Menabrea

Commercial Brewery in Biella (BI), Piedmont, Italy 🇮🇹
Owned by Forst

Established in 1846

Contact
Via Ramella Germanin n.4, Biella (BI), 13900, Italy
Description
Menabrea is the oldest active brewery in Italy. A top premium brewery, given the melding of three elements: An original beer recipe, quality raw materials and an inherent beer culture.

Birra Menabrea is part of the history of beer in Italy. Founded in 1846 by Mr. Welf di Gressoney and the brothers Antonio and Gian Battista Caraccio, in 1854 the brewery was rented to Giuseppe Menabrea and Antonio Zimmermann, who bought it in 1864. Following the exit of Zimmermann from the company, it was Giuseppe Menabrea who set up the 6 July 1872 "G. Menabrea and sons". At the head of the brewery is Carlo Menabrea until, in 1896, the company passed into the hands of Emilio Thedy and Augusto Antoniotti, husbands of the Menabrea sisters. From that moment on, the Thedy family will lead the company.

In 1991, the company became part of the Forst Beer Group. However, Birra Menabrea retains its strong identity and independence intact. Since 2005 the director is Franco Thedy, the fifth descendant of the family. In 2017, Franco Thedy gave the go-ahead for the expansion of the Brewhouse with advanced features and a spectacular visual impact. Inauguration is scheduled for March 2019.

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5

Magus, mõru, karamelline, linnaseline, humalane, kerge papp on taustal. Okish.

Tried on 12 Jul 2025 at 15:20


4.9
Appearance - 5 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 5 | Overall - 4.5

From tap at an Italian restaurant. Malt with notes of straw, cereal, some corn. Light to moderate bitter, light sweetish. Not the worst Pale Lager.

Tried from Draft on 03 Jul 2025 at 23:49


5.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Bottled. Grass & grain, a tolerable pale lager better than most you’ll find from these parts.

Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2025 at 01:01


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Bottled. Some fruits and a light sweetness, better than most pale lagers. Backlog from 2011!

Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2025 at 00:52


5.6
Appearance - 5 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

660ml bottle from the COOP in Jersey. Pours golden with a white foamy head. Aromas & tastes of citrus, corn, grain & malt. Medium body. Moderate bitter finish. Passably enjoyable

Tried from Bottle on 04 May 2025 at 12:36


6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Old rating from 2014 - 330ml bottle, pours caramel with a small white head. Aromas & tastes of caramel, toffee, flora, honey & malt. Moderate body. Light bitter finish

Tried from Bottle on 21 Apr 2025 at 14:15


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 5 | Overall - 5.5

33cl Fles van Landmarkt Ranzijn. Mistig goudgele kleur, witte kraag. Licht grassig, moutig, appel, hint van citroen, degelijk bitter. Lichte body. Niks mis mee.

Tried from Bottle on 14 Mar 2025 at 20:52


4.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 3.5

Bottle. Ugh!!! This was not a very good beer. Gold in color. Well balanced but weak and watery.

Tried from Bottle on 10 Mar 2025 at 06:06


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle. A rather well tasting and well balanced beer. I would have never guessed it was an Italian beer.

Tried from Bottle on 10 Mar 2025 at 06:04


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

I think I found this at Legacy but I'm not 100% on that. Amber colour, and sediment-free. It's labelled as non filtrata but mine's basically kristallweizen. Thin head. The aroma has a slight banana overtone, like malts, a bit of phenol. Fairly classic weissbier presentation. There's a slight sweetness up front, with a wheaty finish and fuller body. Touch of acidity, again from the wheat. Lowish phenols and esters, nothing that shouldn't be there. A clean, relatively simple but still effective wheat beer.

Tried on 09 Mar 2025 at 17:41