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WE ARE THE OLDEST WORKING
BREWERY IN ITALY SINCE 1846

Discover the Brewery
between 1800 And 1900

Founded in 1846

Birra 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".
Menabrea Brewery 1846 Historical main Image 1 background
BOTTLING HALL image

BOTTLING HALL

Menabrea originally filled each bottle by hand one by one, capping with cork and sealing wax or machine, every single bottle.
Late 1800’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
SECOND WORT BOILER image

SECOND WORT BOILER

The owners and workers toasting the installation of the second wort boiler.
1897 - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
WORT BOILER image

WORT BOILER

The first wort boiler installed in 1900.
1900 - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
THE ROUNDHOUSE image

THE "ROUNDHOUSE"

First circular shaped building constructed in 1874 at the behest of Giuseppe Menabrea. Here they stored barrels for maturing beer.
1874 - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
THE FOUNDERS image

THE FOUNDERS

A toast at the table of the old brewery with three tankards of Bavarian beer.
Late 1800’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
OPEN FERMENTATION VESSELS image

OPEN FERMENTATION VESSELS

Inspection during fermentation.
Late 1800’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
STABLES image

STABLES

Our stables (today our restaurant) was home to 18 horses with a value of 7 euros. Next to the stables were the saddlery, the blacksmith's and the groom's workshop.
1897 - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy

The Rise of Birra Menabrea

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.
Menabrea Brewery 1846 Historical main Image 2 background
MENABREA BREWERY RESTAURANT BIELLA image

MENABREA BREWERY RESTAURANT - BIELLA

Initially called the "bottega" because it was used for retail sale of beers and soft drinks. It also housed the first Menabrea restaurant.
1846 - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
COVERED COURTYARD FOR KEGGING image

COVERED COURTYARD FOR KEGGING

Wagon with small kegs at the entrance to the kegging hall.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
KEGGING HALL image

KEGGING HALL

Menabrea used wooden barrels, made in its carpentry shop, until the 1960s. The first metal kegs were introduced in 1971.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
PASTEURISATION HALL image

PASTEURISATION HALL

Inside the roundhouse, now attached to the brewery, were the tanks that pasteurised the bottled beer which was already in crates.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
BOTTLING HALL image

BOTTLING HALL

From the beginning of the 20th century the most modern bottling machines allowed the operators to fill about 120 bottles per hour.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
BOTTLE WASHING image

BOTTLE WASHING

Room used to check and wash bottles before refilling.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
FERMENTATION image

FERMENTATION

Open fermenting vessels.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
WORT COOLER image

WORT COOLER

Open steel tank for cooling wort before fermentation begins.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
BREWHOUSE image

BREWHOUSE

The second wort boiler in action.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy

Passage to the Thedy family

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.
Menabrea Brewery 1846 Historical main Image 3 background
INTERIOR OF THE OLD RESTAURANT IN BIELLA image

INTERIOR OF THE OLD RESTAURANT IN BIELLA

The first Menabrea Restaurant remained open 1950’s until transferring to its current site.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
HEAD BREWER S AND FINANCE OFFICE image

HEAD BREWER’S AND FINANCE OFFICE

The former brewery offices situated above the old restaurant.
1870 - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
ENGINE POWER image

ENGINE POWER

Wheels with transmission belts for engine power.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
MENABREA THEDY FAMILY image

THE MENABREA - THEDY FAMILY

On the inside factory terrace: sitting in the center from the left Eugenia Squindo, widow of Carlo Menabrea and Eugenia Menabrea wife of Emilio Thedy, with the five Thedy brothers.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
READY FOR DELIVERY image

READY FOR DELIVERY

Internal courtyard showing wagons loaded with bottles and kegs.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
CELLARS image

CELLARS

Wooden maturation vessels.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
COVERED COURTYARD image

COVERED COURTYARD

To the rear of the roundhouse a new courtyard was opened which housed open sheds and warehouses for the storage of wagons. On the left, the kegging hall.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
GRAND RESTAURANT MENABREA image

GRAND RESTAURANT MENABREA

Warehouse and brewery restaurant.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy
COOLER WITH ICED WATER image

COOLER WITH ICED WATER

Iced water cooler.
Early 1900’s - Archives G. Menabrea – F.lli Thedy

Growth and renewal
under the leadership of Franco Thedy

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.

Menabrea Brewery history image 1846 01
Menabrea Brewery history image 1846 02
Menabrea Brewery today image 1846 01

Proudly made in Biella since 1846

PHONE: +39 (0) 152522320 ADDRESS: VIA RAMELLA GERMANIN N.4 13900 BIELLA (BI) ITALY EMAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TELEFONO: 015.2522320 INDIRIZZO: VIA RAMELLA GERMANIN N.4 13900 BIELLA (BI) ITALIA EMAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Birra Menabrea spa p.iva IT01511760025 REA 143476 Registro Imprese 05062920151 Cap. Soc. 2.580.000 iv Societá a Socio Unico

Birra Menabrea spa p.iva IT01511760025 REA 143476 Registro Imprese 05062920151 Cap. Soc. 2.580.000 iv Societá a Socio Unico