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Opperbacco Montepulciano IGA

Opperbacco
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🌍 Italy · Italian Grape Ale · One of 7 Italian Grape Ales in hopIQ

Opperbacco's signature Italian Grape Ale — brewed with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo grape must sourced from local winemakers and fermented with native yeasts from the Gran Sasso foothills. Dark reddish-amber with a vinous aroma of dark fruit, earthy terroir, and oak complexity meeting the malt backbone of the craft ale base. The beer that established Abruzzo's reputation in the world of Italian Grape Ales — a bridge between the Adriatic coast's great wine culture and its emerging craft beer scene.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
deep amber16
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

Very crisp and substantial.

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.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
yeasty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
oak
berry
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best Italian Belgian-Style Ales

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Opperbacco Montepulciano IGA

Appearance

Deep reddish-amber hue with a translucent clarity that reveals the wine-influenced character of the brew. A moderate, creamy head settles steadily, leaving fine lacing along the glass. Gentle carbonation suggests a wine-like refinement rather than typical ale vibrancy.

reddish-ambertranslucentcreamy headwine-like restraint

Aroma

The nose opens with earthy undertones and dark stone fruit — plum and cherry — grounded by the terroir of native fermentation. Oak and woody complexity emerge behind the fruit, complemented by a subtle malty foundation that supports without dominating. A gentle vinous quality threads through, reflecting the Montepulciano grape must and its influence on fermentation character.

dark fruitearthy terroiroak complexityvinous

Taste

The palate enters smooth and rich, with dark fruit and earthy notes interwoven throughout the mid-palate. Malted backbone provides structure without heaviness, while oak adds gentle drying and textural depth. Bitterness remains restrained at 15 IBU, allowing the wine-grape character and native yeast complexity to lead the flavor narrative. A subtle drying sensation builds toward the swallow.

smooth entrydark fruit dominantearthy mid-palaterestrained bitterness

Finish

The finish is dry and moderately lingering, with earthy and oak notes persisting gracefully. A subtle herbal and slightly tannic quality echoes the grape must's winemaking origins.

dry finishearthy aftertastemoderate length
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
78
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Opperbacco Montepulciano IGA

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 Opperbacco Montepulciano IGA

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 earthy, dark fruit, rich character as Opperbacco Montepulciano IGA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Italian Grape Ales in hopIQ