Rome's Beer Scene: What To Drink When In Italy

Rome is famous for its wine and coffee, but its beer scene is also worth exploring. While beer is rarely drunk with food, it is a popular drink among locals and pairs well with pizza. The city has a variety of craft beers and classic options, from local microbreweries to mass-produced lagers.

If you're looking for a refreshing beer to enjoy in the Italian sun, you might want to opt for a crisp, mass-produced lager such as Peroni, Poretti, or Moretti. These beers are widely available in bottles or on draft in most bars and restaurants. However, if you're eager to explore some alternatives, there are plenty of options to discover.

For those who appreciate a good IPA, Italy has its own take on the traditional India Pale Ale, with Italian Pale Ales (IPAs) that are fragrant and hoppy. These beers vary in alcohol content, ranging from session ales at around 4.4% to stronger varieties at 7.5% or 8%. Local microbreweries also offer a range of amber ales, stouts, red ales, bitters, weissbiers, and artisan pilsners.

When it comes to craft beer bars, Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fà in Trastevere is a beer geek's paradise, with an impressive selection of bottled and draught beers. Open Baladin, near Largo Argentina, combines a classy atmosphere with a homey feel and offers a huge selection of beers. For a hipster biker vibe, try Inofficina in Pietralata, which brews its own beers and serves excellent pub food.

So, whether you're a beer connoisseur or just looking for a casual drink, Rome has something to offer. Explore the city's craft beer scene and discover new flavours while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the Eternal City.

Where to find craft beer in Rome

Rome is the centre of craft beer in Italy, and there are several good craft beer bars and breweries to be found. Here are some of the best places to find craft beer in the city:

Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà

Located in Trastevere, this is one of the most historic beer bars in Europe, known for championing the craft beer movement over 20 years ago. With a name that roughly translates to "What did you come here for?", this lively neighbourhood bar is constantly filled with a crowd that's both international and local. There is a constantly rotating tap list of artisan beers made in Italy, Germany, and elsewhere.

L'Elementare

This pizzeria is host to another great tap list and is one of the few establishments with a bar inside where guests can sit down and eat a full meal. You can also order a pizza or supplì for takeaway and enjoy a few slices while drinking outside Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà.

Luppolo Station

Luppolo means "hops" in Italian, and this is a great place to grab a burger, have a cold beer, and watch football on the big screen when it's in season. Check their Instagram for live music nights.

Open Baladin

With a bright orange wall lined with hundreds of illuminated bottles featuring all of their brews, Open Baladin produces a good selection of modern beers, from NEIPAs to sours, with a huge range of more traditional beers such as stouts, bitters, and lagers. Owner, Teo Musso, opened his first pub in the northern city of Cuneo in the late 1980s, becoming a brewery in 1996. He has since collaborated with some of the world's most prolific craft brewers, opening Open Baladin as one of the first wave of Rome's craft beer bars in 2009.

Les Vignerons

Technically a wine shop, Les Vignerons has a fully stocked fridge for craft beer and a whole wall dedicated to sours, including wild ales, lambics, and goses. The owner, Antonio, has curated a store with some of the best natural wines and craft beers available in Europe.

L'Osteria di Birra del Borgo

This enormous space, just a short walk from the Vatican, is the brainchild of former academic Leonardo Di Vincenzo, who wanted to combine his passion for beer, traditional taverns, and local cuisine. Birra del Borgo, his small on-site brewery, has a 350-litre capacity, but he serves up 24 beers on tap along with a pizza menu designed to complement the beer.

Be.Re.

Located just steps from the Vatican, Be.Re. is the work of Manuele Colonna, a well-respected beer aficionado. There are 20 beers on tap, with around half a dozen cask beers in their shiny new bar. They tend to mix it up with a range of international breweries alongside Italian ones.

Queen Makeda Grand Pub

With possibly Rome's most extensive beer selection after Open Baladin, Queen Makeda has 40 craft beers on tap, in continuous rotation with a guarantee of at least 15 styles on offer at any one time. A couple of their own beers, brewed by Free Lions craft brewery, are always on tap. They have Jumping Ale, a light and dry pale ale, and Red Mermaid Bock.

Popular mass-produced beers in Rome

Rome may be known for its wine, but the city has plenty to offer beer drinkers too. While beer is usually only drunk alongside pizza, there's a growing appreciation for the beverage in the Italian capital.

If you're looking for a mass-produced beer, you're most likely to come across Peroni, a well-loved premium pilsner that's popular across Italy. It's an easy-to-drink light lager with a slightly sweet taste. You'll also find Moretti, a classic Italian lager with a refreshing finish that dates back to 1859.

Other mass-produced lagers include Poretti, Menabrea from northern Italy, and Ichnusa from Sardinia. These beers are drier and a little more tasty than Peroni and Moretti.

While lager is the most common type of beer in Rome, you'll also find bionda (often weissbeer) and rossa (red ale).

How to order a beer in Rome

If you're ordering a beer in Rome, you're in luck! There is a craft beer revolution underway in Italy, with a huge number of small artisanal producers popping up across the country. That said, Italy is also known for its wine, and beer is not typically ordered with a meal. Instead, it's considered an occasional treat or a refreshing beverage to sip on the way home from work.

