Liberti Collingswood Hosts Italian Beer Tasting Friday

With more than two dozen Italian restaurants in town, Collingswood diners and shoppers are well familiar with the cuisine of the Mediterranean. But just how much do they know about the beers of Italy?

At a special, intimate tasting Friday night, borough residents and their guests are invited to educate their palates firsthand. Admission is just $10.

"Italy has had an indigenous beer culture for millennia, but it’s been overshadowed by Italian food, wine, and The Sopranos," said Rev. Jim Angehr of liberti church Collingswood, which is sponsoring the event. 

Angehr said Italian beer is "small-batch and craft-beer-oriented, and ideally designed to complement Italian food." 

Four of the selections will be paired with a dish prepared by Chef Angela Capanna of Eat Your Heart Out Edibles. The fifth, final beer will be complemented by a dessert from Cyndi Zippilli of The American Table in Collingswood.

"Italy is a fast-growing beer country, and with their passion for food, Italians can craft a beer that is unique in flavor as well as stay traditional if they choose to," said Collingswood resident Giovanni Caffarella.

Caffarella, whom Angehr said was the driving force behind the event, said that there are "not too many ambassadors for this beer movement," and credited importer B. United International of Connecticut as inspiring his beer selections.

"I think Collingswood is great just because you have people who are interested in trying new things and meeting new people," Angehr said. "Part of the idea behind this is doing some of that. 

"People are interested in going to a place where they don’t know somebody beforehand; that’s part of the charm and intrigue of living in the community," he said. "Why not do it around food and drink?"

The menu for Friday's tasting is as follows:

1. Bleu cheese and black olive stuffed mushroom caps—paired with the Baladin Isaac Saison
2. Scallops wrapped in pepper bacon—paired with the Birra Del Borgo Reale Extra Saison
3. Pesto Brie bites—paired with the Birrificio Bresciano Montenetto Rebecca Belgian Tripel
4. Gorgonzola and feta truffles—paired with the Baladin Nora and Birra Amiata Contessa
5. Chocolate truffles, chocolate sandwich cookies, and chocolate stout cake—paired with the Birrificio Del Ducato Verdi Imperial Stout.

The brews will darken as the evening does, increasing in heaviness, maltiness, and hoppiness.

The tasting kicks off at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at 701 Stokes Avenue. Space is limited, so reserve by e-mailing jim@liberti.org or RSVP'ing on the Facebook event page.