Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Veneto are the regions with the highest rate of quality for craft beers in Italy. But the Lazio wins the award for brewery of the year which went to Ritual Lab the Formello brewery near Rome which had already been crowned number one of the year in 2020.
The first day of cibus, hosted in the Sala Barilla the awarding of Beer of the Year 2022, competition organized by Unionbirrai now in its seventeenth edition. The ceremony unveiled all of this year's winning beers in the competition's 45 categories. Ritual Lab not only ranked first among Italian craft breweries but brought home a rich book of awards: 4 first places with the beers: Kush in category 14 - Light and amber beers, top fermentation, medium alcohol content, hoppy, American-inspired (American IPA); Self Examination in category 35 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content, aged in wood; Gose in category 41 – Light beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, salty and/or lactic, of German inspiration (Berliner, Gose); Italian Uncommon Ale in category 45 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content, of free inspiration and not falling into any of the previous categories (Extraordinary Ale/Extraordinary Lager)
The region with the highest number of awarded producers was Lombardy, with 26 breweries that won podiums and mentions with their beers, followed by Piedmont with 14 and Emilia-Romagna and Veneto with 10. The winners were defined by the 60 international judges from 14 different countriesengaged in the tastings from 23 to 25 April, which selected the 3 winning beers and the 2 mentions for all categories among the 1962 entered in the competition by 244 producers. Also in 2022 the Unionbirrai contest therefore recorded large numbers and demonstrated the great quality of Italian beers. “The XVII edition of Birra dell'Anno can be defined the recovery edition and the numbers are proof of that. Furthermore, we are once again proud to have given an important demonstration of how the Italian brewing identity is increasingly mature and defined, by entering the Italian Pils categories and the various categories dedicated to IGAs in the competition - underlined Simone Monetti, general secretary of Unionbirrai - Organizing this edition less than a year after the award ceremony of the previous one represented a great challenge, but we are very satisfied. Firstly, because the breweries continue to demonstrate their trust in the competition, secondly because we are proud that such a significant number of established international judges, generally involved in the main world beer competitions, wanted to be present, finally because these judges unanimously declared that this year the average level of the beers in competition was very high”. Until 6 May 2022 Unionbirrai will be at Cibus with various moments of study, conferences and tastings. All the information on Birra dell'Anno is on the website www.birradellanno.it. More information on Unionbirrai's initiatives is available on www.unionbirrai.it and on the association's official social networks.
All the beers awarded for the 45 categories
Cat. 1 – Light beers, low fermentation, low alcohol content, German-inspired e
Czech (German and Bohemian Pilsner)
1. 50&50 – Manbassa
2. BEER IN – Gil
3. LARIANO BREWERY – Urkuè
Mentions
4. DOCTOR B BREWPUB – Ippi
Cat. 2 – Light beers, low fermentation, low alcohol content, German-inspired,
characterized by the evident presence of German-inspired aroma and bitter hops
(Italian Pilsner)
1. MANERBA BREWERY – Luppululà
