Photo by JosephLeonardo.England, Germany, and Belgium.
These are the countries that flood the mind when thinking about beer. Even here in the U.S., we are going through our own beer revolution and getting back to the days when local and regional breweries were deliciously viable options that go beyond the can of suds our fathers grew up on. Many restaurants and bars around D.C. have set up some fine programs based on these renowned beer countries. The Queen Vic, Biergarten Haus, and Brassiere Beck allow us to delve into the finer things these countries have to offer in both food and drink and allow a taste of escape without the first world problems of jetlag and currency conversion.
Acqua Al 2, an Italian restaurant in Eastern Market, is bringing a new world of Italian beer to our city. Before visions of Peroni jump to the forefront of your mind, keep in mind Italian beer has come a long way over the past few years. Soils that are good for growing world-class Italian wines are also well-suited for many of the hop varieties that are used. Combine this with a culture that respects the fermented beverage and you have a country ripe for quality beer production.
Many Italian brewers are taking cues from other countries and are making innovative beers that are still deeply rooted in tradition. Spices and fruits are often used sparingly. American interpretations of fruit and spiced beer are often overpowering, while Italian refinement shows up in beers like Baladin Nora — a complex, yet easily drinkable beer brewed with ginger, myrrh, and orange peel. A hearty amount of carbonation and a firm grip on the spices keep this brew still very much a beer while allowing the other flavors to mingle with food. Nora served beside a rich Burrata and grapefruit combines the playfulness of the fresh citrus and pale malts with the decadence of the buttery Italian cheese.
All this week (November 28 – December 1), Acqua Al 2 is hosting complimentary beer tasting at the bar (5:30-7 p.m.) of some of Italy’s finest beers, culminating on December 5 with an Italian craft beer dinner that pairs five courses of beers and foods typical to Florence and Northern Italy.
While it would be just as easy to pair some delicious fare with great Italian wines, the quality of beer coming out of this small country not only creates a whole new range of flavors to experience, but lends itself to revisit some of our favorite Italian dishes in a whole new way with American-influenced, but Italian-made artisanal beer.
