Birra Moretti La Rossa

Birra Moretti

www.birramoretti.it

Brewed by Birra Moretti (Heineken Italia)
Style: Doppelbock
Milano, Italy

Birra Moretti is an Italian brewing company, founded by Luigi Moretti in 1859, in the small city of Udine, in northeastern Italy, which at that time was still part of the Austrian Empire.

The Moretti family owned the brewery and business until 1989, when it was sold to a consortium of other brewers. In 1996 the company was acquired by Heineken International who also own the Birra Moretti trademark. The original factory in Udine closed in 1992, after brewing was transferred to San Giorgio di Nogaro. It was subsequently bought by a new brewing consortium called the Birra Castello group, which now owns the property.

The “Moretti” logo, of a traditional Italian countryman about to enjoy a big frothing glass of beer, stands out. The story behind the famous iconic logo is that one day in 1942, the nephew of Luigi Moretti, saw a pleasant-looking man sitting at a restaurant table in Udine. There was something unique in the man, it was though he embodied the real values of the Moretti beer: authenticity, tradition, genuineness. Eventually Mr. Moretti went up to him and asked if he could take a picture of him. When the man was asked what he wanted in return, the only thing he asked for was another Birra Moretti beer. Since that day the image of that man is on every single Birra Moretti label, a reminder to the traditions of the Province of Udine, and it’s tasty beers.

Under the Birra Moretti brand there are a collection of beers that the brewery produce, from their Birra Moretti main brand, a 4.6% abv pale lager launched in 1859, to a popular La Rossa, which is a 7.2% strong dark lager or doppelbock, to a couple of radlers, a variety of lagers and ales, to the usual non alcoholic stuff that you can find these days in the off licences.

Today Birra Moretti is exported to over 40 countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan and has won important international awards, including gold and silver medals at the World Beer Cup, the most important international competition in the industry, the only Italian brand to have achieved this.

Review: 33cl bottle of Birra Moretti La Rossa: 7.2% vol.

Not my first time trying a Birra Moretti beer, I tried their famous pale lager a while back and found it to be very pleasurable, crisp and clean and oh so smooth. I liked it, so I just know that the La Rossa won’t disappoint. This beer also has won numerous awards, including gold medals in both the 2007 and 2010 World Beer Championships.

7.2%, yes but in a small bottle no…….

Remember Bocks are bottom fermented lagers that typically spend extra time in cold storage during the winter months to smooth the intense flavors that develop during the brewing process. Stronger than a typical lager, bocks are dark amber in color with robust malt flavors and very light hoppiness. A Doppelbock, meaning “double,” is a bigger and stronger version of a bock beer. They range in alcohol from 7.5-9.5%, stronger than a typical lager. These beers are extra strong, rich and weighty lagers characterized by an intense malty sweetness, with a note of hop bitterness to balance the flavor. Doppelbocks were first brewed by the Paulaner monks in Munich. At the time, it was intended to be consumed as “liquid bread” during Lent.

On pour getting a ruby brown looking beer (La Rossa is “The Red” in Italian) with a nice frothy head. Looks good. some light carbonation going on. Appetizing on the eye.

The smell is not too bad, a light toffee and caramel kind of aroma with roasted malts, nice but faint. Typical of a bock, but not a strong smelling beer.

For the taste, initially it is hitting the spot, very nice and straight off the bat this looks and tastes good. Getting a lovely caramel flavour, with the barley malts, the hops are mild and not intrusive, and generally this is quite pleasant to drink. Flavour lingers long in the mouth.

Nice and relaxing, one to saviour and enjoy over a long evening by the sofa. Chocolate and dark fruits.

Served cold, this is good. Clean, very solid and the toffee flavours are gorgeous.

As it’s a bock can feel the alcohol, so the edge is there alright. I know if I had a few of these I’d be pretty drunk………strong.

Liked it, very relaxing, very soothing to drink and will definitely try some of these bad boys again.