2. RURAL BREWERY – 405040
3. ITALIAN BREWERY – Tipopils
Mentions
4. ELVO BEER MICROBREWERY – Pils
5. HARASSING AGRICULTURAL COMPANY SS – Tilma
Cat. 3 – Light beers, low fermentation, low alcohol content, of European inspiration
(European Lager, Helles, Zwickl, Keller, Dortmunder Export)
1. LUCKY BREWS – Franz
2. 4 MORI BREWERY – Pozzo 16
3. BUSA DEI BRIGANTI BREWERY – Eva K
Mentions
4. OPPERBACCO MICROBREWERY – Rusthell
5. RURAL BREWERY – Bud Scars Kellerpils
Cat. 4 – Light and amber beers, low fermentation, low to high alcohol content,
characterized by the evident presence of American-inspired aroma and bittering hops
(Hoppy Lager, Imperial Hoppy Lager)
1. VERTIGA – Alchemy
2. MISTER B BREWERY – Boh 13 Nz Lager
BONDAI CRAFT BREWERY – Lamrock 623
Mentions
4. LAMBRATE BREWERY – American Magut
5. LARIANO BREWERY – Bassa Marea
Cat 5 – Light and amber beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content of inspiration
Anglo-Saxon (English Golden Ale, English Pale Ale)
1. REBEL'S – Secret view
2. PERUGIA BEER FACTORY – Golden Jazz
3. LEAVES OF GRASS – Haraban
Mentions
4. MUTTNIK BEER – Sputnik 01
5. MONPIER DE GHERDEINA – Sasplat
Cat. 6 – Light and amber beers, hybrid fermentation, low alcohol content of inspiration
German or American (Kolsch, Alt, California Common, Cream Ale)
1. MC77 – Glu Glu
2. LA VILLANA CRAFT BREWERY – Five
3. WAR DOGS – Cream Ale
Mentions
4. DICOTTOZEROUNO BREWERY – Grun
5. MALT CROSS – Hauria
Cat. 7 – Amber and dark beers, low fermentation, low alcohol content of inspiration
German (Vienna, Marzen, Munich Dunkel, Schwarz, Dark Lager)
1. BEHA BREWING COMPANY – Gaudio
2. LEUMANN BREWERY – The dark one
3. ELVO BEER MICROBREWERY – Schwarz
Mentions
4. MUTTNIK BEER – Sputnik03
5. YEASTERS Pavel
Cat. 8 – Light, amber and dark beers, low fermentation, high alcohol content
German inspired (Bock, Doppelbock, Eisbock, Hellerbock, Maibock, Strong Lager)
1. LAMBRATE BREWERY – Einfahrt
2. LAMBRATE BREWERY – Purple
3. THE WALL ITALIAN CRAFT BEER – Billygoat
Mentions
4. BATZEN – Heller Bock
5. LEUMANN BREWERY – Matto di Collegno
Cat. 9 – Amber beers, high fermentation, low and medium alcohol content, inspirational
British (Mild, British Bitter, Extra Special Bitter, Irish Red Ale, British Brown Ale)
1. BSA – SANT'ANDREA – Rossa del Gallo
2. LEUMANN BREWERY – Ruby
3. FILODILANA CRAFT BREWERY – Borgna
Mentions
4. 100VENTI BEER – Roger Bitter
5. BIRDO' BREWERY – Sobona Rossa
Cat. 10 – Light, bottom fermented, low/medium alcohol content, hopped (India Pale
camp)
1. THE LURE BREWERY – Hop Revolution
2. WARDOG – Chillbomb
3. SOLARAMA' – Bitrex California
Mentions
4. RAILROAD BREWING COMPANY – Aristotles
5. CRAK BREWERY – Aromatherapy After Sauna
Cat. 11– Light and amber, top fermented, low/medium alcohol, hopped,
Anglo-Saxon inspiration (English IPA)
1. TRULLA BREWERY – English Ipa #2
2. BALABIÒTT BREWERY – Rabelott
3. BEER IN – Hop Hop
Cat. 12 – Light, amber and dark, high fermentation, low alcohol content, hopped, of
Anglo-American inspiration (Session APA, Session AIPA, Session IPA)
1. MAZAPEGUL BREWERY – Curva Mare
2. OPHELIA – Infradipas
3. EASTSIDE BREWING – Abra Cadabra
Mentions
4. BALABIÒTT BREWERY – Gavage
5. THE CURTENSE – Ipa
Cat. 13 – Clear and amber, high fermentation, low alcohol content, hopped, of
American inspired (American Pale Ale)
1. BIBIBIR – Granapa
2. MISTER B BREWERY – Tafat
3. THE WALL ITALIAN CRAFT BEER – Sunray
Mentions
4. RITUAL LAB HEAD – Space
5. MALT CROSS – Jazz Beer
Cat. 14 – Clear and amber, high fermentation, medium alcohol content, hopped, of
American inspired (American IPA)
