Top 10 Best Italian Beers

Top 10 Best Italian Beers

Originally published by Natalie in July 2020 Updated by Ruth in August 2022 and Updated by Vanessa R on July 2023

Italy is the land of wine; there is no doubt about that. But the country has upped their beer-making game quite significantly in the last few decades, and beer lovers can now enjoy Italian-made beers imported to cities around the world.

In Italy, beer is enjoyed as an alternative to wine during lunch or dinner time. As with everything edible in Italy, it’s all about the flavour; you won’t find anything mediocre about beers from this region. All are carefully crafted, unique blends.

1. Peroni Gran Riserva in Italy

Peroni is the oldest and most well known brew house in all of Italy. It is recognized, and loved, around the world, & known for beers with strong, unapologetic flavor.

In 1996, Peroni unveiled the treat that is the Gran Riserva. This was in celebration of their 150th anniversary as a brewery — a big deal for a country typically centered around wine production.

Peroni Gran Reserva – Product Image

Peroni os brewed in the Italian capital of Rome. It’s made using Saaz hops and malt from Prisma barley. After 8 weeks. The coppery brew is ready to be enjoyed, offering itself as a sweet yet acidic concoction with notes of lingering caramel and toffee.

The blend has a favorable alcohol content of 5.1%, which helped boost the beer’s popularity upon release.

Peroni’s regular line of beers are served in the standardized bottles seen worldwide. The Gran Reserva adopted the more traditional way of serving beer in Italy, through the miniature long-necked wine-style bottles.

Click here for 10 great places to drink beer in Rome!

2. Moretti in Italy

It’s important to note that the beer making industries in Europe sometimes become a game of monopoly.

Moretti is an original Italian brewhouse, through and through. However, in 1996 the brewery was bought out by the Dutch firm called Heineken. The Italian’s were unsettled by this, and pushed for the Italian Antitrust Authority to look into the matter. Eventually, Heineken was forced to sell the trademark back to an Italian film called Birra Castello.

Moretti – Product Image

Moretti Beer is still manufactured under Heineken around Italy, but it is owned by Birra Castello. Currently, it is produced at the Heineken factory in Milan.

This beer was founded by Luigi Moretti, with the goal of brining Sicilian, Piedmontese and Tuscan brews to public consumption. Moretti are known for their easy to drink blends that compliment a hot day under the Italian sun.

For 17 more great facts about Milan, click here!

3. Cortigiana in Italy

On sticky summer evening’s, Italians drink Cortigiana. Despite it’s creamy texture, this is an intensely refreshing beer with notes of vanilla essence and cinnamon.

The ale sits at 5% alcohol content, and is brewed in the Borgorose region of Italy. Most would call this a golden ale, and it is definitely medium in body. It is considered to be one of the most affordable and enjoyable beers for travelers to Italy.

Cortigiana – Product Image

Traditionally, in Italy one would serve (or be served) a Cortigiana in a regular tulip glass. Tourists are often seen swinging Cortigiana directly from the bottle as they enjoy the quirky label and unique facade. Beers in the United States are simply not served in bottles like this!

4. Nastro Azzurro in Italy

Nastro Azzurro is an Italian beer with familiarity around the world. It’s part of the Peroni family, also manufactured in the factory in Rome.

This beer has been around since the 60s, and what is most interesting about it is that when sold in Italy, it does not bear the name ‘Peroni’ on the bottle. However, when it is sold internationally, the beer reads ‘Peroni Nastro Azzurro’.

Nastro Azzurro – Product Image

Nastro Azzurro is the best selling Italian beer in the world, with exports to over 75 countries, It’s made using a local corn that is exclusive to Italian soil. The corn is not genetically engineered, which, if you know anything about corn crops, is an agricultural anomaly.

You might recognize the Nastro Azzuro logo as the official sponsor of Italian racer Valentino Rossi.

Click here for the best places to visit in Italy. 

5. Quarta Runa in Italy

Birra Montegioco is a microbrewery situated in Piedmont, Italy. They are known for their line of speciality beers that have found their way to international markets.

Birra Montegioco manufactures a range of barley based wines and sour ales. Their unique packaging makes the products unavoidable on any alcohol shelf. Their bottles are wrapped in bright colored paper and the paper appears to be twisted into sealing. They look a bit like piñatas for adults.

Quarta Runa – Product Image

The beer to look out for is their Quarta Runa. With a 7% alcohol count, this beer is brewed using the aroma from baked local peaches. The notes of which are undeniable, as are other hints of spices and baked fruits.

As you can imagine, Quarta Runa pairs perfectly with a slice of pie, or camembert cheese accompanied by fig preserve. It’s a top of the line beverage that is great as an occasion beer.

Click here to read about other baked Italian foods!

The Quarta Runa is their yellow wrapped bottle with the orange tip.

