The Birra Antoniana logo features a depiction of “Gattamelata,” a bronze monument created by Donatello in the brewery’s hometown of Padua.
Birra Antoniana isn’t very old for a classy European beer. The brewery was only founded in 2011 by Sandro and Michele Vecchiato, brothers and owners of Interbrau, the leading distributor of specialty beers in Italy. Inspired by their father’s dream, the two were determined to create a distinctly Padovan brewery that would produce artisanal beer using local raw materials. After a successful launch in their native Italy, the Vecchiatos will introduce their core lineup to the U.S. including the flagship Marechiaro, a crisp Italian lager created as a perfect pair for pizza, Pasubio, a hoppy session lager, Altinate, a dry hopped lager bearing some similarities to an IPA, and Vienna, a rich and malty Vienna-style lager.
Based in Padua, Italy, Birra Antoniana prides itself on sustainable, artisanal craftsmanship, cultivating its barley from nearly 250 acres of land before brewing in accordance with longstanding Italian tradition. Liquid Projects, LLC will work with the support of nationally licensed importer/distributor MHW, to import the Italian beers into the United States for the first time, launching with four SKUs in major markets including New York, Massachusetts and Illinois.
“Italy has a long, proud history of fine craftsmanship” say Sandro and Michele Vecchiato, founders and general managers of Birra Antoniana. “In keeping with our Italian roots, we wanted to create a beer that represented the best of Italian agribusiness, and communicated Italian culture and values to the rest of the world. We’re incredibly excited to bring the art of Italian craft brewing and Padovan terroir to American beer drinkers with Birra Antoniana.”
Scheduled to hit store shelves this summer, Birra Antoniana will celebrate its U.S. arrival with a series of kickoff events at iconic, artisanal pizza restaurants in each major market, beginning with an evening launch party at New York City’s Ribalta on July 18th. Guided by Brand Ambassador Giuseppe Darù, invited guests will have the opportunity to taste each of the brand’s four product SKUs alongside each beer’s perfect pizza pairing.
Birra Antoniana will join a carefully-curated Liquid Projects portfolio that currently includes The Porterhouse Brewing Co., Dingle Distillery, the Reinheits Boten Brewery Collective from Germany and Bembel-With-Care hard ciders. Liquid Projects will work in tandem with wholesalers Sarene Craft Beer Distributors in New York and Night Shift Distributing in Boston with SKUs arriving at a suggested retail price between $10.99 to $14.99 for a four-pack.