1. RITUAL LAB – Kush
2. RITUAL LAB MAKE – West Coast Ipa Great Again
3. BEER GAIA – Aradia
Mentions
4. CITTAVECCHIA – Antikorpo Brewing – In The Flesh?
5. LARIANO BREWERY – American Hype
Cat. 15 – Light and amber beers, top fermentation, high alcohol content, hopped, of
Anglo-American inspiration (Double IPA, Imperial IPA)
1. MUKKELLER BREWERY – Space Pigs
2. REBEL'S - Tropical Bomb
3. LAMBRATE BREWERY – Quarantot
Mentions
4. RITUAL LAB – Bob The Younger
5. RAILROAD BREWING COMPANY – Zlatan
Cat. 16 – Light beers, high fermentation, low and medium alcohol content, with the use of
wheat and other cereals, Anglo-American inspired hops (White IPA, American
Wheat)
1. MALASPINA BREWING SRLS – Spiga
2. BIBIBIR – 6A
3. 100VENTI BEER – American Bianchina
Mentions
4. LZO DROP OUT – White Ipa
Cat. 17 – Amber and dark beers, high fermentation, from low to high alcohol content,
hoppy, Anglo-American inspired (Red IPA, Brown IPA, Black IPA)
1. OLD ORSA BREWERY – Rye Charles
2. 100VENTI BEER – Apache
3. SGUARAUNDA FARM BREWERY – Bombarolo
Mentions
4. THE BRAVE – NOT A PAPER TIGER Black Edition
5. BEER GAIA – Dreamlike
Cat. 18 – Light, amber and dark beers, high fermentation, from low to high alcohol content,
hoppy, Anglo-American inspired (Speciality IPA, Rye IPA, Belgian IPA, AIPA and APA
low fermented)
1. OPPERBACCO MICROBREWERY – Triplipa
2. MUKKELLER BREWERY – Tulio
3. LAMBRATE BREWERY – Robb De Matt
Cat. 19 – Clear and amber, top fermented, heavily hopped in aroma, of
US inspired (New England IPA)
1. EDIT BREWING – Liquifade
2. MC77 – Avant Green
3. RITUAL LAB – Holy Haze
Mentions
4. BEER GAIA – Glory Hop
5. CRAK BREWERY – Giant Guerrilla API Treatment
Cat. 20 – Anglo-American inspired Strong Ale (English Strong Ale, American Strong
Ale, Scottish Ale export, Heavy Scottish Ale)
1. OKOREI CRAFT MICROBREWERY – Tramalti
2. MALARIPE BREWERY – Red Zone
3. MC77 – Crystal Bold
Mentions
4. CITTAVECCHIA – Cittavecchia – Formidable
5. ARGO – Red Blues
Cat. 21 – Dark beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, of Anglo-Saxon inspiration
(Porter, Stout)
1. OTUS BREWERY – Ambranera
2. TURRIS BEER – Iron Bridge
3. BATZEN – Ur Porter
Mentions
4. ZERO GRAVITY BREWERY – TreebAle Stout
5. VULTURE BREWERY – Gnostr
Cat. 22 – Dark beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content of American inspiration
(American Porter, American Stout)
1. MUKKELLER BREWERY – Corva Nera
2. HAMMER – Bulk
3. BADALÀ BREWERY – Storter
Mentions
4. THE CURTENSE – Black
5. BREWP – Chimneysweeper
Cat. 23 – Dark, high fermentation, high alcohol content of Anglo-American inspiration
(Robust/Baltic Porter, Imperial Porter, Russian Imperial Stout)
1. LA VILLANA CRAFT BREWERY – Vol.1
2. HAMMER – Daarbulah
3. EASTSIDE BREWING – Sleazy Way
Mentions
4. BELLAZZI BEER – Night Train-Birra Digre
5. CASTLES BREWERY Super Partes
Cat. 24 – High fermentation, high alcohol content of Anglo-American inspiration (Barley
Wine, Old Ale, American Barley Wine)
1. CRAK BREWERY Cellar – Mansueto 2017
2. LA GRANDA BREWERY – Barley Wine 2021
3. CRAK BREWERY Cellar – Mansueto 2021
Mentions
4. CLATERNA BREWERY – Aliisa
5. BRÙTON – Ten
