The Best Beers for Italian Food: Our Top Picks
Italian food is all about acidity and herbs, so a crisp Italian lager is almost always the right shout. It refreshes the palate between mouthfuls of tomato, garlic and cheese. Here are four that suit a pasta or pizza night.
| Beer | Style | Our rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peroni Nastro Azzurro | Italian Pale Lager | 3.7/5 | The authentic Italian pick |
| Birra Moretti | Italian Lager | 3.6/5 | Easy with pasta |
| Stella Artois | Euro Pale Lager | 4.0/5 | A crisp, dry match |
| Sierra Nevada Pale Ale | American Pale Ale | 4.3/5 | Hops for tomato sauce |
Italian food and Italian lager is no accident. A crisp Peroni or Moretti keeps up with tomato, garlic and cheese without a fight.
The Best Beers for Italian Food, Reviewed
Peroni Nastro Azzurro
The house pour for a reason. Crisp, light and dry, it cuts through a rich tomato sauce like a charm. Read the full Peroni Nastro Azzurro review.
- Crisp and elegant
- Made for Italian food
- Dry, clean finish
- Light on flavour
- Premium price
Birra Moretti
A touch more malt character than Peroni, which suits heavier, meatier pasta dishes. Read the full Birra Moretti review.
- Clean and easy drinking
- Made for Italian food
- Gentle bitterness
- Mild flavour
- Nothing that stands out
Stella Artois
Not Italian, but a clean, dry lager that behaves exactly the same way against garlic and cheese. Read the full Stella Artois review.
- Crisp and dry
- Elegant and widely available
- A clean finish
- Can taste harsh to some
- Fairly plain
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
If the dish has some heat or a lot of chilli oil, this pale ale’s citrus hops handle it nicely. Read the full Sierra Nevada Pale Ale review.
- Bright Cascade pine and citrus
- The benchmark pale ale
- Very versatile
- Hop bite is a lot for some
- Not sweet
The bowls that make it feel like a trattoria
A wide, shallow pasta bowl keeps the sauce pooled around the pasta instead of running to the edges. It is a small thing that makes a big difference.
Italian Food and Beer: FAQs
What beer goes with Italian food?
A crisp Italian lager. Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Birra Moretti are dry and clean enough to handle tomato and garlic. For a hoppier match with a rich sauce, reach for a pale ale.
What beer goes with pizza?
A lager or a pale ale both work well. We cover it fully in our beer with pizza guide.
Related pairings: beer with pizza, beer with seafood, beer with lobster.
