For full disclosure's sake, I admit that my experiences with Italian beer have been decidedly unenjoyable. I find Peroni to fall into the lower rungs of mass-produced brews, and my other tastings have fallen into the same categories.
So I was immediately skeptical of an Italian brewer attempting to do something Germans do so well. After all, when a country has so much enthusiasm for its wine production, how much can we expect of its grain-based alcohol.
On first smell, La Rossa (a doppelbock) reminded me of Newcastle and other brown ales. And yet, it clearly had the deeper color and persistently thick head that are typical of its family.
Again, I have to color my review by admitting that La Rossa falls into the dreaded middle between my preferred neighborhoods of really dark or really light beer (call it the Oreo syndrome). The malty-ness wasn't overpowering as it can be in some beers like this, but it was markedly sweet. I found the middle of the tongue to balance this with the toasted flavors.
Was it memorably bad? Not at all. But perhaps worse, it is easily forgettable.
Order a Pint: Eh
Buy a Six-Pack: No
Stock by the Case: No
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