredibly versatile brews, but this one is perfectly matched with a cumin-habenero shrimp over greens, most Thai foods as well as spicy pork sausage with a side of sautéed apples.
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Almond 22 Torbata

Product - Birra Almond Torbata
Brewed By: 
Almond
Self-Defined Style: 
Peat Smoked Ale
Strength (ABV): 
8.7% ABV

Furthermore bottle conditioned beer has an amazing and complex evolution as time passes. The spices and raw cane sugars come from the fair trade and are carefully selected; the honeys come from the green mountains and hills of our region. Pure spring water from the mountains near Farindola is used to brew.

Appearance: Light in color with a slight haziness.

Flavor:Smokey flavor similar to Scotch Whiskey.

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BEBA Molto Malto

Product - BEBA Molto Malto
Brewed By: 
BEBA
Self-Defined Style: 
Double Bock
Strength (ABV): 
7.0% ABV
Bitterness (IBU): 
25 IBU

Bottom-fermenting and double malted using a micture of pilsner malts and a special type of caramel malt. Molto Malto is moderately hopped using Hallertauer hops enhancing the flavor and the aroma of the malt.

Appearance: Nice compact and aromatic head.
Flavor: Slightly fruity aroma and a balanced malted body. Slightly strong at 7.0% alcohol by volume.

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Birra del Borgo 25 Dodici

Product - Birra del Borgo 25 Dodici
Brewed By: 
Borgo
Self-Defined Style: 
Winter Warmer
Strength (ABV): 
9.5% ABV

Dark amber with a beige-colored foam. The nose is dominated by fruity notes such as berries, plums and orange as well as spicy notes such as pepper and coriander. Chestnut honey and definite hints of chocolate enrich the aroma.

On the palate, 25 Dodici is rich and full bodied. The fruity notes are well balanced with the maltiness.

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Birra Troll Shangrila

Product - Birra Troll Shangrila
Brewed By: 
Troll
Self-Defined Style: 
Ale brewed with Spices
Strength (ABV): 
8.5% ABV

Shangrila was the first creation from Birrificio Troll. It is of dark amber color and has a persistent head and with its 8.5 alc./vol. it warms the palate and the heart.

Shangrila is brewed using malt, English hops and a mixture of spices from the Himalayas: tandori (blend of coriander, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, ginger, cardamom, saffron), curry, pepper, anise. Shangrila is a complex full bodied beer with exotic scents and an intense flavor.

Best With: 
Shangrila is a perfect companion for meats of every type, especially ones grilled over charcoal. It also pairs very well with fine cheeses.
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Birrificio Barley BB10

Product - Birrificio Barley BB10
Brewed By: 
Barley
Self-Defined Style: 
Winter Warmer
Strength (ABV): 
10.0% ABV

Our new skillful craft brewers, without an old tradition to follow, are totally free to brew experimental beers using unusual ingredients often strictly linked to their area. This is the case of young Sardinian engineer Nicola Perra who for this extraordinary BB10 uses even sapa (boiled worth) of a renowned local wine called Cannonau.

Best With: 
A typical winter warmer to enjoy before going to sleep but it could be perfect with famous piedmontese boiled meats, with a savory Sardinian sheep’s cheese or with a chocolate or ricotta dessert.
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Birrificio del Ducato Nuova Mattina

Product - Birrificio del Ducato Nuova Mattina
Brewed By: 
Ducato
Self-Defined Style: 
Saison
Strength (ABV): 
5.9% ABV

A unique interpretation of a Farmhouse Ale from Birrificio del Ducato.

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Birrificio di Como Malthus Baluba

Product - Birrificio di Como Malthus Baluba
Brewed By: 
Como
Self-Defined Style: 
Double malted stout
Strength (ABV): 
6.9% ABV
Bitterness (IBU): 
35 IBU

Spices: Rue

Fruits: Apricot, pineapple and ginger (all dried) added during primary fermentation and into maturation tank {supporting another round of fermentation}

Primary Fermentation: Lager yeast

Secondary Fermentation in the bottle: Lager yeast

Appearance: Reddish-brown colour with a big creamy head

Nose: Complex aroma of nougat, rose and hazelnut

Taste profile: Rounded and full-bodied, some sweetness, long malty and earthy finish with more nutty notes and a touch of spices - dangerously drinkable

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Birrificio Grado Plato Strada San Felice

Product - Birrificio Grado Plato Strada San Felice
Brewed By: 
Grado Plato
Self-Defined Style: 
Chestnut Ale
Strength (ABV): 
8.0% ABV

This 8%alc. amber-coloured beer, is actually bottom-fermented. The flavour and aroma of local chestnuts gives Strada San Felice its original and distinctive personality. All the chestnuts are grown in Piemonte, in a very famous area for chestnut trees. They are then dried over a wood-fire.

Best With: 
It pairs well with traditional autumn and Winter cuisine such as game and stews.
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Birrificio Italiano Tipo Pils

Product - Birrificio Italiano Tipo Pils
Brewed By: 
Italiano
Self-Defined Style: 
Pils
Strength (ABV): 
5.2% ABV
Color (SRM): 
3º L

It so effectively quenches your thirst that after the first glass you wouldn't need to drink another. The desire to experience again the gratification tied to the first sip irremediably leads you to drink another, and yet another. The euphoric effect of the first glasses lasts even with the others, and you never risk finding yourself suddenly "drunk" with all of the consequences. I drink it because I don't want to get drunk: I want to savor as many sips as possible of a beverage I adore. Sometimes it accidentally becomes an automatic gesture that I repeat for no particular reason.

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Birrificio Montegioco Demon Hunter

Product - Birrificio Montegioco Demon Hunter
Brewed By: 
Montegioco
Self-Defined Style: 
Italian Dark Ale
Strength (ABV): 
8.5% ABV

Demon Hunter an intense beer with great complexity. It is of amber color with a persistent head. the nose has notes of chestnut trees, mature plums, grapes and caramel. The pepper compliments the light herb notes from the hops. The flavor starts with a taste of honey and is finishes on a beautifully hop note.

Demon Hunter is brewed using malt and hops. The alcoholic content obtained from the fermentation of the malt is of 8 % in volume, while the final one is 8.5 % in volume. Demon Hunter is matured for 15 weeks.

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Piccolo Birrificio Seson

Product - Piccolo Birrificio Seson
Brewed By: 
Piccolo Birrificio
Self-Defined Style: 
Saison Brewed with Spices
Strength (ABV): 
6.0% ABV

Seson, rated Italian’s best Saison-style interpretation in 2006, is spiced with ,among others, Chinotto { a small bitter citrus fruit, which is now under the protection of SLOW FOOD organization) , and matured in Chardonnay wooden barrels.

Appearance: Big yellowish foam, orange-golden color
Aroma: Citrusy, touch of lemon and lime , grainy
Flavor: Pronounced citrusy notes, turning bitter {chinotto influence!} and tart , very well balanced against its malt sweetness
Finish: Blend of citrusy, bitter-tart character lingers forever

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Tappeto Volante

Product - Tappeto Volante Tappeto Volante
Brewed By: 
Tappeto Volante
Self-Defined Style: 
Birra Bionda
Strength (ABV): 
5.0% ABV

Light and crisp with a touch of sweetness. The pristine Alpine environment surrounds the town of Biella in the Italian region of Piemonte. Pure mountain water and choice ingredients combine with brewing heritage and tradition to create Tappeto Volante. Salute!

Best With: 
This beer is the perfect compliment to gourmet thin crust pizza. It could also go well with pub food or a flakey whitefish, cooked in white wine.