Italy has had its fair share of introducing distinct types of ‘Birra,’ an Italian word for beer, to the world. From Ale to Red Irish Ale, Trappist to Dubbel, and American Pale Ale, you can taste the finest craft beers brewed with selected and traditional ingredients to provide authentic flavors at the best affordable rates.
Explore these top 10 Italian beers that can be a perfect thirst-quenching option to share and enjoy at gatherings.
1. Birra Moretti
Among the finest low-fermentation beers to try in Italy, Birra Moretti, a flavorsome European Pale Lager brewed by Heineken, pours a crystal-clear golden color with a long-lasting, dense white head. With 4.6% alcohol by volume, the aroma has hints of bread malts, yeast, earthy hops, and bread. Enriched with distinct flavors, Moretti tastes like yeast and pale malts with a touch of hops. It gives a smooth and dry finish. Being a medium-bodied Euro beer with strong carbonation, Birra Moretti can surprise you with its weirdly inviting taste with yeasty and bready notes.
2. Peroni Nastro Azzuro
Arguably the best and first choice of every Italian, Peroni Nastro Azzurro is a European Pale Lager with an ABV of 5.1% brewed by Birra Peroni Industriale S.p.A. The pale yellow color with one-finger white fluffy head looks tempting when poured into a pint glass. Though it has low retention with little lacing, the aroma can boost your thirst with its bready and malty smell. The taste is similar to the aroma but with a touch of grassy hops and grains. Peroni Nastro is a medium-bodied Euro Lager with high carbonation that can go well with every traditional Italian cuisine.
3. Quarta Runa
Fruit and Field beer style with 7% ABV, Quarta Runa is more like a one-dimensional Ale with a subtle touch of other flavors. It pours a hazy orange color with a hint of golden. This Ale has a rocky white head with good retention and lacing. A product of Birrificio Montegioco, Quarta Runa is a Belgian-inspired beer brewed from the selected ingredients, including fresh peaches and apples with a subtle touch of grassy and earthy hops. The aroma is peachy and grassy with a hint of bread crust. Loaded with sweetness and fruitiness, the taste of this medium-bodied alcohol with good carbonation is worth trying.
4. Cortigiana Beer
A Belgian Pale Ale with 4.6% ABV brewed by Birra Del Borgo in Italy, Cortigiana is a cloudy golden-colored beer with an aroma of chalked yeast, bread, yellow fruits, lemon, and oranges. The taste has hints of yellow fruits, oranges, lemons, chalked yeast, and herbaceous hops. Also, spicy and sugar cube notes are evident in the beer. Cortigiana is a medium-bodied Ale with good carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel. However, its aftertaste is slightly dry with a bitter finish. Birra Del Borgo has other beers to try, explore and enjoy on any occasion.
5. Forst Premium Lager
With different types of beers, Italy’s beer industry earns millions of Euros with Forst Premium Lager brewed by Brauerie Forst AG. Since it is a European Pale Lager, it has an ABV of 4.8%. The alcohol pours a transparent light golden color with a two-finger thick white head with notable retention and lacing. Forst has a scent of bread, malts, and hops. The flavors also have an essence of sweet malts, floral and spicy hops, and cardboard with a subtle touch of tea leaves. This Euro beer is a medium-bodied alcohol that goes well with any food.
6. Menabrea 1846 Beer
Prepared in the Piedmonte region of Italy, Birra Menabrea 1846 is an amber Ale with 4.8% alcohol by volume. With eye-catching packaging and labeling, this Euro beer pours a crystal-clear gold color with long-lasting retention and lace. Loaded with an aroma of fruits and florals, the taste of Menabrea 1846 is bready and malty with a hint of hops, making it a delicious blend of esters and malts. The body is medium with lively carbonation, and you can try it on your next trip to Italy.
7. Angelo Poretti 4 Luppoli
A refreshing beer on a hot day, Angelo Poretti 4 Luppoli pours a gold color with a one-finger foamy head with moderate carbonation. It has a 5% alcohol content with an aroma of cereal grains, malts, and grassy hops. The taste is like its smell. Also, its aftertaste is dry with a hint of bitterness.
8. Birra Messina
Heineken Italia SpA is ruling the Italian beer industry with its delicious and thirst-quenching beer collection. Birra Messina, a Euro Pale Lager with 4.7% alcohol content, is one of the most consumed beers by the same brewery in Italy. With the smell of grains, honey, and lemony hops, the taste of Messina follows the aroma with a slight touch of malts and floral notes. This dark yellow beer can remind you of Pilsner with a long-lasting white head that leaves fine lacing. Additionally, the aftertaste gives subtle dryness.
9. Ichnusa
Originally from Sardinia, Ichnusa is a renowned European Pale Lager with 4.7% alcohol by volume, brewed by Heineken Italia SpA, it is a golden-colored beer with a foamy white head that retains for a while, then dissipates with light lacing. A smell of grains and malts is evident, with a similar taste and a touch of grassy hops. With a moderately soft mouthfeel and medium carbonation, Ichnusa, accompanied by Italian pizza, would make a perfect duo to enjoy on hot days.
10. Birra Del Borgo – ReAle
An American Pale Ale by Birra Del Borgo would be a good choice after playing golf or spending time on the beach on the hottest days, with 6.4% alcohol content. With a stylish bottle design, this amber-cored Ale pours a creamy off-white head with excellent lacing. The taste is identical to the smell but with dank hops made from unique Italian ingredients. ReAle gives a velvet mouthfeel with a touch of well-balanced bitterness and sweetness. Try it to explore the new world of flavors with Birra Del Borgo. You will find other flavors by the same brand, so discover yourself.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
