Good morning Alberto, in your surname Ronzani, there is definitely a destiny sealed. I think this is the first time I've heard of a "family" brand being so happily reclaimed by someone who is not of the family, but bears the same surname. Was it a passion for beer or the coincidence of bearing the same famous surname that led you to do the research that allowed you to put the historic Birra Ronzani brand back on its feet? "The idea of bringing the Birra Ronzani brand back to life came from long historical research, the discovery that the brand had never been registered again, and the desire to keep it out of foreign hands. "
Perhaps for those who are not from Bologna Birra Ronzani is just an "already heard" name. , known especially by those who are no longer very young, as are those brands of old Italian craft products, but for the city of Bologna, Birra Ronzani is a real institution. Those who want to know the long and interesting history in detail can do so by reading it on the brewery's website www.birraronzani.com , but can you briefly tell us the main stages of the beer's history and why you felt the need to deal with it?
" In 1855 one of Italy's oldest breweries was born, Birra Ronzani in Casalecchio di Reno in the province of Bologna by Camillo Ronzani. In 1909 in Bologna, Bologna Calcio was founded in the Birraria Ronzani in Via Spaderie. In 1959 the shares were acquired by Birra Wuhrer, and in 1962 he transferred the company to Brescia, causing the Birra Ronzani brand to vanish. In 2009 I decided to retrieve all the historical material in order to undertake the initiative of relaunching a historic Italian brand. In November 2010 I was joined by two new partners with the intention of supporting me in the corporate development. I decided to take charge of this brand because I am very attached to Italy and to all the historical brands, so it really seemed like a unique opportunity."
The full name of the beer you produce today together with your partners Marco Rossetti and Fabrizio Procaccio is CinquePuntoCinque, and I deduce that it comes from the fact that its alcohol content is 5.5 percent vol.
" That's correct: CinquePuntoCinque derives from the alcohol content and is the full name we gave the label."
How does this beer approach the ancient and original recipe and how does it differ?
"The recipe of our Beer remains deliberately thirst quenching and pleasant with a white and compact foam looking for that conviviality that was the basis of the "Birrino" of yesteryear. The substantial difference is due to the use of spring water from Mount Nerone and no longer using water from the Rhine River, other times those when rivers were crystal clear !"
What are the production peculiarities of Ronzani Beer?
"Our production philosophy consists precisely of the water that flows from Mount Nerone (1525 mt.) and the use of selected hops and malts, using the "dry hopping" technique."
Ronzani Beer uses the "dry hopping" technique, what exactly does it consist of?
" The "dry hopping" technique consists of using flowering hops during the second fermentation in order to extract only the essential oils."
From an organoleptic point of view, what are the main characteristics of Ronzani Beer?
" Definitely the freshness of the olfactory and taste notes and a slight bittering note in the very pleasant finish."
What type of consumption is it best suited for? What foods and dishes does it go best with?
"I like to pair it with all traditional Emilian dishes, but it is most enjoyable on any occasion."
As for the glass, which is the perfect one for the best tasting?
"The classic chardonnay glass."
What is the best serving temperature?
"We recommend serving it from 5 to 7 degrees"
Is it a beer that should be consumed "on its own," or is it also suitable as an ingredient for other drinks and cocktails?
"Definitely for a quality product like ours, it is advisable to savor all the flavors and aromas of our beer by consuming it pure in its recommended glass."
Nice idea of the ice basket for serving, how did it come about ?
"Let's say that the idea was to want to give a new style to the consumption of beer and to be able to allow my customers to consume my product always fresh, even the last mouthful."
Thebusiness has started a short time ago, less than a couple of years, so I think you have a development program in mind. How do you currently distribute yourselves? Over what territory? And what is the goal: to remain a qualified craft beer in the territory, or do you also think about a wider, extra-territorial consumption? "
We are currently distributed in almost the entire Italian territory and mainly in the best locations in the Ho.Re.Ca channel. Our project is to make a historic Italian brand great again both in our territory and throughout Italy. Obviously with an eye toward the foreign market where we can spend all our history."
If anyone is interested in contacting you what are your references ?
" All our references are on our website, both for individuals and for professionals in the sector."
Interview by Monica Palla