by Birra Peroni
At first this beer might seem an unlikely inclusion in our beer packs but trust me – it is a very decent beer!
Most people who have drunk more than a few different beers will recognise the name ‘Peroni’, brewers of one of Italy’s most commercial lagers. But as I always say, just because something is made by ‘big-beer’ doesn’t mean it isn’t any good.
For the past couple of months, this beer has become something of a guilty pleasure for me. I first had it on a trip through Italy a couple of years ago. Sitting in a small pizza café with about 100 ham legs hanging from the room, it was quintessentially Italian. And this beer was perfect with our delicious pizza.
Stylistically, this beer is referred to as a strong lager (bock), a double malt lager, a helles bock, or even a Maibock or Lentebock. It is fun that it doesn’t easily fit in to a style box.
Pouring a clear, light amber colour the aroma is all malt with a subtle floral yeast note. The taste is basically the same, with a smooth malt body offering more than enough sweet caramel malt to invite you in. It doesn’t stay sweet though, with a good level of bitterness to balance things out and that subtle spicy, floral prickle on the finish.
