Our Favorite Italian Beer Brands

Francesco Peroni founded his brewery in 1846. The brand expanded its reach until 1963, when it formulated its signature recipe. Nastro Azzurro premium lager took the world by storm with its light, crisp taste.

“Nastro Azzurro” means blue ribbon, a name the beer has truly earned. Peroni hasn’t messed with perfection, keeping the recipe in its original 1963 condition.

Birra Moretti’s mustachioed mascot makes the beer instantly recognizable. Luigi Moretti launched the brewery in 1857. The brewer opened his business in a struggling but scrappy little township, desperate for a booming industry.

Moretti brought prosperity to the region. The brand uses high-quality ingredients to brew its beer through time-tested methods. The company produces two beers: L’Autentica and La Rossa Malto Brunito.

Angelo Poretti toured the breadth of Austria and Bavaria, learning everything there is to know about brewing the best beers. The intrepid businessman brought his acquired knowledge back to his hometown of Valganna, opening a brewery.

Angelo Poretti’s signature beer is a mild, sweet brew. The ale is adaptable and complements nearly every meal.

The Menabrea family began brewing their beer in underground caves in 1846. The company continues to produce its ales in that location, taking advantage of the cool climate and pure waters to make the best beers.

Menabrea makes three beers:

• Lager
• Amber
• Zero Zero (alcohol-free)

The company remains in the Menabrea family, honoring methods established by Giuseppe Menabrea hundreds of years ago.

Birra Messina doesn’t have much of a web presence; however, that doesn’t negate the beer’s crisp, mild taste.

The European pale lager drinks easily and goes well with food or on its own. The Sicilian beer contains a subtle lemon flavor with earthy grain notes.

Birra Messina is a simple, straightforward beer with a medium hop profile and a bright, refreshing flavor.

Castello bottom ferments their beer for a rich, full-bodied flavor. The mild, medium-alcohol brew goes well with everything from a full meal to an after-dinner snack.

The European pale lager is just sweet enough without being cloying. Enjoy it chilled for the best experience.

Castello is a subsidiary of Birra Moretti, adhering to the same standards of quality as their father company.

The Fuchs family founded the Forst brewery at the foot of the Italian Alps in 1857. The location allowed the brewers to craft their beer from crystalline spring water.

Forst blossomed into one of Italy’s largest and most successful breweries. The brand produces two beers: a premium lager and the Sixtus Doppelbock.

Both beers use superior ingredients to ensure the ales reach the standards established by the Fuchs family hundreds of years ago.

Ichnusa beer captures the essence of Sardinia. The brewers are proud of their Sardinian heritage and aim to make their lineage proud. Ichnusa keeps its beer simple, allowing its flavor to speak for itself.

Amiscora Capra opened the brewery in Cagliari in 1912. The brand survived years of tumult and changed hands several times but never ceased producing excellent beer.

Ichnusa makes four kinds of beer:

• Ichnusa 
• Ichnusa Unfiltered
• Ichnusa Cruda
• Ichnusa Lemon

Each brew anchors its recipe in fresh, clean water drawn from an aquifer.

Birra Morena makes a wide range of beers. The company uses fresh, high-quality ingredients to craft delicious brews.

The brand is a joint venture between the Italian Tarricone family and the Austrian Furstenberg clan.

Morena produces fifteen varieties of beer. The brand has won many awards since it began producing everything from pale ales to stouts.

The Raffo Beer company is an essential part of Italy’s fabric. The company uses only Italian-grown ingredients and provides many citizens with excellent jobs.

The brand uses the highest quality ingredients to craft its beers. The Peroni company acquired the beer and now provides a greater distribution.

The ale is a traditional Italian standard. The crisp, refreshing taste satisfies every palate.

Birrificio Baladin Nazionale is the quintessential Italian beer. The brew uses exclusively Italian ingredients to craft a complex, fruity beer with bitter undertones.

The Nazionale is the first of its kind, a beer produced entirely from Italian sourced and grown products. The company supports sustainable practices, using a short-chain production method.

Teo Musso created Nazionale’s successful recipe.