Birra Menabrea is a brand that any Italian beer connoisseur will know. Being Italy’s oldest brewery, Menabrea is a beer that has been passed down through many generations, creating the fantastic beer that we all know today.

Founded in 1846 by Mr. Welf of Gressoney and brothers Antonion and Gian Battista Caraccio, the brewery was rented to it’s namesake and brand founder Giuseppe Menabrea in 1854. Going on to eventually buy the brewery in 1864, the company was soon renamed in 1872 to “G. Menabrea and Sons”. Following the death of it’s founder Giuseppe Menabrea in 1881, the brewery is handed to Carlo Menabrea until 1896 before being passed on again. It is in this period that the then rulers of Italy awarded the brewery various honours. The use if bottom fermentation brewing technique, which at the time was not widespread, and the use of quality raw materials, primarily the use of water from the Biella springs, immediately characterised Birra Menabrea and made it a huge success. After Carlo Menabrea, the brewery was handed to Emilio Thedy and Augusto Antoniotti, the husbands of the Menabrea sisters. The lineage of the brewery remains to this day in the Thedy family. The company is now in the hands of Franco Thedy, fifth generation of the family.

The beer has won numerous awards in its time, achieving both gold and silver at the prestigious World Beer Championships in 1997, a highly authoritative annual competition which is endorsed by industry experts. To this day, Menabrea continues to grow and achieve, having a record year in 2017 with a considerable increase in production and turnover.

The Birra Menabrea brewery stands where it has always stood, in the northern Italian city of Biella. It lies in the foothills of the Alps, in the Bo mountain range near Mt. Mucrone and Camino, an area rich in springs and lakes fed by glaciers. These springs helping to make Birra Menabrea stand out among other Italian beers. The town is also an important wool processing and textile centre. Another famous company has its origins not too far away from Biella; International sportswear brand Fila was founded in Coggiola, just a short 30 minute drive from Biella.

The beer itself, is much like other Italian beers in terms of quality. Birra Menabrea is matured in the brewery’s underground cellars for 6 weeks. For 170 years now, this has not changed. When poured, Menabrea has a medium golden colour and a mild white head. When smelled, many familiar aromas can be detected; pale malt, cereal malt and creamed corn. When consumed, the flavour follows the nose, all of the same notes can be found. But the finish and body are very pleasant, giving the user a smooth and creamy experience. Much like other popular European lagers, it’s quite plain and simple, appealing to the masses.

Menabrea is a perfectly serviceable Italian beer and offers up an alternative to other more well known brands such as Peroni or Birra Morreti. It’s vast history that stretches over 150+ years must mean they’re doing something right and their traditions will hopefully see this lineage passed down through many more generations.

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Written by Cameron Mackenzie, follow him @c_mackenzie15 or by clicking here.

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