Peroni occupies an unusual position in beer. In Britain it became shorthand for vaguely aspirational imported lager sometime around the early 2000s, usually served in bars featuring brushed steel and aggressively square furniture. Back in Italy though, it is simply one of the country’s longstanding beer institutions.

Founded in 1846, the brewery grew alongside modern Italian industry and eventually became internationally associated with Peroni Nastro Azzurro, the crisp pale lager launched in the 1960s. The beer itself leans dry, lightly bitter and highly drinkable, with subtle citrus and grain character rather than heavy malt sweetness.

Italian lager generally prioritises refreshment and elegance over brute force, which makes sense in a country where beer often sits alongside food rather than replacing it entirely. Peroni works particularly well with pizza, fried seafood and anything involving sunshine and outdoor seating.

The branding became hugely successful abroad because it sold a version of Italian lifestyle as much as the beer itself. Slim bottles, clean design and effortless “la dolce vita” marketing did a lot of heavy lifting. Thankfully the liquid inside remains solid too. Crisp, balanced and properly refreshing when served cold.

Italy’s craft beer scene has expanded massively over recent decades, but Peroni still holds an important place culturally. It is woven into everyday Italian drinking in a way many imported “premium lagers” elsewhere never quite achieve in their home countries.