un’idea forgiata nell’amicizia
e nella passione
an idea forged from friendship & passion
BIRRA italo-americana is a partnership between Ben Neidhart
(Connecticut, USA) & Giovanni Campari (Monticelli Terme, Italy)
to design original recipes with Italian inspiration & American ingenuity.
– Ben e Giovanni –
OUR INSPIRATION
Italian Inspirations meets American Ingenuity
Giovanni & I set out to create a line of products that not only pair very well with Italian & Italian-American cuisine but also reflects a combination of our creative spirits. Each recipe that we developed needed to be not only original but also distinctly Italian-American in its inspiration.
The clean botanical bitterness in Amaro was our inspiration for Testarossa IPA. Our thought was to create a lighter bodied blonde IPA that with a a very clean bitterness (From the gentian & juniper berries) in the finish to pair well with pizza & pasta dishes. The combination of gentian, juniper berries & orange peel really helps lift the flavors in parmesan cheese and prepares the palate for another bite.
The idea for Pantera Rosa was Inspired by Italian sodas. By using hibiscus, ginger, coriander & lemon peel we were able to create a beer that is very refreshing and also opens up the palate for dinner. Interestingly enough it has a little bit of a Proseco like character.
Our inspiration for Manarola came from the beautiful Ligurian area of Cinque Terre. Located on the North western coast of Italy it is also known as the Italian Riviera. We added a touch of farro (Spelt) to make a pilsner beer reminiscent of the countryside. Additions of Sicilian sea salt & lemon peel in the boil bring in a feeling of the Mediterranean coastline.
BEHIND THE ARTWORK
Italian Style
The artwork for these beers needed to bring in classic Italian style and flair. Italy is a country of color, fashion, food and cars and the labels needed to reflect this as well. Each label embodies at least one of these elements. We enjoyed creating these original recipes and the labels needed to embody the excitement and joy as well!
Testarossa IPA was the first name we agreed upon. The label has an almost Italian art deco feel to it & is both classy and edgy. It also reminds us of a famous line of Ferrari’s from our youth.
Pantera Rosa is a fun play on the Italian spirt & it’s artistry. Whimsical in nature this label and name just made us laugh! The bright colors and watercolor artwork are a good reminder that Italy is a country of bright colors.
We chose Manarola as the name for our Pilsner as it is one of the most beautiful towns in the Cinque Terre region on the northwestern Italian coast. The beautifully terraced town is distincly Italian it’s color, energy and beauty. Also we couldn’t help but to throw in the scooter for fun!
– Ben e Giovanni –
