Ritual Lab the craft brewery of Formello, in the province of Rome, is the best Italian craft brewery of 2020. The award was assigned by Unionbirrai during the first day of Beer&Food Attraction at the Rimini Fair, which he decreed the best Italian craft beers for each of the 42 brewing categories in the competition.
Ritual Lab was born as a laboratory in 2011 in Formello, by Roberto and Giovanni Faenza, father and son in love with the brewing world who were joined in the first period by the master brewer Emilio Maddalozzo. They start out as a Beer Firm, but four years later they open the actual brewery, which soon begins to obtain awards and recognition throughout Italy and in 2019 is renovated with a 25hl brewhouse.
At the Beer of the Year 2020 Competition they took first place with the Modern Pale Ale Head Space, the Oatmeal Stout Black Belt and the Imperial Stout Papanero, in collaboration with Voodoo Brewing, as well as earning an honorable mention with the Double IPA Too Nerdy and the Session IPA Nerd Choice.
During the day the prizes were awarded to the winners of the Beer of the Year Competition: the judges after tasting the 2145 beers entered in the competition, awarded the trophy to the three best beers for each category, as well as an honorable mention reserved for the fourth and fifth classified.
“We are very satisfied with the results that we have obtained thanks to the Competition again this year, – explains Simone Monetti, Unionbirrai Operations Director – not only because the number of registered beers continues to rise, but also because this growth goes hand in hand with the increase in quality. The assessments assigned by the judges, over one hundred experts from all over the world, have been very high on average, a sign that the world of Italian craft beer is going in the right direction.”
Below is the complete list of winners for the 2020 Unionbirrai Beer of the Year Competition.
cat. 1 – light beers, low fermentation, low alcohol content, of German and Czech inspiration (German and bohemian pilsner)
1 – Mastiff beer – 1291
2 – Vetra – Vetra Pils
3 – The Wall – Pills
Mention Legnone Brewery – Testa Di Malto
Mention Altotevere – AT Pils
cat. 2 – light beers, low fermentation, low alcohol content, European-inspired
(european lager, helles, zwickl, keller, dortmunder export)
1 – Raw beer – Helles
2 – Lzo – Cima
3 – Almond 22 – Gold of the Poor
Mention Opperbacco – Rusthell
Mention Elvo – Helles
cat. 3 – light and amber beers, low fermentation, from low to high alcohol content, characterized by the evident presence of American-inspired aroma and bittering hops (hoppy lager, imperial hoppy lager)
1 – The Square – American Jasper
2 – Lariano Brewery – Low Tide
3 – Malt Cross – German Wave
Mention Soralamà – Bitrex California
Mention Yeast and Clouds Craft Brewery – Hop2Space
cat 4 – clear and amber beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content of Anglo-Saxon inspiration (english golden ale, english pale ale)
1 – Barbaforte – San Lorenzo
2 – Perugia Beer Factory – Golden Jazz
3 – Alveria Brewery – Blonde Ale
Mention Beer of the hermitage – Noble
Mention Leaves of grass – Haraban
cat. 5 – light and amber beers, hybrid fermentation, low alcohol content of German or American inspiration (kolsch, alt, california common, cream ale)
1 – Elvo – Alterelvo beer
2 – La Villana Brewery – Frisco
3 – Altavia Brewery – Mukkaevia Vol.2
Mention Perugia Beer Factory – Don
Mention Mfb Manfattura Birre Bologna – Kappa
cat. 6 – amber and dark beers, low fermentation, low alcohol content of German inspiration (vienna, marzen, monaco, schwarz, dark lager)
1 – Les Bières du Grand St. Bernard – Balance
2 – Birrone – Scubi
3 – Couture – Vienna
Mention 4 Mori Brewery – Well 9
Mention Batzen-Dunkel
cat. 7 – light, amber and dark beers, low fermentation, high alcohol content of German inspiration (bock, doppelbock, eisbock, hellerbock, maibock, strong lager)
1 – Raw beer – Bock
2 – Mukkeller – Wizzi
3 – Mastiff – San Zen
Mention Batzen-Bock
Mention Oxiana – Hotbock
cat. 8 – amber beers, top fermented, low and medium alcohol content, British inspired (mild, british bitter, extra special bitter, irish red ale, british brown ale)
1 – Perugia Beer Factory – Red Cosmos
2 – Petroniano Brewery – Magda
3 – Green Bear Brewery – Backdoor
Mention Birra Del Bosco Foxtail
Mention Ofelia Nevermild
cat. 9 – clear and amber, top fermented, low/medium alcohol content, hoppy, Anglo-Saxon inspired (english ipa)
1 – Beer In – Hop Hop
2 – Perugia Beer Factory – Suburbia
