Italian Craft Beer: A Guide to the Best Brews in Italy
Italy is famous for its incredible wines, but did you know that it also has a thriving craft beer scene? With over 700 microbreweries and countless pubs and bars focused on home-grown brews, Italy has become a hot spot for craft beer enthusiasts. From regular beer festivals to innovative local brews, Italian craft beer is a must-try. So, what exactly is craft beer, and why should you give it a taste in Italy?
What is Craft Beer?
Craft beer, also known as artisanal beer, is produced on a smaller scale than large corporate brands. Made in microbreweries, craft beer uses less industrialized techniques, creating traditional styles of beer with innovative twists. These “homemade” methods mean that craft beers are unpasteurized and not micro-filtered, preserving the rich flavors developed during brewing. The creative freedom in the brewing process allows brewers to infuse their products with personality and unique flavors, often utilizing local ingredients. Craft beer is typically stronger than industrial beer, with some reaching wine-like alcohol content.
Why Should You Try Craft Beer?
If you’re a wine lover who thinks they don’t like beer, craft beer might change your mind. Like wine, craft beer offers a wide range of complex flavors and aromas, each with its unique personality. This makes it fun to pair with different foods to discover complementary flavors. Try pairing craft beers with cheeses, meats, fried foods, and even desserts, or join a beer expert for a tasting session to fully appreciate the nuances.
Craft Beer in Italy
In Italy, beer drinking traditionally involved an icy Corona at the beach or a cold glass of Peroni in a pizzeria. However, the craft beer movement has changed that landscape. While Italians still consume a significant amount of wine (about 34 liters per person annually), the rise of craft beer has increased beer consumption to around 31 liters per person each year. Dedicated pubs and bars, many of which double as microbreweries, now dot the country, and restaurants and pizzerias have added craft beers to their menus.
The Italian craft beer movement began in the 1990s, free from a long-established beer-making tradition, allowing for significant innovation. Italy is now known for recreating historical beer styles and incorporating unique local ingredients like fruits and nuts into seasonal brews. Italy offers a vast array of craft beers from light IPAs and lagers to red and amber ales, white wheat beers, and dark stouts and porters. Unique flavors include chestnuts, oysters, pumpkin, honey, and even tea. The best way to explore this diversity is to taste as many as possible!
For a truly Roman craft beer experience, join us on our Italian Craft Beer and Pizza Tasting Tour in Rome
with our craft beer expert.
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