Where to Find Beer in Rome

Lager in bottles (in bottiglia) or on draft (alla spina) is available in most bars and restaurants. If you order a beer in a restaurant or bar, you will most likely be offered a mass-produced lager (chiara) or bionda, though occasionally rossa (red ale).

How to Order a Beer in Italian

To get a medium glass of draft lager in a restaurant, ask for:

> Una chiara media alla spina

To get a bottle of IPA, ask for:

> Una bottiglia d'IPA

Beer Prices in Rome

The cost of beer in Rome varies depending on the place. You can find a 660 ml bottle in a supermarket for just over 1 euro, while the same beer in a restaurant can cost €5. A pint or a media in a pub with beer on tap will likely be on the higher end of the price scale (€4 to €5). High-end restaurants that serve artisan bottled beers can charge €10 or more.

Best Places to Drink Beer in Rome

While Rome doesn't have a deep pub culture, there are plenty of bars and breweries serving up tasty craft beers. Here are some spots to check out:

• Ma che siete venuti a fa' (Trastevere): Rome's ultimate beer geek spot, with a rotating tap list of artisan beers.
• Open Baladin (near Largo Argentina): Features a huge selection of beers and great burgers.
• Inofficina (Pietralata): A hipster biker spot that brews its own beer and offers a great selection of pub food.
• Eataly (near Piramide): A vast food hypermarket with its own brewery and guest beers.
• Luppolo 12 (San Lorenzo): A bright, noisy student spot with a wide range of guest ales.
• Jungle Juice Brewing & Taproom (Pigneto): A new spot run by young brewers, serving their own brews in a hip, postmodern environment.

So, whether you're looking for a crisp mass-produced lager or a unique craft beer, Rome has something for every beer lover to enjoy!

Beer and food pairings

While beer is rarely drunk with food in Rome, it is commonly paired with pizza. If you're looking to indulge in some beer and food pairings while in Rome, here are some general guidelines and specific suggestions to help you get the most out of your drinking and dining experience:

Guidelines for Beer and Food Pairings

• Contrast: Choose a beer or dish with a dominant flavour, such as sweet, rich, or oily, that can stand out and shine through without being overpowered. For example, oysters and stout make a good contrast pairing as the briny flavour of oysters can hold their own against the rich, chocolatey notes of a stout.
• Complement: Match rich dishes with heavy and flavourful beers like stouts or porters. Conversely, pair light dishes like salads and fish with light beers, or opt for wheat beers with fruit-based desserts.
• Cleanse: Beer can be used as a palate cleanser, especially with bold or intense dishes like spicy Indian cuisine or rich fried foods. A light beer can help wash down the heat of Korean fried chicken, while fatty foods like French fries or nuts can balance out the bitterness of an IPA.
• Avoid Overpowering Flavours: Be mindful of the flavour levels in your food and beer. Medium and dark beers, for instance, have robust flavours that can overwhelm certain dishes. A delicate salmon dish would likely be overpowered by a pint of Guinness.

Specific Beer and Food Pairing Suggestions

• Light Lagers: Spicy food, burgers, and salads.
• Wheat Beers: Spicy food and fruity desserts.
• India Pale Ales (IPAs): Steak, barbecue, and Mexican food.
• Amber Ales: Pizza, fried food, and smoked pork.
• Dark Lagers: Pizza, burgers, and hearty stews.
• Brown Ales: Sausage, sushi, and fish.
• Porters: Seafood, coffee-flavoured desserts, and game meats.
• Stouts: Chocolate desserts and shellfish.

Rome's beer festivals

Rome is known for its wine, but the city is also awash with kegs of local and imported ales and stouts. There is a craft beer revolution underway in Italy, with a growing number of small artisanal producers. Beer festivals are common in Rome, particularly during the summer months. Here are some of the beer festivals you can experience in Rome:

EurHop! Rome Beer Festival

EurHop! is an international craft beer festival held in Rome annually in October. The festival features hundreds of beer tastings, with Italian and international breweries participating and showcasing their products. Each brewery proposes classic creations and new ones, some specifically prepared for the event. Tickets are available online and at the venue, with prices ranging from €9 for a daily ticket to €21 for a three-day subscription. The ticket includes a glass, glass bag, guide to beer tasting, and tokens for purchasing beers at the festival.

Ma che siete venuti a fa'

Located in Trastevere, Ma che siete venuti a fa' is Rome's ultimate beer geek spot and is considered one of the best places to drink beer in the city. It has an impressive collection of bottled and draught beer, with a constantly rotating selection of cask-fresh guest Italian ales and imports on tap.

Open Baladin

Open Baladin, located near Largo Argentina, offers a huge selection of beers and is also known for its great burgers.

Inofficina

This hipster biker spot in Pietralata brews its own beer and rotates a good list of guest beers. They also serve really good pub food.

Eataly

Eataly is a vast and flashy food hypermarket near Piramide with its own brewery and a variety of guest beers.

Luppolo 12

A bright and noisy student spot in San Lorenzo with a huge selection of guest ales.

Rive Gauche

Another spot in San Lorenzo, Rive Gauche is known for its selection of beers and its lively atmosphere.

With so many options, Rome offers a great opportunity to explore and appreciate the artisan beer revolution taking place in Italy.

Frequently asked questions