AMA Bionda

Amarcord Brewery
Apecchio, Italy

Available: CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KT, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA

Brewed by Amarcord Brewery (Birra Amarcord) in the small medieval town of Apecchio, Italy, AMA Bionda is a beer made specifically for the Italian dinner table. Designed by Brooklyn Brewmaster Garrett Oliver, AMA Bionda is a golden beer with a soft but complex floral and fruity character, born of aromatic malts, three types of hops, Italian Orange Blossom honey from Sicily, and water from springs that date to Roman times.

ABV: 6.0
ABW: 4.8
Color: 6
Bitterness: 18
Original gravity: 1056

I am a sucker for sexy bottles, and this effervescent offering from San Marino, and created by Brooklyn Brewing's Garrett Oliver, certainly comes enveloped in an inviting package, with slender shoulders and an elegant neck that would make Audrey Hepburn jealous. But we all know it's what's inside that counts, and Bionda does not disappoint. Sweet honey-orange aromas softly touch the nose and are found again at first sip, with a faint citrusy tartness peeking in to keep the sweetness in balance. Light, crisp, refreshing, AMA Bionda discreetly conceals her strength (6%) and would be a lovely dining companion, playing well with a host of different flavors.
- Lisa Morrison

The fact that this hazy golden beer from Italy is inspired by the Belgian blond style is immediately evident in the aroma, with its sweet-spicy yeastiness and hints of bubblegum. Melon notes feature, too, until a honey-floral character takes over. The great thing for me is that, although the beer contains honey, this is not a sweet drink. The honey mainly adds softness to the palate and flowery notes to match the fruit (melon, orange and lemon) provided by the fermentation and the hops. Hop tanginess develops in the dry, clove-like finish. Elegantly served in a mini-Champagne bottle.
- Jeff Evans

Lisa Morrison
Lisa Morrison, aka The Beer Goddess, writes about beer whenever she can and also gets to talk about it on a weekly radio show in her hometown of Portland, OR.

Jeff Evans
Author of the Good Bottled Beer Guide and The Book of Beer Knowledge, Jeff Evans is an eight-time editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and one of Britain's best-known beer writers.

Comments are closed here.