La Petrognola Ambrata di Farro

Brewed by La Petrognola / Rio Maggio
Style: Specialty Grain
Fraz. Petrognola Piazza al Serchio (LU), Italy

scraping by in the apparent beer wasteland of italy, i seized upon a bottle of this: birra artigianale di farro, based on it’s comparatively intriguing label. amid many a morretti and peroni-- beers that one is no more inclined to sniff than one’s own armpit, i considered any on-label dialogue about the beer--even in a language i can’t understand-- to be suggestive of serious intent. for example, i thought the word ’artigianale’ meant something about artestry being applied to the brewers subtle craft; sigh; but it turns out it’s the italian word for artichoke. either that or penguin dander. i think. at any rate, the beer achieved a level of mildness one looks for in a infant formula, not a grand beer of excellence and boldness but a little scooter beer that really depends more on gravity to go down than aeronautical engineering. la petrognola in it’s green bottle decanted with the same enthusiasm that people turn out for jury duty: the color was washed out orange, mostly clear, and the head has more words for "comatose" than the eskimos have for snow. but once i’d dealt with the tragedy of lifelessness in the glass, i discovered some details in the deep cavity search we beer geeks call "rating": there were some carmelly grassy scents with yeast and a touch of ginger. it lay on the tongue with the vivacity of a sorely stricken malaria patient on a tennis court. the balls of my inquisition flew by, and the beer could only perspire and whimper. a very watery feel, kind of sweet with a balance of grain and an orange-tinged gravel pile; with just a reminder of a tough artichoke leaf steeping unto tea-like bitterness. i’m certain in a fresher incarnation this beer would have something to say about the world we live in, but my sample was as dull as sales flyer from an auto parts store.

Bottle from a Firenze Coop, ten times the price of some of their more budget end offerings. Pops open with barely a hiss, fountains of yeast spontaneously clouding the bottle. Dull pondwatery orange thickness in the glass with a half-hearted 4sec attempt at a head. Ripe surprising aroma tanging with lemon barley, lime jelly, orange peels, brazen coriander, biscuity malt and oats.. total witbier cologne. Flavour as equally tang-sodden, mulled and Belgian-accented; botanical coriander and juniper citrus, orange and oats, slight countering hop dryness, milky still fatness (from the spelt?). Strange and enjoyable, if a pretty standard spiced-up wit by the bottom of it.

Comprata alla COOP come "Birra di Farro", sapendo che era La Petrognola; dopo aver assaggiato la buona Sandy mi ero ripromesso di provare il prodotto di punta del birrificio. Sono rimasto favorevolmente sorpreso (anche per il caldo che c’è) dal carattere leggiadro e beverino che la rassomiglia ad una blanche belga; un prodotto davvero onesto, semplice e buono adatto alla canicola di questi giorni tremendi.

Colore dorato opaco,bella schiuma bianca,cremosa e persistente.Aroma fruttato e speziato.Gusto dolce di miele e fruttato di banana,finale maltato.Buona birra.E rinfrescante aggiungo.

Cloudy and very dark golden colour. malty scent. Medium to small head. Malty but unpleasent body. Dry and and unbalaced. Another Italian different beer...

Bottle; A friend brought this back to the states from Italy. Pours out cloudy orange with nice creamy white head that lasts till the end. Aroma is slightly of malts but mainly consisting of herbs and spices. Flavor emulates the aroma as it is strong with spices and herbs. Good beer.

Sabor com sensação de resíduo químico, metálico, que também aparece no aroma. Mas só tive uma degustação...

Bottled. A hazy orange-golden beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet spicy - coriander being most dominant. The flavor is acidic with spicy notes of coriander, leading to an acidic finish. The body is thin.