A fortuitous encounter with Amiata’s brewer at a Lambic café in Eizeringen, Belgium in February 2011 sped us to Tuscany and led us to import our first Italian artisanal beers. Claudio and Gennaro Cerullo are making beer in an adorable brewery in the poetic setting of Arcidosso near Monte Amiata amidst chestnut forests and vineyards. The Cerullo brothers are producing exceptionally balanced Belgian-influenced beers with a rare Tuscan delicacy of spicing that puts focus on local and indigenous ingredients—from Amiata heirloom chestnuts, to Marruca honey and Maremma saffron and even local crocus! We predict Amiata’s beers will blow you away!
Over the course of the coming year we will introducing them to our American audience. First up, their Contessa—ranked as one of only fifty-five 5-star beers of 1,200 reviewed in the Slow Food Guide to Italian Beers. We say this Chinook, Cascade and Amarillo hopped beer is a stupendous IPA—Italian Pale Ale.
Expect more amazing beers to come in from Amiata. The Cerullo brothers have sorcerers’ skill with spices:
Crocus
A spiced Maremma saffron beer that sings with risotto
Zancona
A delicate rye beer laced with star anise
Doppia Bastarda
Made with heirloom chestnuts harvested on Monte Amiata
Vecchia Bastarda
This chestnut beer is aged in Bolgheri wine barrels.
Click on the labels below to learn more about each beer…
