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Hello everybody and welcome to my new review! Today we’ll remain in Italy to discover another historical brand of a beer "made in Italy": Poretti!
Poretti brewery was born in 1877 in Valganna, more specifically in Induno Olona, a small village north of Varese (Lombardia).
It has the name of his founder, Angelo Poretti, worker, laborer, railway worker,
who, cause of his job, travelled around Europe, especially in countries like Austria, Germany and Bohemia (Czech Republic).
In Bohemia he discovered "the art of brewing" and he liked beer so much that, when he came back in his hometown in Italy,
he invested his savings to build an own brewery.
He imported all raw materials from abroad,
and he chose Induno Olona as location of his building, especially because of the nearby Valganna caves,
where there's a source of pure water and we know that a good water is primary element for a good beer.
During first years of 20th century, when Angelo Poretti passed away, the brewery was taken over his nephews,
and it was restructured and renovated,
not only inside, but also outside, in external appearance.
Infact the building is considered an artistic monument and it represents a great example of the Italian Liberty.
In 1973, cause of oil crisis resulting in prices increase of raw materials and energy,
Poretti signed a deal with "United Breweries" (fusion between Tuborg and Carlsberg)
to produce and commercialize those 2 foreign brands also in Italy.
In 2002 Carlsberg acquired totally Poretti brewery.
Despite all this, the building and production in Induno Olona has not been relocated at all,
instead it has been renovated and the production has been improved to have better products.
Right now Poretti brewery offers 6 differnt kind of beers (including Splugen),
but today we'll taste Bock doppio malto rossa (red).
Like all BOCK beers, they are "bottom fermentation" beers, "german style".
They could be called also "richer lager beers", more malted, more ABV,
they should be spring beers, but they are more consumed during winter.
TASTING
We have a classical 33cl glass bottle
This is a doppelbock, so today we're going to use this kind of glass, which is the most suitable for this style of beer.
On the label we can read "5 luppoli"
to underline the fact that during the production, 5 different hoppings have been done,
3 hoppings in the brewhouse and 2 during maturation phase (after fermentation).
Every hopping process gives to beer different contributions like...
...strengthen bitterness mantaining a good balance.....enhance flavor....etc..
To enjoy this beer, i suggest to drink it not too cold....about 10°C...
Smell is rich...
Flavor reminds me roasted cereal, enriched by caramel, liquorice....a little bit of chocolate...
...these are typical features of this kind of beer after all....
But let's drink it now, cheers!
Low-medium body.....very easy to drink....
even if ABV, maybe, is a little bit high...
...this is a 6,5% ABV...
Taste reflects everything i could smell earlier...
...maybe now i'd add also a little bit of fruit taste..
...at the beginning the taste is a little bit sweet
...probably i can feel more this sweetness thanx to a low carbonation...
..but slowly it is dissolving....and in the finish beer becomes more bitter...
This passage from sweet to bitter is slow...it is not excessive...
It is well balanced...
Finish is tendentially bitter too....but very very moderate..
..i can also clearly feel liquorice...
Aftertaste is long....but not that intense too.
FINAL COMMENTS
Right this beer has received international prestigious awards.
In my opinion it is very easy to drink even if it is a complex beer (like bock or doppelbock which sometimes they could be considered even "meditation beers")
Well balanced on flavor and taste
In my opinion the main feature of this Poretti bock is the great balance between the sweetness at the beginning and bitter at the finish.
I suggest to drink it with aged cheeses, venison and chocolate desserts
I think i have said everything i wanted, thank you to have followed me till now and see you for next beer. Ciao!