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BB10 Italian Grape Ale

Birrificio Barley
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🌍 Italy · Italian Grape Ale · One of 6 Italian Grape Ales in hopIQ

The world's first Italian Grape Ale — brewed since 2006 with cooked Cannonau grape must (sapa) and Sardinian orange peels. Cannonau is the most celebrated red wine grape of Sardinia. The result: an imperial stout-strength ale with vinous dark fruit, roasted malt, and lingering warmth. 591 Untappd ratings at 3.79. The beer that created an entire Italian beer style.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
deep amber18
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Full-bodied and very crisp.

A heavy frame with a sharp finish — a rare combination that stays pointed on the tongue.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Italian Grape Ale.
Malt character
roasted
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
tart
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
orange
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best Italian Belgian-Style Ales

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for BB10 Italian Grape Ale

Appearance

Deep mahogany to near-black liquid with a dense, persistent tan head that clings to the glass in fine lacing. The beer presents with excellent clarity despite its full body and roasted character. Carbonation is moderate, releasing slow, fine bubbles that sustain the creamy collar throughout the pour.

deep mahoganydense foamexcellent clarityfine lacing

Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced roasted malt notes—coffee and cocoa—layered beneath ripe dark stone fruits: plum, blackberry, and prune from the Cannonau grape must. Candied orange peel emerges in the mid-range, followed by subtle alcohol warmth that frames without overwhelming. The aromatic profile is vinous and integrated, speaking equally to wine influence and barrel-aged depth.

roasted maltdark stone fruitcandied orangevinous warmth

Taste

The palate enters with rich roasted grain and immediate dark fruit sweetness—blackberry and plum develop across the mid-palate with silky mouthfeel. The 10% ABV generates perceptible warmth and a subtle drying tannin structure reminiscent of wine tannins. Bitterness remains restrained (15 IBU), allowing the interplay of grape character, orange zest, and roasted complexity to dominate; a gentle tart edge from the must adds sophistication without sharpness.

roasted depthgrape tanninsblack fruit sweetnessorange zest

Finish

The finish is long and warming, with lingering roasted malt and dried dark fruit carrying into the aftertaste. A subtle drying sensation and persistent alcohol warmth mark the close, leaving an impression of wine-like complexity and refined restraint.

long finishwarming alcoholdried fruit fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of BB10 Italian Grape Ale

Serve at 9–12°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 9–12°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with BB10 Italian Grape Ale

About Italian Grape Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Italian Grape Ale?

Italian Grape Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Italian Grape Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, dark fruit, rich character as BB10 Italian Grape Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Italian Grape Ales in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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