What are IGA Beers?

The acronym stands for Italian Grape Ale and identifies a style born in Italy and developed in recent years by a number of craft brewers. The fundamental idea was to use grapes in different forms during the production process, thus creating a hybrid between the world of wine and the world of beer. It is no coincidence that this idea was developed for the first time in a country where wine culturally plays the leading role, and which holds international leadership in terms of the number of different grape varieties, quantity and quality of wine production.

The first IGA beer was born in 2006 as part of the Barley beer range, a small Sardinian craft brewery run by Nicola Perra and Isidoro Mascia, which has become the reference point for the type. BB10 was the first beer produced with this innovative idea: it is a full-bodied Russian Imperial Stout with a high alcohol content and flavoured with Cannonau grape sapa, which is the cooked must traditionally used in Sardinia to make sweets. Since 2010, many other craft producers have followed this path, such as Birra del Borgo which has produced two famous versions, LoverBeer and Ca' del Brado, which have interpreted the style in an original way, blending it with the Brett and Lambic types. However, the crowning achievement only came in 2015, when, given the excellent results achieved and its ever-increasing popularity, the international organisation Beer Judge Certification Program included this style in its classification as the only true Italian Style.

The Characteristics of a Typical Italian Style

Italian Grape Ale can be brewed in many different ways. In fact, producers have always maintained the right to a wide freedom of choice, giving them maximum creativity. The only fixed point is the use of grapes or their derivatives, such as must, fresh, cooked, fermented, wine or marc.

The first example, Barley's BB10, was produced in Sardinia in 2006 using Cannonau cooked must. Today, however, this style of Italian beer has spread to different areas of the country and the grape varieties used are increasingly related to the production area. In addition to the choice of the raw material form, the selection of the grape variety and its colour has also become a determining factor.

A third very important factor is the moment chosen to flavour the grain must. In most cases this takes place in one of these three stages: boiling, fermentation or conditioning (which is a kind of final stabilisation).

The variables are many and of fundamental importance for a style that was born and developed as an experimental, creative and revolutionary approach. This is why it is not easy to define the common characteristics. The various expressions can in fact be very diverse and can be mixed with other styles, giving rise to very fascinating hybrids. 

Sometimes, from a visible point of view, Italian Grape Ale can fall into the macro category of blonde beers. However, it is more common for the final product to take on a reddish or amber colouring, especially if red grapes have been used. The aromatic profile is characterised by slightly fruity hints of varying sweetness, which can evoke the primary aromas of the grape together with hints of red or yellow fruit. Everything else can also vary depending on the choice of malts, yeasts and production methods. For example, there are light and easy-drinking versions as well as intense, full-bodied and complex expressions. Some brewers have opted for a sour style, using the grapes to achieve a clearer, more unmistakable acidic note. This is just one example to demonstrate the great variability that can be obtained from this variety, considered to be the only typically Italian style.

On Callmewine you can find a wide selection of the best IGA Italian Grape Ale beers carefully selected from all over Italy and on offer at the best online prices. Impress your friends and fellow diners with fascinating beers of a style that is bound to become increasingly popular.