3 – The Keep – Mabon
Mention B Four Beer – Devil
Mention Bellazzi Beer – Soccia Vez
cat 10 – clear, amber and dark, top fermented, low alcohol content, hoppy, Anglo-American inspiration (session apa, session aipa, session ipa)
1 – Hammer – Mini
2 – Upper Tiber – Mercy
3 – Crak – Mundaka
Mention Ritual Lab – Nerd Choice
Mention Argo – Turtle Bay
cat. 11 – clear and amber, top fermented, low alcohol content, hoppy, American-inspired (American pale ale)
1 – Ritual Lab – Head Space
2 – Porta Bruciata Brewery – La Pallata
3 – Etna Brewery – Ulysses
cat. 12 – light and amber, top fermented, medium alcohol content, hoppy, American-inspired (American ipa)
1 – Lariano Brewery – American Hype
2 – Argo Brewery – Hoppy Wan Kenobi
3 – Crack – American Ipa Mosaic Tap Crack
Mention Altotevere – Freezo
Mention The Wall – Firewitch
cat. 13 – clear and amber beers, top fermented, high alcohol content, hoppy, Anglo-American inspiration (double ipa, imperial ipa)
1 – Mc77 – Breaking Hops
2 – Pintalpina – Sbrega
3 – Amerino Brewery – Masika
Mention Lariano Brewery – Clube
Mention Ritual Lab – Too Nerdy
cat. 14 – clear 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 – Gaia beer – Grulla
2 – Burnt Gate – Shantung
3 – Muttnik – Albina
Mention Epica Brewery – Kore
cat. 15 – amber and dark beers, top fermented, low to high alcohol content, hoppy, Anglo-American inspiration (red ipa, brown ipa, black ipa)
1 – Eastside – Black Evening
2 – Old Bear – Rye Charles
3 – Rural – Red Zeppelin
cat. 16 – light, amber and dark beers, top fermented, low to high alcohol, hoppy, Anglo-American inspired (specialty ipa; rye ipa, belgian ipa, aipa and low fermented apa)
1 – Lambrate – Robb De Matt
2 – Bellazzi Beer – Red Hot Hops Chili Peppers
3 – Brewfist – Space Frontier
Mention Brewfist Caterpillar
Mention Birranova – Rye Action
cat. 17 – clear and amber, top fermented, heavily hopped in aroma, US-inspired (new england ipa)
1 – Crack – Giant Double Step
2 – Crak – Po Valley
3 – Crack – Plain Of The Po
cat. 18 – Anglo-American inspired strong ale (english strong ale, american strong ale, scottish ale export, heavy scottish ale)
1 – Alba Craft Brewery – Dogma
2 – Okorei – Tramalts
3 – 100Venti Beer – Sir Alestrong
cat. 19 – dark beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, of Anglo-Saxon inspiration
(porter, stout)
1 – Ritual Lab – Black Belt
2 – Leaves of Grass – Hot Night At The Village
3 – The Birrophile – Last Out
Mention Ventitrè Brewery – Urania
Mention Fabbrica Della Birra Perugia – Chocolate Porter
cat. 20 – American-inspired dark beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content
(American porter, American stout)
1 – Mukkeller – Black Raven
2 – Hammer – Bulk
3 – Heretic Beer – Dolcenera
Mention Birrificio dei Castelli – Calix Niger
Mention La Spezia Brewing Company – Curious
cat. 21 – dark, high fermentation, high alcohol content of Anglo-American inspiration
(robust/baltic porter, imperial porter, russian imperial stout)
1 – Ritual Lab – Papanero
2 – Mastiff – Theodoric
3 – Hammer – Daarbulah
Mention Leaves of grass – Hot Night At The Village Robust Porter
Mention Brewfist X-Ray
cat. 22 – high fermentation, high alcohol content of Anglo-American inspiration
(barley wine, olde ale, american barley wine)
1 – Brewfist – Old Lodi 2018
2 – Crak – Meek 2017
3 – Crack Mansueto 2018
Mention Baladin – Xyauyu Kentucky 2016
Mention Almond 22 – Oak
cat. 23– light, amber and dark beers, high fermentation with weizen yeast, use of malted wheat, from low to high alcohol content of German inspiration (weizen, dunkelweizen, weizenbock)
1 – Batzen – Weisser Bock
2 – Val Rendena Brewery – Brenta Brau Weizen
3 – Serra Crooked – White
Mention Sguaraunda/La Bergamasca – Weiss
Mention La Birrofila – Graz
cat. 24 – light beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, with the use of unmalted wheat, of Belgian inspiration (blanche, witbier)
1 – Mc77 – San Lorenzo
2 – Bibibir – Witaly
3 – Beha Brewing Company – Kermesse
Mention Mastino – Altaluna
cat. 25 – light beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, Belgian-inspired
(Belgian blond, Belgian pale ale)
1 – Birralfina – Annozero
2 – Filodilana – Beeela
3 – Alveria – Eclipse
cat. 26 – light and amber beers, top fermented, from low to high alcohol content, of Belgian inspiration (saison, biere de garde, farmhouse ale)
1 – Amerino Brewery – Northup
2 – Eighteenzerouno – Ochre
3 – La Spezia Brewing Company – Farmer
cat. 27 – light beers, high fermentation, high alcohol content of Belgian inspiration
