List of products by supplier Birrificio Kauss

"The world of beer is a colorful one!" That's how my sommelier course instructor began a few years ago when we covered this type of beverage, so appreciated by the public and by myself! Indeed, the brewing world, especially in recent years, has seen the birth of countless craft breweries and microbreweries, but also industrial ones "disguised" as artisanal businesses! Hence my intent and desire to bring some clarity and begin a personal search for small, authentic breweries, where passion and expertise form the foundation of small-scale production, capable of best telling the story of their production area, starting with water, whose hardness and pH characteristics are fundamental in brewing, especially for certain beer styles. Equally important are the raw materials, such as malt and hops, and, last but not least, human experience and creativity! These, in my opinion, must be the basic ingredients that make the difference in what the market offers today. All this and more, I found in Piasco, a small town in the province of Cuneo, in the Varaita valley. A place where foothill and mountain agriculture occupies a good part of its inhabitants' lives. Piasco opens the doors to the valley, and just outside the small town you can spot the sign of the KAUSS artisanal farm brewery. From here begins my journey to discover a small but important production of craft beers deeply tied to its territory, yet with ambitions that go beyond regional borders, earning appreciation from enthusiasts scattered throughout the country. Welcoming me at the company is Ivan, who, together with Diego and Luigi, the Master Brewer, has brought to life the project of producing good, authentic craft beers starting right from the field, the land, and the water of this valley! "Kauss," which in Piedmontese dialect literally means "kick," becomes on the label a stylized little man metaphorically kicking away rules and conventions, formalities, trends, and industrial or fake craft beers! Indeed, because being artisanal isn't enough; the brewery is first and foremost "agricultural": Diego, Ivan, and Luigi are farmers and producers of raw materials, largely sourced locally. The Kauss farm is also environmentally virtuous, producing its beers with the lowest possible environmental impact, relying on certified renewable energy. In fact, all the heat used in production comes from a wood-fired boiler powered by biomass from the clearing of surrounding woods, while the electricity is generated by the photovoltaic system on the roof of the facility. All this allows the Kauss brewery to have an identity deeply connected to the territory, while keeping an eye on the world that will be left to future generations. The visit to the brewery continues among the copper kettles and the storage area where the precious malt from the cereals—mainly barley—grown in their fields is kept, including one field right in front of the brewery. The wonderfully fragrant hops are almost entirely Piedmontese "doc"! These are the high-quality basic raw materials, grown under certified organic farming, without the use of synthetic pesticides or chemical herbicides. Proof of this can be seen in their barley fields, where alongside the golden ears of grain, numerous wild herbs and a sea of red poppies also grow! None of the beers undergo pasteurization or filtration, but rather a slow decantation at low temperature, in order to preserve certain important aromas that would otherwise inevitably be lost. Unlike other artisanal productions, the beers are not bottle-refermented, but are bottled using the "isobaric" method, thus preserving their natural effervescence resulting from primary fermentation. All the finished product is stored in a suitable temperature-controlled room to ensure the organoleptic qualities of the beers are preserved for a long time. At the end of the tour, we finally arrive at the tasting room, where I begin sampling their beers, which are mainly bottom-fermented (Lager), with two top-fermented (Ale) beers, including some "interpretations" aimed at achieving naturally hoppy and citrusy flavors and aromas. One of the qualities I appreciated most is that these are thirst-quenching, easy-drinking beers, yet at the same time complex in their varied nuances of aroma and taste. Luigi, the Master Brewer, who gained extensive experience abroad, mainly in Germany and Denmark, explains to me that their concept of beer is not to "build" it by adding unusual flavorings, but rather to focus entirely on selecting and processing the best malts and hops for the various styles offered. Each beer has its own distinct character, but they all share a clean aromatic profile, appealing flavors, and a genuine, satisfying drinkability! I'll conclude by giving credit to the Kauss brewery for succeeding in becoming a spokesperson for its territory, offering beers that are highly enjoyable, genuine, and original. While respecting classic recipes, I'm confident they will meet the expectations of all those seeking a craft beer that is modern yet, at the same time, traditional.