ZIOLUPO - Birrificio Bionoc'

Some beers are born from a recipe, others from an idea. Zio Lupo is both, but above all it is the result of a project: bringing the character of hops grown in Trentino into the glass, using them fresh and just after harvest.

The idea grew out of the Luppolo Trentino project, created by Nicola and Fabio, the founders of Bionoc’ Brewery, with the aim of developing a local supply chain for this important brewing ingredient. It is not simply about sourcing local hops, but about working with experienced farmers and valuing the differences between one valley and another. Climate, exposure, soil and growing conditions all influence the plants – and those differences eventually make their way into the beer.

Zio Lupo therefore becomes a kind of snapshot of the harvest season. It is brewed only once a year, when the hops reach maturity, between late summer and early autumn. The flowers are harvested and used fresh, without the traditional drying process, preserving as much as possible of their green, herbal character.

In the glass, it is a Mountain Harvest Pale Ale with a golden colour and a fresh, pleasantly bitter character. Its aroma is herbal with light citrus notes, while the palate reveals the fresh, green and vegetal qualities of the hops. This freshness is precisely what sets it apart from beers made with hops after they have been dried and processed.

The recipe is deliberately simple: water, barley malt, hops and yeast. Here, however, the hops take centre stage, while the malt is kept in the background to give them room to shine. A single batch can use more than 60 kg of fresh hop flowers, including German and American aromatic varieties grown directly in Trentino.

Over the years, the project has involved different parts of Trentino, from Primiero and Valsugana to Val di Non and Alto Garda, with the aim of encouraging local hop cultivation and highlighting the distinctive qualities that different growing areas can bring to the final product.

At the table, Zio Lupo works well as an aperitif and alongside vegetable-based dishes, where its freshness and gentle bitterness create a pleasant contrast.