Contessa - Birra Amiata

nickd717

California

3.35/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Alla spina a Bir & Fud a Roma.

Hazy yellowish-amber with a nice lacy white head.

Sweet malts and citrus fruits on the aroma, with a good hop presence.

Flavor is citrus, orange and grapefruit, and sweet malts with a touch of caramel and some breadiness.

Medium-full body with a smooth mouthfeel. Could be a bit crisper with a little more bite.

Overall not too bad of an attempt at an IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2011 20:52:52 | More by nickd717

beernads

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10%

06-18-2013 07:18:26 | More by beernads

bckayaalp

New York

3.5/5  rDev -10%

06-07-2013 02:43:21 | More by bckayaalp

Ford

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

06-04-2013 03:34:21 | More by Ford

TheDoctor

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.8%

06-03-2013 17:39:50 | More by TheDoctor

TallSaint

New York

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-30-2013 20:22:39 | More by TallSaint

craftbeerasian

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-30-2013 00:27:29 | More by craftbeerasian

CCutch

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -10%

05-29-2013 16:49:07 | More by CCutch

GFish

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%

05-25-2013 23:40:17 | More by GFish

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-23-2013 15:53:50 | More by JohnK17

mwilbur

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 750 mL bottle into shaker pint glass.
A: Pours a clear greenish-yellow with high carbonation producing a massive 4-5 inch bubbly white head. The extreme amount of carbonation jets continuously refuel the head so it lasts just about forever. With time, and since the head lasts for the duration of drinking the entire glass, the head eventually turns more rocky in nature. Thick, fluffy lacing.
S: Fresh citrus hops, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, and hints of delicate herbs and peach. Light and fresh and different from your typical American IPA.
T: Peach, delicate citrus hops, grassy herbal note, hint of honey. Follows aroma quite well.
M: Light body, wonderful prickly tingle from the carbonation, soft mineral bite, and with a satisfyingly dry finish.
D: This one grew on me...I think my taste buds needed a little retraining. It is a subtle--and subtly complex--brew...certainly not the in-your-face hop slam that has become de rigueur for the typical West Cost IPAs. Seek it out for a nice change of IPA pace!

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 03:37:50 | More by mwilbur

Stugotzo

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-19-2013 01:58:35 | More by Stugotzo

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.01/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

a fine ipa, and another great Italian craft beer. I wish these were more prevalent in the united states market. thanks to my rare beer club for this one. it pours a light and bright pale yellow color with several inches of thick white foam. countless tiny bubbles scatter towards the surface. the nose is really hoppy, a lot like the mosaic hops I used in my most recent homebrew, although I doubt highly if mosaic is used here. similarly high alpha though. light malt profile, almost like a pale wheat beer, but a little cleaner. the taste is just like the nose, very alive, very springtime, very delicate, very drinkable. some floral elements in with the tropical and bitterness of the hops. the grain bill is simple, but a serviceable platform for the hops to come through fully. lighter than medium body and effervescent carbonation make this beer readily sessionable, even with its stronger abv. I have very little to critique here, as I thought it an excellent example of the style from the Italian point of view. less aggressive than American versions, but that's true of everything right? well worth seeking out this time of year.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 21:11:33 | More by StonedTrippin

Hellpop65

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%

05-11-2013 02:14:24 | More by Hellpop65

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Received this beauty from the Rare Beer Club. Now, it's not exactly "rare" in Philadelphia, and I had the opportunity to switch this out for something else, but thought I would give this beer a chance and try it out even if it is literally on the shelf down the street. Poured into a stemmed wine glass.

With a rough pour, a large soapy off-white head is coaxed to about a few fingers high. The body is a hazy, golden orange color that has yellow highlights to it. The head sticks on the sides of the glass (not in rings, but everywhere!), letting you know that this is one highly hopped Italian beer.

The aroma confirms it, that this Italian Pale Ale has a high amount of hops, with a pungent, perfume-like aroma, filled with notes of lemon drops, wild sage, bubblegum, and some light hints of clementines. It's sweet, but also carries a level of herbaceous aroma, and underneath you can tell it's going to have light, toasted malt.

Following the aroma, Contessa remains focused clearly on the hops, with an up front flavor of fresh, lemony hops. It veers away from being a sharp, bitter beer though, and instead carries a good amount smooth, sweeter malt flavor to round out the taste and mute the bitterness just enough. Lingering into the aftertaste is a gentle fruitiness.

Surprisingly soft body. The head greets the lips with a dense creamy foam that is silky smooth and the body underneath is neither sharp nor flat, but ever so soft. As a pale ale, I am going to say this is fairly full-bodied. That makes sense to me though, as it is 7% abv.

I'm impressed. At first, I thought the aroma was just so similar to American IPA's, and I wasn't expecting much different, but like I said, it is surprisingly soft on the palate, both with the gentle carbonation and the muted bitterness. However, it retains the full flavor of the ripe hops, and uses a profile that is somewhat less conventional. I think the clarity could be better, which the accompanying sheet expressly states that this beer is crystal clear, so that maybe I got some chill haze? The aroma is appetizing and the flavors are fresh, and approachable. I would buy this again, and I think many people would like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 03:38:42 | More by MusicaleMike

djrn2

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10%

05-02-2013 22:56:26 | More by djrn2

acurtis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10%

05-02-2013 22:56:17 | More by acurtis

UWBadgerFan4Life

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-02-2013 19:51:35 | More by UWBadgerFan4Life

stealth

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

05-02-2013 01:31:22 | More by stealth

golf4collet

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-02-2013 00:31:23 | More by golf4collet

valkyre65

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

04-28-2013 12:21:42 | More by valkyre65

guytyping

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

04-27-2013 18:08:05 | More by guytyping

smithj4

New York

4/5  rDev +2.8%

04-27-2013 17:06:54 | More by smithj4

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.86/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

I remember the Contessa from the classic soap opera "It Never Ends"... Anyway, this stuff pours a hazy straw-brass topped by a more-than-healthy amount of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises pine needles, earthy greens, light Vicks Vapo-Rub, and rich toffee. The taste brings in more of the same, which unfortunately means a return of the Vicks character, which blends strangely with the earthy pine pervading the proceedings. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, I'm just gonna say the hop selection didn't do it for me, as the Vicks flavor and scent ruined things in my eyes.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 01:41:20 | More by TMoney2591

DRBiser

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

04-26-2013 00:12:59 | More by DRBiser