Birra del Borgo/Dogfish Head "My Antonia" continually hopped Imperial Pils - Italy (ABV 7.9%)

I have never previously come across an Imperial Pilsener, let alone a continually hopped one, so this is a first.

This collaborative beer was brewed by Birra del Borgo with Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head brewery in the USA. They elected to use the traditional Pilsener Malts (Pilsner and Cara-Pils) that give European Pilseners their character. The USA component seems to be the hop profile, adding Simcoe and Warrior hops to the traditional Saaz variety and then continually hopping the mash.

The result is an excellent beer with a much more perfumed and resinous nose than a pilsener whilst retaining that lovely malt backbone. It looks like a lager or Pilsener in the glass with a light short lasting head. I found this a very easy to drink sessionable beer, if done with some caution, it is after all a reasonably potent 7.9% alcohol.

Caterpillar Pale Ale Brewfist/Beer Here - Italy (ABV 5.8%)

This is a collaborative effort by Italian craft brewers Brewfist and Danish brewer Beer Here. It is a very good, very tasty American style Pale Ale. It has been brewed using Rye Malt, which adds an interesting spiciness & with Columbus and Motueka hops.

It pours a slightly cloudy orange amber colour with a slight head and only slight lacing. It has a citrus aroma with some yeasty funkiness. Terrific Pale Ale flavour with the Rye malt really adding something a little different.

A very good Pale Ale, another great craft beer from Italy!

Croce di Malto Temporis - Italy (ABV 6.8%)

This Saison style beer was brewed in Trecate, Novara, Italy (just west of Milan). It is one of the first Italian craft beers I have tasted.

I am a fan of the refreshing, yet flavour packed nature of the Saison style, so was looking forward to tasting this beer. It poured a delightful orange amber (slightly cloudy) colour, with a fluffy white typical Saison head. A beautiful spicy & citrus hop aroma with typical Saison yeast esters. It has a wonderful mouth feel, a  citrus and herbaceous hop taste and a nice crisp dryish finish.

This is an excellent Saison, craft brewing is obviously alive and well in Italy!

Croce di Malto website

Amarcord Gradisca Bionda Speciale - Italy

A "blonde" lager brewed for summer drinking.
Pours a light amber with a small head.
Not overly flavoursome but an inoffensive refreshing lager. It complimented my home made pizza quite nicely.

SCORE 3.2