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Among the newest brewers in Italy the LoverBeer brewery is the talk of the town, because of its first release, the BeerBera, on which some Italian beer guru has already lavished praise. BeerBera also left dazzled those who have had the fortune to taste it at the recent Le Birra della Merla festival.

With such a brilliant start we can predict a bright future for the LoverBeer brewery. This is not just simple luck however, because the man who hides behind the project, Valter Loverier, started this new adventure after a terrific career as a home-brewer, full of success and appreciation.

Valter began brewing as a hobby in 2002, becoming known with the nick that today is also the name of his brewery.Valter produces BeerBera since 2004, when skilled and renowned tasters such as Luca Giaccone, Kuaska, Joris Pattyn and Laurent Moussont, after have sampled it gave him not only positive opinions, but also the spur to turning pro. A dream that has now become true.

Valter’s philosophy is quite unique: each beer is a challenge for him, attempting to combine brewing with traditional wine-making techniques, reinterpreting forgotten styles. His watchwords are passion, patience and confrontation: dedication to work is fundamental, the ability to wait and meet technical deadlines imposed by nature, the chance to receive reliable judgments to continue improving.

Little wonder then that the aforementioned BeerBera is absolutely unusual. This is a top fermentation beer but does not provide the addition of yeast. It’s defined spontaneous fermentation, but perhaps it is more correct to call it “indirect” because is activated by Barbera grape must, the main ingredient of this beer. It’s another beer in the new Italian brew fashion which provides the matching of beer and wine, although Valter wants to emphasize that his idea does not follow fashion, but comes from a specific philosophy that has always characterized his beers. The final yield and the way he uses the must are very different from other Italian similar products as well.

The BeerBera is excellent as an aperitif, thanks to its great freshness. It pairs well with delicate pastas, but also with fat cheeses, cold meats or salmon. Has a respectable alcohol content of 8% ABV and is available in 37,5 cl and 75cl bottles. It will be the first available beer of the LoverBeer brewery: the brewery has in fact just started brewing and all products are still in fermentation or re-fermenting in bottles.

The next beers will come soon. Some are born from Valter’s old recipes, other are brand new. We know about an ale fermented in wood only (no steel), an Imperial Stout inspired by an unspecified beer that Valter only found in Antwerp at the Kulminator, the D’uvaBeer, fermented in steel and brewed with a process that is opposite to that of BeerBera, with the use of Freisa grape must, the mythical BeerBrugna defined as a “Bière du Lambic”, re-fermented with “damaschine” plums.

The brewery uses a 10 hl plant with wooden vats for fermentation. It’s in Marentino, near Turin, in 7, Strada Pellinciona. No brewpub so direct sales and visits are possible only by appointment. If you are curious (like myself) to sample Valter’s beers, you must wait a little longer. In the meantime… break a leg Valter!!