Beer in Italy

Italy is considered to be part of the wine belt of Europe. Nevertheless, beer, particularly mass-produced pale lagers, are common in the country. It is traditionally considered to be an ideal accompaniment to pizza; since the 1970s, beer has spread from pizzerias and has become much more popular for drinking in other situations.

In the seventh century BC in Sicily, the Phoenicians traded and consumed beer. In Piedmont, Pombia, Province of Novara, an archaeological investigation found tombs from the Golasecca culture, including a tomb from 560 BC containing traces of beer. Ancient Rome knew of beer and produced small amounts, but the systems of production were destroyed in various barbarian invasions. The first medical school, the Schola Medica Salernitana, praised the substance stating that it "supports old age, flows through the veins, increases well-being, and strengthens the blood."

On the occasion of his wedding, Ludovico Sforza distributed beer freely to the Milanese. At this time, it was referred to in Florence as "barley wine". The first brewery in Italy, according to Hermes Zampollo, was "Spluga" in Chiavenna, which opened in 1840. However, the company Wührer stated that its brewing commenced in Brescia in 1829. The first person in Italy to cultivate hops for beer brewing was Gaetano Pasqui in 1847. In 1983, the country consumed 12 million hectoliters of beer. As of 2010, Italy has a beer consumption of 30 litres per capita per year.

Breweries and brands

Peroni's Nastro Azzurro at a Venice café

One of the oldest and most widespread breweries in Italy is Peroni, today owned by the SABMiller group, which also owns the popular brand Nastro Azzurro. Other known breweries and beer brands are:

• Beba
• Castello
• Dreher (owned by Heineken International)
• Forst
• Ichnusa (owned by Heineken International)
• Menabrea
• Birra Messina
• Morena
• Moretti (owned by Heineken International)
• Opperbacco
• Peroni
• Poretti
• Theresianer

See also

• Beer and breweries by region