Beer Styles

What is an Italian pale lager? A golden, bottom-fermented beer with a soft malt note and little bitterness. It's neither a Bavarian Helles nor a German pils. The BJCP competition guidelines classify this group as International Pale Lager, which also includes many beers from Mexico and Japan.

Birra Moretti Baffo d'Oro is the best-known example. The beer is named after the mustachioed man on the label, and its style is built for easy drinking with meals. Castello and Pedavena brew similar lagers, each with its own recipe and character.

There's also "Doppio Malto," a stronger lager with higher original gravity. It's fuller and sweeter on the finish than the standard beer. The difference from an ordinary lager lies in more malt, more body, and usually more alcohol. The Rossa goes even further toward caramel and baked-good notes.

The second style group comes from the craft scene. American Pale Ale is top-fermented, hoppy, and distinctly more bitter than any lager. It originated in the USA and is brewed in Friuli by breweries like Bondai in Sutrio, with plenty of citrus aroma.

The difference from its neighbor lies in the hops and the fermentation. The lager is calm, cold-fermented, and mild; the pale ale is lively, warm-fermented, and fragrant. Both exist side by side in Friuli, often even in the same bar. Taste both, and in two sips you'll understand why lager and ale are families, not just brands.