L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano Beer love: discovering Italy's craft breweries When one thinks of the most p o p u l a r d r i n k i n I t a l y , w i n e comes immediately to mind – from the famous reds of the Chianti region to the bubbles of Prosecco the choices are end- less. In the past decade, howev- er, another kind of drink has become more and more impor- tant, conquering the hearts of Italians young and old alike and becoming a staple not only dur- ing the summer: beer in general, and craft beer in particular, are now so popular that breweries a n d b r e w p u b s a r e a s o u g h t a f t e r d e s t i n a t i o n m u c h l i k e wineries and restaurants were in the past. Visiting a brewery is fun and educational and gives a chance to try different kind of beers, usually made with organ- ic ingredients and paired with local food s pecialties . F rom North to South Italy is dotted with thousands of these craft beer breweries: we have select- e d s o m e o f t h e b e s t t h a t , i n recent years, have produced the tastiest, most refreshing brews of the land, winning prestigious awards and making Italy known for its craft beers as well as its wines. B I R R A D E L B O R G O (LAZIO): the folks at Birra del Borgo have been brewing beer since 2005 and, today, they pro- duce 25 amazing brews with stunning labels and tongue in cheek names that range from the classic Reale, an India Pale Ale, to the bizarre CastagnAle, a chestnut beer. Every month they pick a weekend to open their doors to visitors: guided tours are free, last about an hour and include some beer tasting. Info: http://www.birradelborgo.it/en/ B I R R I F I C I O V A L C A V - ALLINA (LOMBARDY): set by a lake in a beautiful valley n o t f a r f r o m B e r g a m o , t h i s Birrificio aims to produce only the best natural non-filtered and n o n - p a s t e u r i z e d b e e r s . T h e S u n f l o w e r g o l d e n a l e h a s recently won the Italian "Beer of the year" award, while the Cavallina blonde won the year before. Tours of the brewery can be arranged by contacting the Birrificio through their web- site: http://www.birrificioval- cavallina.com/ B I R R I F I C I O S T A T A L E NOVE (EMILIA ROMAGNA): large and well equipped, this brewery near Bologna features a tasting station perfect for trying their amazing variety of beers that include Gold –brewed with pears– and Miss Kartola, a dark amber winner of many awards. F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t S t a t a l e N o v e v i s i t http://www.statalenove.it/ FABBRICA DELLA BIRRA PERUGIA (UMBRIA): the Fabbrica della Birra –Beer Factory– only produces 6 beers, but they all are of the highest quality, from the classic golden ale to the daring ILA Scotch ale. Opened in 1875, the brewery closed in 1927 and its doors remained shut until the early 2000s when a group of young beer enthusiasts brought it back to its old glory. For tours and more info: http://www.birrape- rugia.it BIRRANOVA (APULIA): a CHIARA ASSI stunning brewery with its own brew pub to welcome visitors a n d b e e r a f i c i o n a d o s – Birranova pairs great beer with g r e a t f o o d , w h e t h e r y o u a r e looking for traditional Bavarian cuisine or local Apulia special- ties. Along with classic lagers and ales, the "Why not?" line features one of their best brews: C h e c k P o i n t i s a b l e n d o f A m e r i c a n a n d G e r m a n h o p s brewed together to perfection. For information: http://www. birraartigianalepugliese.it BIRRIFICIO DEL FORTE (TUSCANY): In the heart of Versilia, on the Tuscan coast, this brewery may be small but produces a variety of beers that satisfy all palates. With their v i n t a g e i n s p i r e d l a b e l s , t h e beers produced at the Birrificio del Forte are brewed using local ingredients and are so rich in taste they are better savored with food: the 2 Cilindri, a dark yet round brew, is perfect with local roasted fish. Tours can be arranged through the website: http://www.birrificiodelforte.it/ MC77 (MARCHE): a sim- ple, yet winning philosophy makes this small brewery spe- cial. Their beers are all made with only four ingredients – water, malt, hops and yeast– and they are then flavored with spices and other natural ingredi- ents typical of their surround- ings. Rich in flavor and easy to drink, their brews are unique as their names: the Hapanero – A m e r i c a n b r o w n a l e w i t h habanero– and Mild the gap, a British inspired ale, are just two examples. For more informa- tion: http://www.mc-77.com/ B I R R I F I C I O S A N M I C H E L E ( P I E D M O N T ) : located in an old building from the 1800s, this brewery pro- d u c e s u n i q u e b e e r s w h o s e names are inspired by famous operas. Aida has a smoky flavor that comes from smoking malts o n b e e c h w o o d , w h i l e L a V a l c h i r i a i s a w e l l r o u n d e d w e i z e n w i t h a f r u i t y a r o m a . Visiting this brewery makes for an interesting couple of hours: you can book the visit through the website at http://www.bir- rasanmichele.it/ Antonio Boco, Fabbrica della Birra Perugia, Umbria This brewery produces beers whose names are inspired by famous operas

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