Italian Artisanal Beer... Birra Artigianale: MALTO Bene (MALT is GOOD)!!

The Prelude:

The last few years has seen a genuine boom in the production of artisan beer in Italy. There is not an Italian region without a 'microbirrificio' or small brewery.

With at least 450 of them in Piemonte, Lombardia and Emilia while Umbria, Calabria and Molise trail in numbers, but certainly not on quality.

Italy boasts of an age-old brewing tradition, although until modern times beer was produced in small quantities for a few aficionados, mostly in northern Italy, given that, in addition to malt and hops, two other essential ingredients are needed: clean air and cold temperatures.

In the second half of the 19th century a vast and well-organized brewing industry established itself based on artificial cooling and on the new technology for producing pale, bottom fermented beer.

The earliest breweries opened thanks to the initiative of foreign businessmen (Dreher, Wührer, Paskowski, Metzger, Von Wünster, etc.), soon followed by Italian merchants, active mostly in the ice trade, who considered beer as a natural complement to their activities.

The Story:

"While most would agree that the Italian craft beer industry was born in 1996 when Teo Musso founded  the prolific and influential Baladin brewing company, things have really got moving nationwide in the past 4-5 years.

The relative youth of craft brewing, as well as a lack of regional traditions and laws guiding production practices, means that Italian brewers are free to use ingredients that suit their personal tastes and creative whims.

 Although they are not necessarily bound by particular styles, many are indeed influenced by those they have consumed abroad, particularly fruit-based Belgian beers, which account for some of the most interesting beers coming out of Italy today.

From its inception, Italian craft brewing sought to make beers that are uniquely Italian and even today, the best results are found in beers that attempt to impart a sense of place. To this end, brewers turn to highly regional products like seasonal produce, local honeys and heritage grains. Reflecting the influence of traditional wine production, many brewers use grape must and wine barrels to great effect.

The volume of many bottles, 75cl, also demonstrates a clear choice to raise beer above its humble reputation in Italy and place it on par with wine. Likewise, many beers are best consumed with food to appreciate their nuances, another parallel with the nation’s most famous beverage.

The Epilogue:

If you have been enticed by handcrafted Italian beer then probably La Fabbrica di Birra section at EATALY should be your pit stop next time you go beer thirsty!!

The Beer Selection in Eataly - Order Online in Milan

Top picks:

Birrficio Montegioco’s Garbagnina

Birra del Borgo

Perle ai Porci

Baladin's Nora and Etrusca



Milan Beers and Bites Tour:


Taste Italian Craft Beers and delicious beer-friendly food pairings!!



Read more on:


The Beer Connoisseur: Italy's Craft Beer Awakening!