This weekend I got to know another great Italian brewery, “Piccolo Opificio Brassicolo del Carrobiolo – Fermentum”, Birra del Convento Carrobiolo for short. This brewery was founded in 2008 inside a 16th century Barnabite monastery in the historic center of Monza (near Milan). The company is a collaborative effort between Barnabite brother Davide Giuseppe Noè Maria Brasca, head brewer Pietro Fontana, and several other laymen.
The brewery’s approach is inspiring. It sets out to produce quality beer that raises awareness for drinking well, while simultaneously seeking to raise income for the monastery’s activities. Carrobiolo also offers guided tastings and beer production workshops to help diffuse knowledge of quality beer.
Currently, Birra del Convento Carrobiolo produces 5 beers. I tasted O.G. 1045, a summer brew, at Domus Birrae on Sunday. The beer was really fresh and light with tropical fruit notes and an herbal finish. Like the other beers, available year-round, O.G. 1045 is made with a locally cultivated, organic, native grain called “Spiga e Madia”. I look forward to drinking more of this beer this summer and tasting the others in the near future. Of course a trip the brewery isn’t out of the question either!
You can stay up to date on Carrobiolo’s events on their website and Facebook page. In Rome, you can purchase bottles at Domus Birrae, while you will find both tap and bottles at Open Baladin and Bir & Fud. The brewery in Monza is open for sales on Saturdays.
