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Taste Italian Craft Brews At Bar Umbriago

By Lorna Juett in Food on Oct 10, 2012 9:30PM

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On Saturday Oct. 13 at 6:00p.m, Bar Umbriago in River North will host its first Italian beer dinner. For $75, patrons get a seasonally inspired four-course dinner paired with Italian craft beers. A quick search shows that the beers featured in this dinner aren’t widely available at Chicago restaurants (though Isaac, brewed by Birrificio Le Baladin is available at Pizzeria da Nella). However, over the last year or so, more and more Italian craft brews have been showing up on beer menus and in retail coolers, doing their best to prove that there’s more to the Italian beer scene than skunked out lagers in green bottles.

Typically, Italian craft brewers use the nuts, spices, fruits, and herbs available in their individual regions to create flavors, and the pairings on this menu appear to play off of those tendencies. Take a look for yourself:

First Course
Goat Gouda sformatto, brown butter pears
Paired with Isaac, brewed by Birrificio Le Baladin

Second Course
Roasted Scallops, celery root risotto
Paired with Nuova Mattina, brewed by Birrificio Del Ducato

Third Course
Braised leg of lamb, chestnut ravioli, apples
Paired with Toccadibò, brewed by Birrificio Barley

Fourth Course
Flourless chocolate cake, hazelnut gelato, espresso
Paired with Verdi Imperial Stout, brewed by Birrificio Del Ducato

If a four-course meal with pairings isn’t your bag, their regular beer list also offers a smattering of Italian craft breweries. With live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Bar Umbriago could be a nice place to sate your Italian beer-related curiosities.

Bar Umbriago is Located at 6 West Hubbard St. Call 312.494.1200 for reservations.