Cat. 25 – Light, amber and dark beers, high fermentation with Weizen yeast, use of
German-inspired, low to high ABV malted wheat (Weizen,
Dunkelweizen, Weizenbock)
1. BATZEN – Weiiser Bock
2. MANERBA BREWERY – Weizen
3. GRAIL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY – Merlin
Mentions
4. LES BIERES DU GRAND SAINT BERNARD – Blou
5. MAD ONE – Banana Soul
Cat. 26 – Light beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, with the use of non wheat
malted, Belgian-inspired (Blanche, Witbier)
1. VIA PRIULA BREWERY – Corna Bianca
2. MANERBA BREWERY – Fiordalisa
3. BREW GRUFF – Blanche
Mentions
4. MC77 – San Lorenzo
5. 5+ CRAFT BREWERY – Blanche
Cat. 27 – Light beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, Belgian-inspired
(Belgian Blond, Belgian Pale Ale)
1. MUKKELLER BREWERY – Mugnetti area
2. BIBIBIR – Olen
3. SARAGIOLINO BREWERY – Vale
Mentions
4. FILODILANA CRAFT BREWERY – Beeela
5. METZGER – Thunder Ale
Cat. 28– Light and amber beers, top fermented, from low to high alcohol content, of
Belgian inspired (Saison, Biere de Garde, Farmhouse Ale)
1. TORTA GREENHOUSE – Piper
2. ELISSOR BREWERY – Citrus
3. VIA PRIULA BREWERY – Safrà
Mentions
4. AMERICAN BREWERY – Northup
Cat. 29 – Light beers, top fermentation, high alcohol content of Belgian inspiration (Belgian
Golden Strong Ale, Tripel)
1. AVIAM BEER – Grandma's House
2. FORTE BREWERY – La Mancina
3. JUNGLE JUICE BREWING – Anneau De Noel – 2021
Mentions
4. MANERBA BREWERY – The Belgian Queen
5. ELISSOR WINJA BREWERY – N25
Cat. 30 – Dark beers, high fermentation, high alcohol content of Belgian inspiration (Belgian
Dark Strong Ale, Dubbel, Quadrupel)
1. BIBIBIR – I see double
2. MC77 – Queen Bee in Winter
3. BIRRANOVA BREWERY – Primatia
Mentions
4. PICOBREW – Twaalf
5. HERETIC BEER – Balurdon
Cat. 31 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic with use of spices
1. REBEL'S – Sunshine Blanche
2. MC77 – Fleur Sofronia
3. INCANTO ARTISAN MICROBREWERY – 21 12
Mentions
4. 5+ CRAFT BREWERY – Shirin Persia
5. ANBRA – ANONYMOUS BRASSERIA AQUILANA – D'Oro Rosso
Cat. 32 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcohol with the use of coffee and/or cocoa
1. EASTSIDE BREWING – Baltic Cookies
2. REBEL'S – Real Man Never Cry
3. MISTER B BREWERY – Boodino
Mentions
4. PERUGIA BREWERY – DDC
5. LAMBRATE BREWERY – Tiramisu' Imperial Stout
Cat. 33 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic with use of special cereals (including ancient grains)
1. 61CENTO BREWERY – Mayo
2. REBEERS – Fovea Light
3. SABINO BREWERY – The King
Mentions
4. EASTSIDE BREWING – Kiss Me Again
5. BRAUHAUS GMBH – RIENZBRÄU – Rienzbräu – Dinkel – South Tyrolean Quality Seal
Cat. 34 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
smoked and peated alcohol
1. LZO - RUSTY
2. STORTA GREENHOUSE – Dawn
3. BATZEN – Smoky Bock
Mentions
4. MUKKELLER BREWERY – MS Mukkeller Smock
5. CARROBIOL – Nero
Cat. 35 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic aged in wood
1. RITUAL LAB – Self Examination
2. LESSTER BREWERY – Twenty Nine Twelve
3. BREWFIST – Trinidad El Vasco
Mentions
4. OPPERBACCO MICROBREWERY – N°1 Extravecchio
5. LZO – DROP OUT Islay single malt barrel
