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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5.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

There are some confusion regarding the name of this beer, as the version I had was named Dark Ale, but was still at 7.5% ABV, and I’ve been told they are the same.A brown beer with an OK off-white head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of caramel. The flavor is sweet malty with a strong presence of yeast.

Tried on 09 Jul 2006 at 17:01


5.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5

Lager aroma. Clear brown colour with a nice, creamy light brown head. Slightly metallic and peppery flavour. Roasted bitterness in aftertaste. Creamy mouthfeel. Not much ale character.

Tried on 06 Jul 2006 at 02:07


4.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Bottle 0,33l. Golden colour. A large white head. Some malty flavour. A sourish bitter aftertaste.

Tried from Bottle on 26 Jun 2006 at 01:01


4.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4

Three 330ml bottles at Kaffebønna - a new italian coffee place in Tromsø - Amber colour. Malty aroma. Caramel flavour. Slightly hints of hops and bitterness. Alright,but most of the flavour is killed by too lively carbonation.

Tried from Bottle on 23 Jun 2006 at 17:19


3.8
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 2 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5

Pours a nice golden yellow. Aromas of malts, hops. Crisp hop bitterness and dry finish.

Tried on 22 Jun 2006 at 12:33


4.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5

(On tap) Beautiful, clear, dark orangey brown with a creamy, off-white head leaving some laces. Aroma of roasted malt. Very full body with plenty of caramel malt and a somewhat cardboardish edge. Everything is overpowered by a very present alcohol leading to a distinct, bitter finish. Appears more like a dark, strong lager. 210506

Tried from Draft on 25 May 2006 at 12:47


3
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 3 | Flavor - 2 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3

Pour is a cloudy yellow with a small white head. Aroma is bland malts with grains. Flavor sickly sweet with an almost puckering. This is not good. Avoid the pretty foil on the bottle and pass this one by.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Mar 2006 at 21:51


6.3
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Deep clear gold; ever so slightly off-white head, creamy. Nose: grassy, pilsner malts, "herb", dry and an aroma resembling raw, still bodywarm milk. Bitterish initial tase, grassy hops, going over in hyperclassic sweet pilsner malts. Light to medium bodied, ever so slightly burning MF, getting stronger with swallowing. They tried to make the archetypical German Pilsener in the classical way with Bock strenght. Nothing wrong with that, but does that make for a festive beer?

Tried on 16 Mar 2006 at 13:48


4.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5

Bottled. Copperish colour with mediumsized head. Aroma of dark bread, maize and malts. Flavour is sweet malty and maizeish. Palate is ok, not as watery as many other Italians sampled at this occasion. Fancy bottle here again, and actually the content was not too bad.

Tried from Bottle on 04 Mar 2006 at 09:48


3.2
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 3 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3

Bottled. Yellowish golden colour, small white head. Grassy malty aroma with maizeish hints. Flavour is dry papery and hoppy. Some maize and malts also there. Nice bottle, but not too exciting content...

Tried from Bottle on 04 Mar 2006 at 09:45