Beer: Italy ups its game

When we think of Italy, we think of wine, said Andrew Knowlton in Bon Appétit. Of late, though, the country has also “become a creative frontier for beer.” Inspired by Italy’s Slow Food movement, brewers craft “food-friendly brews beloved by the beer intelligentsia.”

Birra del Borgo Genziana ($9 for 12.7 oz)

From the outskirts of Rome, “this crisp, herbal ale is made with gentian root,” which imparts a “floral bitterness” in the brew.

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Piccolo Birrificio Sesonette ($9 for 11.2 oz)

Tasting like a cross between wine and beer, this “pale and spicy beer is matured in wine barrels.”

Birrificio Italiano La Fleurette ($15 for 25.4 oz)

This light, floral beer is brewed with “roses, violets, honey, elderberries, and black pepper,” resulting in a low-alcohol brew that is not lacking in flavor.