VISIT THE BREWERY BETWEEN 1800 AND 1900

Menabrea is part of the history of beer in Italy. It was founded in 1846 by Mr. Welf of Gressoney and brothers Antonio and Gian Battista Caraccio. In 1854 the brewery was rented to Giuseppe Menabrea and Antonio Zimmermann, who went on to buy it in 1864. Following the departure of Zimmermann from the company, it will be down to Giuseppe Menabrea to create in July 1872, "G. Menabrea and Sons".

With the death of Giuseppe Menabrea in 1881, his inheritors begin the diffusion of the brand in Italy and are awarded important honours from the then rulers of the country. The use of the bottom fermentation brewing technique, which at the time was not widespread, and the use of qualitatively excellent raw materials primarily the water from the Biella springs, immediately characterised Birra Menabrea and made it a success.

Carlo Menabrea heads the brewery until, in 1896, the company passes into the hands of Emilio Thedy and Augusto Antoniotti, husbands of the Menabrea sisters. From that moment on, the Thedy family will lead the company.

In 1991, the company became part of the Birra Forst Group, a brewery in the South Tyrol Region of Italy known for the quality of its products and respect for theenvironment.
The agreement, signed by Paolo Thedy, aims to reaffirm the pride of Italian beer and further reinforce its commercial presence in the territory. Birra Menabrea has retained its strong identity and independence.

In 1997 Birra Menabrea reached the pinnacle at the World Beer Championships in Chicago, an authoritative annual competition promoted by industry experts. Here it was awarded gold and silver medals. This was an affirmative endorsement of the brewery in Biella, which in 2005 comes under the leadership of Franco Thedy, fifth generation of the family.
And it is precisely under his guidance that the current range from 150° to Top Restaurant has been conceived and developed.

The vision of Franco Thedy is aimed at making significant capital investments to ensure an efficient industrial process, respecting the most stringent quality standards and environmental compatibility. Among these was the completion of the new bottling plant, able to provide 15,000 bottles/hour, and keg lines that allow thefilling of 300 kegs per hour for the 30 litre size, 70 kegs per hour for the 15 litre size and 80 kegs/hour for the non-returnable plastickeg.

The implementation of resources, technology and the increasing demands of the Italian and foreign markets, led to a record year in 2017 with a considerable increase in production and its turnover. The best rate rate of growth ever recorded so far.

In 2017, Franco Thedy gave the go-ahead for the expansion of the Brewhouse with advanced features and a spectacular visual impact. Inauguration is scheduled for March 2019.

In addition, work began for the construction of an impressive logistics hub that will streamline and speed up the traffic of goods and stock them in a single site, welcoming drivers and vehicles in complete safety.

It is of great significance that the headquarters and brewery, with changes for improvement over time, will still remain located in the historic centre of the city of Biella where it was founded in 1846. So, Birra Menabrea can always stay true to itself: In its territory surrounded by the Alps, with pure and very light waters, and a beer culture that has been handed down from generation to generation.