Italy

Italian Beers

Italy, along with Spain, France, and Greece, are part of the Mediterranean Arc. These countries, due to their geographical location, are predominantly wine producers, and therefore have little tradition in terms of beer production. The Mediterranean Arc adopted beer as a refreshment in the 19th century, but it wasn't until the end of World War II that Italy experienced a boom in beer consumption, especially Belgian and German varieties. It is in recent decades that a strong group of Craft brewers has emerged, with a clear influence from Belgian and German styles, quite unlike Anglo-Saxon countries with products of more American styles. Italy boasts a healthy number of manufacturers, and unlike the rest of Europe, artisan pilsners enjoy great success and prestige. As one would expect from Italy, the country's Craft breweries meticulously craft the image of their brands to an almost exaggerated degree.