The history
The Birra Moretti born under the name “Fabbrica di birra e ghiaccio” (Beer and ice’s Factory) in Udine, in the north-east of Italy, when the region Friuli was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The factory was founded in 1859 by Luigi Moretti, an Italian businessman with a long story of family’s trade, before in the grains market, and then in food and beer from Austria. At that time Udine was a nice city still surrounded by medieval defensive walls but the trade regulation made it open to trade and crafts, very tied with Vienna, not too far. After one year the foundation, Moretti sold the first bottle with his name on the label, conquering the first customers.
Thanks to the smartness of his founder, the factory was one of the most technologically advanced in Italy, but this brand has been very local until the 90s of the twentieth century. Then it has conquered the Italian market first, and then the foreign one, with shipping in more than 40 different countries.
It is well-known now in the United States, Great Britain, Japan and Canada. One of the fact that made the Moretti very famous has been the gold and silver medal at the World Beer Cup in 2006. Then Moretti won five other medals at the Australian International Beer Award.
One of the recognised factor of the beer is also his particular label, for the man with mustache. It is the same label since an advertisement dated back in 1942, and has a singular history. The owner at that time, Lao Menazzi Moretti met the man of the label at the Trattoria Boschetti of Tricesimo, while he was drinking a beer. Moretti was very impressed by the man, because he supposed to be the best face to represent genuineness, tradition and authenticity. He took a pictures in exchange for a beer. That man is still the company’s symbol.
Birra Moretti classic
The classic Birra Moretti has the same recipe since 1859, and it is a lager produced in the traditional way, that is the low fermentation. The color is the classic golden, with a slightly bitter taste, which is perfect for the pizza and the meals in general, also for the low alcohol content (4.6% vol). This Moretti beer is fine to be drunken with pasta, light risottos, pizza and fresh cheeses.
Moretti Radler beer
The Moretti Radler is a particular product, because it is made to follow the new trends about refreshing drinks for the summer. It is made with half lager and half Italian lemon juice, and it start his production recently especially for the Germany and Eastern Europe market, where it iis very popular even if it has only the 2% of alcohol content. In Italy is loved in Italian Tyrol and Alto Adige, but it has a good market in Austria. In Germany it is also called Russ or Alser, in England could be consider a classic Shandy, while in Flanders it is called Kivela, and in Spain Clara con limón.
The Baffo d’Oro
The Baffo d’Oro is probably the best and the most famous beer made by Moretti. It is a premium beer, made only by pure barley malt, with an alcohol content of 4.8% vol. It has a round taste for pasta, but especially for pizza. But the Baffo d’Oro is excellent also for legumes soups, white meat and cheeses.
La Rossa (The Red)
The Birra Moretti La Rossa is a pure double malt beer, amber in color, to be served at 3° C. The taste is caramel and roasting, perfect for fish appetizers, crustaceans, cheeses, pasta with tomato sauce and but also for red meat and some desserts.
Doppio Malto (Double malt)
Birra Moretti Doppio Malto is a double highly fermented double malt, very aromatic and with 7% vol. in alcohol. It is a new beer, for who likes drinking strong to follow the trend of double malt beer. It can be served for pasta with fish sauce, but also starters and main course.
Zero
Birra Moretti Zero has been made for who doesn’t like the alcohol but appreciate the taste of the beer. His color is light and blonde, produced by low fermentation processes using water, barley malt and hops. It is a light beer for the summer.
Grand Cru
Birra Moretti Grand Cru was created in 2009 for the 150th birthday of the company, to be the top class of Moretti selection. Also the bottle is a special edition to celebrate the anniversary, and the beer has been at the Beverage Testing Institute, the Australian International Beer Awards and the International Taste & Quality Institute.
His color is amber, and the beer has a full body, thanks to the refermentation in the bottle, to have a complex aromas. The aesthetic aspect has orange reflections and a thick foam. The smell is herbaceous, and in the nose there is presence of hops, apricot, candied citrus fruits and peaches in syrup. The aftertaste is spicy, with acacia honey. It can be served with meats or cheeses.
