In Italy, beer is considered an ideal accompaniment to pizza.

Italy is considered to be part of the wine belt of Europe. Nevertheless, beer, particularly mass-produced pale lagers, are common in the country. It is traditionally considered to be an ideal accompaniment to pizza; since the 1970s, beer has spread from pizzerias and has become much more popular for drinking in other situations.[1]

In the seventh century BC in Sicily, the Phoenicians traded and consumed beer. In Piedmont, Pombia, Province of Novara, an archaeological investigation found tombs from the Golasecca culture, including a tomb from 560 BC containing traces of beer.[2] Ancient Rome knew of beer and produced small amounts, but the systems of production were destroyed in various barbarian invasions.[3] The first medical school, the Schola Medica Salernitana, praised the substance stating that it "supports old age, flows through the veins, increases well-being, and strengthens the blood".[4]

On the occasion of his wedding, Ludovico Sforza distributed beer freely to the Milanese. At this time, it was referred to in Florence as "barley wine".[5] The first brewery in Italy, according to Hermes Zampollo, was "Spluga" in Chiavenna, which opened in 1840. However, the company Wührer stated that its brewing commenced in Brescia in 1829.[1] The first person in Italy to cultivate hops for beer brewing was Gaetano Pasqui in 1847.[6] In 1983, the country consumed 12 million hectolitres (260 million imperial gallons; 320 million US gallons) of beer.[7] As of 2010, Italy has a beer consumption of 30 litres (6.6 imp gal; 7.9 US gal) per capita per year.[8]

Breweries and brands

Peroni's Nastro Azzurro at a Venice café

One of the oldest and most widespread breweries in Italy is Peroni, today owned by the Asahi group, which also owns the popular brand Nastro Azzurro.[1] Other known breweries and beer brands are:[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jackson 1998, p. 52.
  2. ↑ Cattaneo, Marco (2013). La bionda venuta da lontano. Milan: ilmiolibro self publishing. ISBN 978-8891063175.
  3. ↑ Jackson 1998, p. 47.
  4. ↑ Jackson 1998, p. 48.
  5. ↑ Jackson 1998, p. 49.
  6. ↑ Pasqui, Umberto (2010). L'uomo della birra: l'incredibile storia della più antica 'bionda' di luppolo italiano (in Italian). Forlì: CartaCanta. ISBN 978-88-96629-15-4.
  7. ↑ Jackson 1998, p. 55.
  8. ↑ "Bierproduktion und Verbrauch Europa 2011" (PDF) (in German). Brauer-Bund. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2015.

Bibliography

  • Jackson, Michael (1998). Le birre: oltre 600 marche e produttori di tutto il mondo. Milan: Vallardi. ISBN 88-8211-207-1.
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