6. Messina Beer in Italy

Birra Messina by Pbonada – Wikimedia Commons

Messina Beer is a well-known beer made in Sicily. Birra Messina is the classic recipe, made with utmost care and passion, and using the best ingredients picked out by the master brewers.

Messina is a lager beer and has an alcohol content of 4.7%, which is a decent percentage to have. It has a brilliant gold color that really captures the feel and tradition of Sicily, where it is brewed.

The actual taste of the beer is refreshing, with well-balanced bitterness and a dry finish. Enjoy an aroma of malts and hops with this dry and crisp drink.

7. Menabrea in Italy

Menabrea by Phyrexian – Wikimedia Commons

Menabrea is an old and timely brand of beer that is produced by Menabrea in Biella, Piedmont, with the brewery found in its historic headquarters. 

The Menabrea brewery produces a range of beers, but the two most popular are the Bionda Lager and the Amber Ambrata.

The Bionda Lager is matured gently at the perfect temperature found in the cave cellars, this gives the beer superior clarity of taste. The Bionda has an alcohol content of 4.8%, which is a good percentage for light drinking. 

The Ambrata is a 5.0% alcohol content beer, and it is a full-bodied, well-rounded amber beer. It has a moderately bitter flavor that makes it refreshing and enjoyable.

8. Lambrate Ghisa in Italy

Lambrate Ghisa is a delicately bitter beer, and it is an easy-drinking beer that still has a rich, dark profile.

The beer has an alcohol content of 5% and has a thick, cappuccino-colored foam. It is a smoky stout-style beer that has notes of dried fruit, licorice, and cocoa.

While the beer is dark and rich, it does feature very delicate flavors that complement the delicate bitterness, which is achieved by toasting of the malts. This bitterness is balanced well with a slightly sweet edge in the finish, and a mix of milky sweetness and roasted coffee hints

9.  Angelo Poretti in Italy

Angelo Poretti Treluppoli by FakirNL – Wikimedia Commons

Angelo Poretti Brewery is an Italian brewery that belongs to Carlsberg, a Danish group. However, Angelo Poretti beers still stay true to the Italian-beer style and feature some incredible ingredients and unique recipes to make them stand-out Italian beers.

There is a wide range of beers that fall under the Angelo Poretti name, but the two most notable are the Birrificio Angelo Poretti 3 Luppoli, and the Birrifico Angelo Poretti 5 Luppoli Bock Chiara.

10. IGA – Italian grape ale

Italian grape ale is a distinct Italian beer style that is enjoyed by anyone who appreciates Italy’s flavors. This style is characterized by the variety of grapes used in the brewing process.

Italy’s long history and love affair with growing grapes for wine may explain the nature of this distinct Italian beer style.

Brewers in Italy also make use of their appreciation for local ingredients when crafting unique styles. Loverbeer birthed from Marentino relies on local plums to carry the aromatic flavour and style of its craft products.

Italian Food That Pairs Well With Beer

1. Try an Italian steak and a beer

mike packard, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

There is nothing better than pairing an Italian T-bone steak with a glass of boozy bock beer. Most people prefer to eat red meat with white wine while eating fish or chicken and white wine. As a result, when mixing meat and beer, they are naturally drawn to choose a dark beer. It doesn’t have to be this way.  It’s wise to consider other possibilities, like as a Saison or Pilsner.

When selecting a beer to go with your steak, also think about the weather. For example, a delicious bock will go great with your steak in the winter. In contrast, a Saison is ideal for summer.

2. Italian Pizza with a beer

The most common food pairing on this list is beer and pizza, but the key is finding the right beer to complement each type of pizza. Brown ales and lagers go well with pineapple and bacon pizza because the bacon’s saltiness contrasts with the brown ale’s caramel undertones. Alternatively, the sweetness of the pineapple and the lager’s malt aromas go very well together.

3. It doesn’t have to be wine, it could also be beer and pasta

There’s no rule that says you can’t eat a large dish of pasta with a beer, even though it’s typical to find a glass of wine next to a plate of spaghetti. Next time you want to enjoy a steaming serving of pasta, substitute your Chianti for a crisp Saison. The acidity of the tomatoes combined with the beer’s rustic flavour is everything you’ll need. Pasta that are more flavourful like Arrabbiata—have a serious kick and pair well with Pilsner, which makes it the perfect meal with a beer. 

4. Beer and dessert

Sharon Chen from Austin, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Beer goes well with foods like pasta, pizza, and red meat. But do you know which combination is best to try? Dessert! Don’t restrict yourself to a sherry glass for dessert. With a glass of Italian barley wine, experience the flavour of a dessert with a cream base, such as Panna Cotta or Tiramisu. Italian barleywine can be sweetened, stored in barrels, and has a lighter flavour than fortified wines like port.