Gambero Rosso – July-August 2019

THE UNIVERSE OF CRAFT BEER



ways you can drink something really well

done. Then there are many other aspects

that many still take little account of. When

you produce something, you also need to

know how to sell it, you have to create a

sales network, you need to know how to

best communicate your product: so many

breweries were born from the passion of

homebrewers who, after years of experi-

mentation at home (albeit with very high

results) have moved to production official,

but sometimes neglecting the communica-

tion and commercial aspect. «The referenc-

es were the Belgian and Anglo-Saxon styles,

especially for brewpubs, but apart from some

virtuous examples where there was so much

quality, there was a lot of improvisation,

much and bad hops and different products

were questionable - according to Nicola

Utzeri, founder of Fermento Birra, a

magazine that was initially online (since

2007), then turned to print (2012) and

immediately referring to the sector - Fortu-

nately, the IPA phenomenon (one of the first

styles taken into strong consideration by the

Italian movement) has grown and gradually

the beers on the market have become more pre-

cise, clean, balanced and of excellent drinkabil-

ity. Now there are many styles produced, but

in addition to borrowing pre-existing styles,

all-Italian tendencies were born, very often

linked to the territory». One of the pioneers

of a style hitherto unknown was Nicola

Perra who first produced and marketed a

beer that met the world of wine. 13 years

ago the BB10 millesimo 2006 was born.

An Imperial Stout style beer, but made with

Cannonau sapa (cooked must). A beer with

the millesime and the word Reserve on the

label. A beer that therefore aims to age and

age well, as only a great wine can do. And

it is no coincidence that in 2009 Fermento

Birra rewarded Nicola Perra as Brewer of

the Year, at the first edition of a recognition

that still today retains all its prestige and

is passionately followed by the sector.

2000 – Martino Zanetti

(Hausbrandt) opens Theresianer

in Nervesa della Battaglia (TV)

2007 – craft brewery Birrificio

del Ducato is born in Roncole

Verdi (PR); craft brewery Hubu is

born in Burago di Molgora (MB)

2017 – Molson Coors acquires

the craft brewery Birradamare;

the Belgian groupDuvel Moortgat

acquires Birrificio del Ducato;

Dibevit, controlled by Heineken,

acquires Hibu

2002 – he Danish group Carlsberg

busy 100% of Poretti

1997 – Birra Castello is born in San

Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)

1996 – the first craft breweries are born:

Baladin in Piozzo (CN), Beba in Villar Perosa

(TO). Birrificio Italiano in Lurago Marinone

(CO), Birrificio Lambrate in Milan

2003 – The SabMiller group acquires Peroni 2011 – AbInBev acquires Goose Island: the first

craft brewery in the hands of a multinational; Peroni

passes in the hands of the Japanese group Asahi

1996 – Heineken acquires Birra Noretti

2004 – craft brewery Birradamare is

born in Fiumicino (RM)

2005 – craft brewery Birra del Borgo

opens in Borgorose (RI)

2016 – AbInBev acquires Birra del

Borgo, first Italian craft brewery acquired

by a multinational

2006 – Birra Castello takes

over Pedavena brewery

2000 2010