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Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th, Aug. the Earls Court fair ground in London will host the 2010 edition of the Great British Beer Festival, the most important European exhibition on craft beer. Needless to write for the umpteenth time what this awesome event is, so if you’re interested you can see the official website of the event.

We want to offer you a survey of all the Italian beers that will be available in the Bières Sans Frontières area (a special thanks to Andrea Sclausero for his precious contribute). Here’s the list, with some definitely good ales:

Blanche de Valerie, a 4,5% ABV blanche style ale, brewed with local organic and local cereals, namely rye and “saragolla”, an ancient variety of durum wheat. Lacks the peculiar blanche acidity, being smooth and palatable. Brewed by Almond ‘22, located in the hills near Pescara, in Abruzzo, established in 2003.

ArtigianAle, a 6,2% ABV amber ale, a sort of crossbreed between an English Strong Ale for what concern the ABV and a Bitter, being floral, fruity and dry. Awards winner. Black Mamba, a 5% ABV oatmeal stout. Roasted notes, light bodied, with a bitter hoppy end. Both brewed by Bi-Du Brewery, located in Olgiate Comasco, near Como. Established in 2002.

ReAle Extra, a 6,4% ABV American Pale Ale. An hop bomb, with a strong fruity nose, with lot of tropical and grapefruit notes, and a smooth lasting bitter end. Won several national and international awards. Brewed by Birra del Borgo, established in 2005 in Borgorose, a small village on the hills between Rome and Rieti.

Tipopils, a 5,2% ABV German style Pilsner. World famous, with the perfect mix of malt honey sweetness and fresh grassy hop bitterness. Considered one of the best example of the style, if not the best, worldwide, even if unfiltered. Brewed since 1996 by Birrificio Italiano, located in Lurago Marinone, one of the very first micros in Italy, from which the Italian beer revolution has started.

Ortiga, is a 5% ABV golden ale with a sharp hoppy note, dry and quenching. Spicy, floral and fruity. Perfectly balanced with a lovely bitter end. Brewed at Lambrate, established in Milan in 1996.

AFO, is a 5,2% ABV Ale For (hop) Obsessed. Brewed with nine different hop varieties from all over the world, is balanced with a caramel malt character. National and international awards winner.
Verdi Imperial Stout is a 8,2 % ABV Imperial Stout. Brewed adding chilies. A quaffable beer with a medium body with the peculiar roasted notes plus that chili hint that prickles the throat in the long lasting bitter end. National and international awards winner. Both brewed by the Birrificio del Ducato, established in Roncole Verdi di Busseto near Parma in 2007. Italian Brewery of the Year 2010.

Extraomnes Blond is a 4,4% ABV Belgian inspired blonde ale. A strong hop citrus note mingles with a balsamic yeast character. An initial malt sweetness leads to a bitter lasting quenching end. Light bodied. Brewed by Extraomnes, established in Marnate, near Varese, in 2010, by a renowned Italian beer expert.

Sticher is a 6,5% ABV Alt-bier. Brewed with self-made malts (made from locally grown barley), is inspired by the Dusseldorf seasonal Alt Sticke by Uerige. Dark amber with strong fruity notes, is sweet and complex, with a caramel and nutty end. Brewed by Grado Plato, established in 2003 in Chieri, near Turin.

Once Upon a Time, brewed by Il Chiostro only with special malts, with added sugar for fermentable. Hopped with home-grown Hallertau Magnum.

10 e Lode Extravecchio is a 10 % ABV dark Belgian Ale. Inspired by dark Trappist ales is brewed with six different malts, resulting full and complex, with sweet notes of chocolate, coffee, licorice and ripe fruits. A tobacco like aftertaste completes the whole. Is brewed by Opperbacco, established in 2008 in Notaresco, near Teramo in Abruzzo.

Wabi is a 5% ABV golden ale. Dry and hoppy, has a powerful hop aroma with pleasant malty notes in the background. Despite the fairly low strength it has a structured body, which does not affect its high drinkability. Brewed by Orso Verde in Busto Arsizio near Varese, established in 2004.

Ghirlandina is a 5,8% ABV ale brewed with boiled wine must. Smell of ripe fruit and bread, is sweet with lemon and apricot notes. Brewed with the Real Beer brand at The White Dog Brewery of the Brit Steve Dawson, established in 2006 in Rocchetta di Guiglia, on the hills near Modena.

From the same brewery will be available the Best Bitter, a 4,8% ABV bitter, with the distinctive mellow fruitiness and caramel note, a light body and a slightly bitter end.
Tall Dark Stranger, a 6,4% ABV stout. Aroma is malty, with roasted, caramel and chocolate notes. Flavour is sweet and lightly bitter, the body is medium, texture oily and the carbonation soft.

Milk Mild is a 3,5%ABV mild ale. Chocolate and coffee dominates the aroma, while the flavours are very smooth and sweet, being brewed with lactose.
Single Dry Hop Lambic Pacific Gem is a 3 Fonteinen Lambic dry hopped with the Kiwi hop Pacific Gem. Both are brewed by the Roman Revelation Cat, the former at the Brouwerij De Molen plant.

Germana is a 4,8% ABV Belgian style blonde ale, wich starts with sweet notes of honey and apricots and peaches, developing in a dry hoppy bitter end. Brewed by Svevo Brewery, in Bari since 2002.

Zona Cesarini is a 6,6% ABV Pacific Pale Ale, being brewed with the Japanese Sorachi Ace, the Kiwi Pacific Gem and other Pacific hops. They give this beer a very peculiar tropical fruit aroma, and a very smooth yet assertive bitter end. Brewed by Toccalmatto, established in Fidenza, near Parma, in 2008.

All the beers will be in bottles except Verdi Imperial Stout, the Single Dry Hop Lambic and the two White Dog’s, on tap.

Cheers, and enjoy some of the best Italian craft beers!