(Belgian golden strong ale, tripel)
1 – Opperbacco – Quis Ut Deus
2 – Manerba – The Belgian Queen
3 – B94 – Santyrene
Mention Bibibir – I see Triple
Mention Della Granda Brewery – Spiritual
cat. 28 – dark beers, high fermentation, high alcohol content of Belgian inspiration
(Belgian dark strong ale, dubbel, quadrupel)
1 – Alba Craft Brewery – Mars
2 – Retorto – Black Lullaby
3 – Kamun – Nucis
Mention Del Forte Brewery – Queen of the Sea
Mention La Birrofila – Jeivù
cat. 29 – light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content with use of spices
1 – Herb Leaves – Tea Leaves
2 – Leaves of Grass – Hot Night At The Village Breakfast Edition
3 – Mc77 – Fleur Sofronia
Mention Picobrew – Road To Vallonia Orange Label
Mention Il Conte Gelo – Nonno Gelo
cat. 30 – light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content with the use of coffee and/or cocoa
1 – Mister B – Boodino
2 – Lambrate – Tiramisu Imperial Stout
3 – The Lure – Queen
Mention Crak – Moka Ciok
Mention Sagrin – Mattos
cat. 31 – light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content with the use of special grains (including ancient grains)
1 – Terrantiga – Istadi
2 – Birranova – Arsa
3 – Magester – The idea
Mention Croce Di Malto – Black Feet
Mention Bionoc – Birre Della Terra – Segalina
cat. 32 – light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content, smoked and peated
1 – La Gramigna Brewery – Diavola
2 – Les Bieres Du Grand St. Bernard – Rauch
3 – Rural – Smoky
Mention Eastside – Slow Smoke
Mention Labi – Smoke'n Roll
cat. 33 – light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content aged in wood
1 – El Issor – Elatan Rrk
2 – Batzen – Gran Fumè Cuvee
3 – Baladin – Xyauyu Kioke
Mention Opperbacco – N.1
Mention Perugia Beer Factory – Santa Ila
cat. 34 – light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content with use of fruit
1 – Crak – Blueberry Cellar
2 – Lariano – Mugnach
3 – Ophelia – La La Blend
Mention Eastside – Sour Side Sour Cherry
Mention El Issor – Agriotta
cat. 35 – light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content with the use of chestnuts
1 – The Limelight – Isis
2 – Vulture Brewery – Druda
3 – Alghee – La Brusatà
Mention 4 Mori Brewery – Well 3
Mention Beltaine – Beltaine Smoked Chestnuts
cat. 36 – light, amber and dark beers, top or bottom fermentation, from low to high alcohol content with the use of honey
1 – Ibeer – Bee Bock
2 – Elvo Beer – Bock Di Natale
3 – Benaco 70 – Honey Ale
Mention Legnone Brewery – Molthoney
Mention Birrificio del Forte – Cintura D'orione
cat. 37 – light, amber and dark beers, high, low or spontaneous fermentation also with the use of brettanomyces, from low to high alcohol content, characterized by acid notes (sour ale)
1 – Bionoc – Apricots
2 – Opperbacco – Nature Pesca
3 – Crak – Peaches Cellar 2018
Mention Crak Cantina Pesche 2017
Mention Ca Del Brado – Cuvee De Zrisa
cat. 38 – light beers, high fermentation, low alcohol content, salted and/or lactic of German inspiration (berliner, gose)
1 – Evoqe Brewing – Evoqe Sour #1
2 – Batzen – Gosexy
3 – The Buttiga Craft Brewery – Goslar 1826
Mention Evoqe Brewing – Red Lights
cat. 39 – light, amber and dark beers, high or low fermentation, from low to high alcohol content with the use of grapes, must, pomace, cooked wine of white grapes (white Italian grape ale)
1 – The Phoenix – Brewine
2 – Birra Dell'Eremo – Selva
3 – Filodilana – Out of the flock
Mention Morgana – Wine Not?
cat. 40 – light, amber and dark beers, high or low fermentation, from low to high alcohol content with the use of grapes, must, pomace, cooked wine of red grapes (red Italian grape ale)
1 – Beer of the hermitage – Madra
2 – Del Forte Brewery – Il Tralcio
3 – Mezzopass – Biga Rosè
Mention Carrobiolo – Mo' Scanzati Azzo!
Mention Castagnero Brewery – H-Iga
Cat. 41 – Pale, Amber And Dark Beers, High Or Low Fermented, From Low To High Alcohol Content With Use Of Grapes, Must, Pomace, Cooked Wine Of Red Or White Grapes, Characterized By Acidic Notes (Sour Italian Grape Ale)
1 – Opperbacco – Nature Terra Caprera
2 – Italian Brewery/Klanbarrique – Marzarimen
3 – Opperbacco – Nature Terra Fiore – Podere San Biagio
Mention Beer of the hermitage – Selva Sour
Mention Opperbacco – Nature Terra Emidio Pepe
cat. 42 – 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)
1 – Nemus – Flora
2 – Carrobiolo – Italian Tomato Ale
3 – Beer of the hermitage – Onnetempo
Mention Corce Di Malto – Helles Diablo
Mention Carrobiol – Senatrix
