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.

     Show


4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 3 Flavor 4 Texture 4 Overall 4
Bottled (BB 02/2007)
Dark honey amber color, good beige head, lace. Ryeish malty aroma with woody notes. Light-bodied, grassy hoppy flavor with hints of sweetness (diacetyl?). Not very stylish Vienna. Boring.
Tried from Bottle on 26 Feb 2006 at 00:56

3.4/10 Appearance 4 Aroma 3 Flavor 3 Texture 4 Overall 3.5
Bottled, alc. 4.8% (BB 02/2007)
Pale yellow, small white head. Sweet maize aroma. Carbonated mouthfeel. Weak flavor of herbal/grassy hops. Fancy bottle does not save this bulk lager.
Tried from Bottle on 25 Feb 2006 at 17:54

3.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 3 Flavor 2 Texture 4 Overall 2.5
33cl bottle at La Scala restaurant, Dover. I was extremely surprised to find 2 scoops in this restaurant, this beer and Dreher. I was here on a works do. Gold, thin white head. Pale malt, sickly lager hop aroma. Some lemon. Slightly creamy in mouth. Finish has some nice hop, touch of bitterness. Slightly nasty.
Tried from Bottle on 02 Feb 2006 at 16:50

5.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Huge, creamy, white head over light brown (amber, perhaps?) body. Sweet, malty, grainy aroma with notes of straw and fruitiness. Taste is mostly straw, with very sweet, fruity malts behind it, and a bitter aftertaste with some spice in it. Mouthfeel slightly watery. Definitely a decent beer, but not very exciting.
Tried on 14 Jan 2006 at 16:19

4.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 4 Flavor 4 Texture 6 Overall 4
Bottle. Creamy mostly lasitng head. Dark amber colour. No aroma and a strange metallic flavor. Very short finish. OK palate but yhis is not a christmasbeer. Avoid.
Tried from Bottle on 23 Dec 2005 at 02:39

5.2/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 5
A dark yellow beer with a thick whipped cream like head in an off-white color. The aroma is sweet malty - and so is the flavor combined with a slight alcohol note. The mouthfeel is a bit flat.
Tried on 19 Dec 2005 at 15:41

5.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 4.5
Bottle 66 cl. Dark amber color. medium head. Pretty mediocre beer. Cant believe this beer should be an award winning one. Pretty disappointed here.
Tried from Bottle on 14 Dec 2005 at 14:47

5.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 4 Overall 5.5
(On tap) Beautiful, clear dark amber with a small, off-white head. Weak caramel aroma. Rather light body, sweetish caramel balanced by some harsh bittering hops. 291005
Tried from Draft on 07 Nov 2005 at 16:37

5.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 5.5
(On tap) Clear pilsener golden with a handsome, creamy and rather stable head. Malty nose. Soft body with very sweet malt and a slightly sulphurous edge. Very pure. A decent brew. 291005
Tried from Draft on 07 Nov 2005 at 16:33

5.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
A hazy red beer with a huge bubbly light brown head. The aroma is sweet brewmashy combined with spices and yeast. The flavor is sweet grainy and brewmashy with some spices, I pick up cloves, allspice, and coriander, but also oranges and hints of metal - probably from the alcohol. The end is smooth and dry. Nothing special - except it is made exclusively for the Danish market.
Tried on 06 Nov 2005 at 15:30