The beer routes: villages of Marche’s craft brewing tradition
3 minutes
Marche’s craft beers are born from the marvellous scents and flavours of the land, expressing the essence of a simple, wholesome product made with ingredients chosen with care and refinement, delivering true satisfaction to the palate. Marche is the fifth-largest region in Italy for barley production and is home to more than 300 types of beer. This rich brewing heritage has been winning acclaim across the country for years, while also encouraging moderate and mindful consumption of this hop-based beverage.
Around the 40 or so breweries in the region, both agricultural and craft, a thriving community has formed. It is driven by capable young people and entrepreneurs keen to spread the word about their beer. Their efforts include tastings, visits to hop fields, cooking shows exploring the best pairings of beer and food, and events such as BAM, Birrifici Aperti Marche.
It is from this long-standing passion for beer that Marche became the first region in Italy to launch a tourism initiative dedicated to this beverage: “The Beer Routes”.
Beer routes, taste routes
The “Beer routes” project was created through a partnership between the national “Città della Birra” association, which currently brings together 23 municipalities, 21 in the Marche region, plus Montone in Umbria and Fossa in Abruzzo, and the Marche di Birra association.
Launched in the Marche region, the initiative aims to promote and enhance areas with a strong brewing tradition. These places are not only home to agricultural and craft breweries, but also offer outstanding natural, cultural, and historical attractions. The initiative includes an integrated tourism offering and a loyalty scheme: the Beer Routes Passport. This gives tourists and beer lovers visiting the “Città della Birra” member towns access to numerous discounts at breweries, restaurants, bars, accommodation, museums, and attractions listed on the official website.
The beer routes of the Marche region offer a journey through tradition and innovation, a project that celebrates a passion for beer and helps spread the culture around it.
Apecchio: city of beer
When it comes to Marche’s villages where craft beer is produced, Apecchio in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino, known as the “City of Beer”, is impossible to overlook.
Here, pure spring water flows directly from Monte Nerone, and the climate is ideal for producing high-quality barley. These factors led to the creation of two top-tier craft breweries, capable of combining these elements and transforming them into a truly outstanding product.
This laid the foundations for the Apecchio City of Beer project, which has turned the small town in the province of Pesaro and Urbino into a national capital of craft beer.
From the outset, the aim of the Apecchio City of Beer Association has been to raise the national profile of this small town. Set in a landscape rich in historical and scenic appeal, it has used its malt-based excellence, already recognised internationally, as a powerful promotional tool.
An ambitious idea developed by a group of locals, in collaboration with the local council and the town’s two breweries, it has proven to be a winning initiative over the years.
“BAM, Birrifici Aperti Marche” is an event created to celebrate Marche’s beer culture
On the first weekend of December, breweries across the region open their doors to the public, offering a unique experience of tasting, culture, and tradition. The event welcomes enthusiasts, the curious, and food lovers alike. It allows visitors to learn about the history and production process of the region’s finest agricultural and craft beers, while also discovering the distinctive features of the surrounding area. From the inland hills to the Adriatic coast, the initiative promotes experiential, sustainable, and high-quality tourism, offering a fresh and authentic perspective on the Marche region.
As part of BAM, Birrifici Aperti Marche, each of the 25 participating breweries offers a unique sensory journey where visitors can discover the authenticity and originality of ingredients grown in the Marche region, from locally cultivated grains to traditional brewing methods. Each brewery also organises special events such as concerts, Trappist beer tastings accompanied by Gregorian chants, dinners, DJ sets, malt history workshops, and barbecue masterclasses.
What are you waiting for? Set off now to discover the villages of the Marche region and their craft breweries!
