In the past Venice had four breweries. The biggest one was the brewery “Birra Venezia” which produced about 150 thousand hectoliters per year, employed hundreds of people and even exported to the “homeland of beer” in Germany.
Birra Venezia was established in 1835 as “Ditta Biliotti” in the Santa Chiara area. In 1902 it became “Distilleria Veneziana” and moved to the Fondamenta S. Biagio on Giudecca. The new and modern plant, designed by German architect Wullekopf, was in style with the nearby Molino Stucky.
In 1908 it changed its name to “Società Birra San Marco” and then again in 1913 the factory became “Birra Venezia”. For many years it was a leading product of the Venetian industry as well as a ubiquitous element in the city’s taverns.
In 1929, adhering to the policy of concentration that was beginning to spread in several sectors, Birra Venezia and a dozen other brands were absorbed by Birra Pedavena. Birra Venezia therefore ceased its production and subsequently all traces of it were lost.
With the aim of recovering a historic past and an ancient tradition, the company Birra Venezia Srl was founded in 2007, which relaunches the “Birra Venezia” brand, combining it to the quality of the best Italian beer production. After more than a century, in 2015 the ancient Giudecca beer “Birra San Marco” also returns and becomes part of the company’s product range.
Website: www.birravenezia.it
