Peroni Nastro Azzurro

The name Nastro Azzurro means “blue ribbon” in English. The name suggests that this is a top shelf offering and the beer is marketed with a focus on using it as a fashion accessory. 

Origin: Rome, Italy

Alcohol/vol: 5.1%

Style: Pilsener

Average Rating: 7.0 

Every chance you’ll enjoy

Craig’s tasting

I, like most people don’t believe that the Italians have the capability of producing a world class beer. This tasting session was the chance for the Peroni brewery to prove me wrong. They had the chance to make me believe that pasta, lasagna and spaghetti were not the only palatable offerings from their part of the world.

Why is the marketing so good? This is a Pilsener and Peroni have worked out that most people will shun a pilsner if they have a choice. There is no mention of it on the bottle at all. Marketing genius.

First taste: Typically Pilsenerish in its smell and taste. Straight out of the fridge, while still cold this is a very refreshing and enjoyable beer.

How was it towards the end? As expected the warmer this beer got the more the taste deteriorated. For some reason it has a citrus aftertaste that hangs on the tongue as the hoppiness disappears.

My final word: Part of me wants to like this beer, the other part wants me to hate it, and hate it with a passion. In all honesty this beer is popular thanks to a great marketing campaign by its owners. In reality it is not a beer everyone is going to love.

I would quite happily drink a few of these in a row but it would have to be quick so they don’t get warm. This will cause a few problems as I try and convince the girlfriend that I have to drink six of these in 1 hour to fully appreciate the beer. For some reason she thinks this is anti social behaviour????

Danny’s tasting

Question! What would the Italians know about brewing beer?

I must admit that this thought was in my mind when I had the chance to try Peroni Nastro Azzurio from Italy. I have had many opportunities to try it in the past but always passed on it as it either looked like bottled water or at least the name sounded like it was. I thought it would be all flashy advertising but likely lack any real substance.

Well I’m man enough to admit I was wrong. Not on the scale of wrongness like millions of Germans voting Bitburger as their number 1 Draught beer but more like wrong in not giving a beer a chance based on perception. A beer passed up is a beer never drunk if you know what I mean.

As an Amber Analyst I could describe the beer as typically European in aroma. That it was crisp, light and had a certain freshness to it. That it was a good accompaniment to either pasta or sea food and that drinking it reminded me of time spent in the Piazza Navona watching the sun set over the eternal city.

I could say that but I’m not a beer wanker.

The best way to describe it or rate it would be as follows:

1. Would I gladly take a six pack to a BBQ.  Answer YES

2. Would I be pissed off if someone started drinking it at said BBQ instead of what they brought.  Answer Yes again

3. Would I be offended if someone bought me a case of it as a thank you for something.  Answer No.