Cat. 36– Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic with use of fruit and chestnuts
1. 50&50 – Black Rooster
2. VIA PRIULA BREWERY – Pink
3. ITALIAN BREWERY – Padosè
Mentions
4. LEDER CRAFT BREWERY – Pastei
Cat. 37 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic with use of chestnuts
1. PICOBREW – Smoked Brown
2. 5+ ARTISAN BREWERY – Castanea
3. LA VILLANA CRAFT BREWERY – Winterchest
Mentions
4. OLD ORSA BREWERY – Rock it
5. 4 MORI BREWERY – Pozzo 3
Cat. 38 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic with use of honey
1. ZERO GRAVITY BREWERY – Honey Moon
2. SGUARAUNDA FARM BREWERY – Murator
3. LA CURTENSE – Km0 old style
Mentions
4. BATZEN – Honey
5. BEER GAIA – MIEE
Cat. 39 – Light, amber and dark beers, high, mixed, spontaneous fermentation,
Brettanomyces, from low to high alcohol content, characterized by acid notes with
fruit additions (Sour Fruit Ale)
1. RURAL BREWERY – Passion Fruit Symphony
2. CARROBIOL – Monz Chéri
3. RITUAL LAB – Juice Party Vol.3 – Raspberry Sour Ale
Mentions
4. MISTER B BREWERY – Grove
5. SMALL CLANDESTINE BREWERY – Mastro Ciliegia
Cat. 40 – Light, amber and dark beers, high, mixed, spontaneous fermentation,
Brettanomyces, from low to high alcohol content, characterized by acid notes without
fruit additions (Sour Farmhouse/Sour Ale)
1. MONPIER DE GHERDEINA – Wild Lichtenainer
2. SMALL UNDERGROUND BREWERY – St. Julienbach
3. OPPERBACCO MICROBREWERY – Abruxensis Fiori
Mentions
4. RETORTO – Mother-in-law juice
5. PLB – PODERE LA BERTA – Vècc Barrel
Cat. 41 – Light beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, salty and/or lactic
German inspired (Berliner, Gose)
1. RITUAL LAB – Gose
2. BIRRAFON – Agra
3. RETHIA BREWERY – Gose
Mentions
4. CASTLES BREWERY – Mare Nostrum
5. BONDAI CRAFT BREWERY – Lost Paradise
Cat. 42– Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic with use of grapes, must, pomace, cooked wine of white grapes (White Italian Grape Ale)
1. 50&50 – Graziella
2. HERMITAGE BEER – Genesis
3. BRÙTON – Pink Limes
Mentions
4. BSA – SANT'ANDREA – Buk
5. RUBEN GALLIA – Brewine
Cat. 43 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic with use of grapes, must, pomace, red grape cooked wine (Red Italian Grape Ale)
1. ALBA CRAFT BREWERY – IGA with red grapes
2. CHIANTI BREW FIGHTERS – The Revolt 2019
3. MONTEPULCIANO BREWERY – Politianus IGA
Mentions
4. THE WALL ITALIAN CRAFT BEER – Cargo
5. FILODILANA CRAFT BREWERY – Out of the flock #2
Cat. 44– Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcoholic with use of grapes, must, pomace, cooked wine of red or white grapes, characterized by
acid notes (Sour Italian Grape Ale)
1. HERMITAGE BEER – Selva Sour
2. CRAK BREWERY – Cellar – Keno 2018
3. ALVERIA BREWERY – Regola Zero
Mentions
4. BIRRANOVA BREWERY – Ruffiana
5. BEER IN – Piacentiga
Cat. 45 – Light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high degree
alcohol of free inspiration and not falling into any of the previous categories
(Extraordinary Ale / Extraordinary Lager)
1. RITUAL LAB ITALIAN – Uncommon Ale
2. FORTE BREWERY – Birrasanta
3. OPHELIA – Beergamotta
Mentions
4. CRAK BREWERY – Cellar – Giotto
5. RETORTO – Water Under the Bridge
