Enjoying Beer in Italy: Some Refreshing Italian Beers
Italy isn’t one of the most famous beer-drinking countries; it is more about food and wine. However, I find it a great place to enjoy beer o’clock. There are lots of options, including bars, cafes, and restaurants. In some cities, drinking is allowed in public, but it’s best to check local regulations; shopkeepers have given me a heads-up before.
Beer in Italy is served either on draught or in bottles. Draught beer sizes are 30 cl, 40 cl, and a litre. For bottled beers, these are mostly 330 ml or, in some places, 660 ml, my preference for a pint.
Some very popular mainstream brands include Moretti, Peroni, and Angelo Poretti, which I’ve enjoyed in Italy and in various other European countries. You’ll also see popular beers like Ichnusa and Birra Messina. These are all owned by international beer brands but made in Italy with local ingredients.
Many smaller breweries also produce interesting drinks, a few of which I’ve tried on my many visits. Standout craft beers from my last trip came from Gjulia and Birrificio San Gimignano.
Tried & Tested Italian Beers
Some of the notable drinks I enjoyed while exploring Italy. Many of these were in dog-friendly places, and they enjoyed drinks with Henry.
Birrificio San Gimignano Sigeric: A Blonde Lager
While on a day trip to Colle di Val d’Elsa, we dined out at Gimmy Gio, which had some great craft beer options. Their Birrificio San Gimignano range had its own menu, and each beer related to the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. The option that piqued my interest was Sigeric, a blonde lager which tasted great, so I had a few small bottles. Birrificio San Gimignano also brews IPA, Tripel, Blanche, double, and some limited-edition options. You can find out their current offerings on their website.
Gjulia Est a Craft Weizen
During my visit to Udine, I enjoyed quite a few beers, most of which were Austrian because it is so close to Austria. However, I found a bar in Udine that served bottles of Gjulia Est, a Weizen beer, and I loved it; it’s similar to Peroni Gran Riserva, a firm favourite of mine.
Gjulia offers a range of beers, including speciality beers. Notable options include their blonde, Italian pale ale, and amber. They also produce organic and gluten-free beers. To see their full range and read about their story, visit their website.
Birra Peroni
One of the beers I’ve enjoyed most in Italy is Peroni Red Label. This beer is very widespread and is one of the most popular in the country. This drink is 4.7% ABV, and it’s made with barley malt, maize, hop pellets, and hop extract. The brewery dates back to 1846; however, it is now owned by an international group, Asahi.
Peroni Gran Riserva Bianca & Rossa
Possibly my favourite beer in Italy was Peroni Gran Riserva Bianca, which I first enjoyed with food in Bologna. Peroni Gran Riserva Bianca is a refreshing Weiss beer which I found flavourful and easy to drink. Unfortunately for me, it is rarely available in bars and cafes, in my experience. However, I keep looking, and until then, supermarkets are very helpful.
Their recipe uses barley and a special variety of light Italian malt, which gives the beer its cloudy wheat beer appearance and taste. As well as the Bianca, Peroni also makes Gran Riserva Rossa and Doppio Malto, both of which are good; however, for some strange reason, I don’t have any photos.
Ichnusa
Birra Ichnusa, AKA Ichnusa, is a Sardinian-made beer brewed near the Sardinian capital, Cagliari. This is quite a popular beer and is available in many places in bottles or on draught.
I enjoy two versions: their 4.7% lager and the Ichnusa Non Filtrata. I personally prefer the Ichnusa Non Filtrata, which has a great flavour and is slower to drink. They also have two other ranges: Cruda, which is raw, and a light Birra Limone, which I haven’t tried yet.
Birra del Vecchio Toscano
A beer I haven’t seen much but really enjoyed was the Birra del Vecchio Toscano, a golden beer I had in Siena with some Tuscan food. Agricola Artigianale is a small microbrewery that really impressed me. The flavours were great; it wasn’t too fizzy, and as a bonus, it came in a 660ml bottle, which was perfect for lunch.
Birra Messina
A beer I’ve enjoyed in quite a few places on my travels is Birra Messina, a Sicilian beer. This is not as widespread as mainstream beers, but it’s well worth seeking out for its nice taste, especially Birra Messina Cristalli di Sale.
The Birra Messina brewery makes two core beers: the classic Birra Messina Lager, a golden, refreshing pale lager with a 4.7% ABV. The other is my preference, Birra Messina Cristalli di Sale, a pure malt, unfiltered lager made with Sicilian salt crystals, which comes in at 5%. Plans are afoot to drink this beer in Sicily.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro
A firm favourite of mine in Italy and back home is Peroni Nastro Azzurro, a crisp, refreshing beer. It is apparently the best-selling beer in the country. Peroni Nastro Azzurro has 5.0% alcohol by volume and is classed as a pale lager. The company launched this brew in 1963 as its premium lager.
Birreria Pedavena
Birreria Pedavena is brewed in its namesake town, Pedavena, which is in the Veneto region in the north of the country. The Luciani brothers founded the brewery in 1897 and chose to brew here because of the quality of the local water. They produce lots of beer and are one of Italy’s biggest beer producers, but I’ve rarely come across it. I enjoyed a few while having lunch in Siena and haven’t seen them since. Their brewery is a major landmark and has made its way onto my future travels list.
Nazionale By Birra Baladin
Another craft beer I enjoyed while relaxing in Siena’s bars was Nazionale By Birra Baladin. Nazionale is a strong blonde ale that comes in both cans and bottles; I enjoyed a can. It is made from 100% Italian ingredients and tastes great. It’s a deep yellow beer with a good head that has 6.5% alcohol. It hit all the right notes for me, and I would have it again.