Beer, Wine and Truffles in Northern Italy

Read about Italian Craft Beer Today

"Twas Italian fall when we landed in Milan

Breweries and wineries were center of our plan

An exercise in group therapy if you please

Our merry band soon got along with lubricated ease

Croce di Malto was first stop on our tour

With a warm welcome from friends made long before

Heading north we stopped in at Italiano

Showed around by veteran brewer Agostino

Inventor of the Italian Pilsner style

His quality beers produced a lasting smile

Lake Como was where we would find some rest

A boat trip on the lake to view the scenery best

Bellagio was quiet in November transition

A chance to walk the cobblestones and listen

Returning to Como we chanced on Herba Monstrum

A pleasant surprise this brewpub, no question

Heading to wine country,  two breweries more

Menaresta, Canediguerra both were a great score

The bus fridge replenished, our crew in fine fettle

When we arrived in Alba a few days to settle  

As well as vineyards to behold there was another reason

Namely that it was the height of the White Truffle season

Greg and Vicki know their stuff, they led us to the fest

With wine to taste and truffles to sniff we just did the rest

All around the rolling hills, the grapevines they were spent

Harvest done, the juice well pressed, into the barrels sent

Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Barolo dancing with the wine

Some white and sparkling to be sure, the reds were so divine

A love affair with wine we had, but we still remembered grain

Off to Baladin we sailed, their growth is quite insane

From village pub and microbrew, now a Disneyland of beer

But Teo and his cohorts always to quality adhere

At De Lab Fermentazioni we ran into Lorenzo

Young and wild with room to grow these guys are a little gonzo

In the heart of wine country a new style what the hell

IGA it is you know Italian Grape Ale

On the road back to Milan the best is saved for last

One million bottles of sparkling Contratto aging in cellars so vast

People and pidgeons in Milan center flock

To see the Duomo cathedral anchoring like a rock

Then off to Lambrate, OG brewpub, historic place to meet

For a final toast, with the locals, drinking in the street