Blog Post #8: Italian Beer

I don't drink beer and Italians are better known for wines. However, there is an increasing love for Italian beer as well. Not a lot people are aware of it, but they are slowly growing worldwide.

This article entitled " Italian Beer " featured in the Rome File website lists down the most famous types of beer in Italy.

Italian beer is becoming more and more famous in the market, especially artisanal beers. Usually, Italians buy them from the supermarket and it is most likely that they'll buy Peroni, Nastro Azzurro and variations on the Moretti brand. Peroni is the best known among the three. Nastro Azzurro is its premium version. While Moretti is owned by Heineken which is not Italian. However, it maintains its Italian taste. Moretti makes half a dozen different types of beers which have a very strong taste. Most recently, they are known for their alcohol-free beer called Moretti Zero. Artisanal beers are also rapidly growing in the industry. The most famous makers are 32 Via dei Birrai, Almond '22 and Baladin. These beers are stronger than the ones offered in supermarkets and they tend to come in larger bottles.

I remember that my stepdad's beer is Moretti. It's been in the market for a very long time. Longer than Moretti and Peroni. For him, it is a perfect combination with pizza.

" Although wine is still the staple of the Italian liquid diet, beer is becoming more popular. ", said in the Rome File website.

Another interesting article on beer entitled " Top 10 Italian craft beers " by Hugo Mc Cafferty describes the characteristic of the emerging beers produces in Italy today.

Beer is booming in Italy. From artisan micro breweries to homemade ones, every Italian is now finding beer a drink to enjoy just like wine. Modern craft beer in Italy is inspired by the classic styles of the countries nearby like Germany which is the beer capital of the world. The first real Italian-made style were the chestnut beers. Their method of making included boiling, drying, roasting and smoking. Then, there is the "zero centimetre" which includes grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes. There are so beers produced with different types of fruits like Vopedo peach and Martin Sec pear. Basically, Italy produces most of it beers just like the way they make wine. This is the emerging trend there. 

I do not much about beer making but it looks like the Italian beers is just starting to grow. Many beers experts and simple observers like my stepdad saw this boom and feel like sooner or later it will match the importance of wine in Italy.

" Italy used to be though of a wine-only country, but not any more. In the last 10 years beer brewing has exploded in Italy. ", said Hugo Mc Cafferty.

In conclusion, wine still remains the number one drink in Italy. Up to now, nothing can match the quality of the red and white Italian wines. However, the beer in Italy is starting to catch up. It growing more and more each day and it is becoming another source of pride for Italians.