The Soul of Brianza in a Glass: Local Craft Beers

Lecco and Its Beers: A Microbrewery Itinerary

In the last decade, the Italian brewing landscape has experienced a true revolution, with the birth of hundreds of microbreweries that have brought craft beer culture back into the spotlight. The Lecco territory, nestled between lakes and mountains, has also seen the flourishing of some excellent breweries that have managed to combine tradition and innovation, enhancing the territory through unique, quality products. At Boogie Bistrot, we are proud to offer our guests a selection of the best local craft beers, with a particular focus on two producers that represent the excellence of our territory: Herba Monstrum and Dulac.

Herba Monstrum: When Passion Becomes a Profession

From Home Brewing to Brewpub

The story of Herba Monstrum begins like many of the most beautiful adventures in the craft beer world: from a passion for homebrewing. After about ten years of home experimentation, in 2012 the founders decided to take the big step, creating a beer firm and producing their first two recipes: MUSA and DISCORDIA, collaborating with local breweries.

Growth was rapid, and in 2014 the Herba Monstrum Brewery was inaugurated, a brewery with a brewpub located at Via Ettore Monti 31 in Galbiate (LC). A deliberately small and familiar environment, where the quality of the beers is combined with a convivial atmosphere that invites discovery and sharing.

A Clear Production Philosophy

What distinguishes Herba Monstrum is the constant pursuit of quality through carefully selected ingredients. Their beers are top-fermented, unpasteurized, and unfiltered, maintaining intact all the organoleptic characteristics of the products.

The connection with the territory is fundamental: the brewery's pride is indeed a line of beers made with ingredients from small local farms, creating a virtuous circle that enhances the economy and culture of the territory.
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Herba Monstrum's you'll Find at Our Place

At Boogie Bistrot, we have carefully selected some of Herba Monstrum's best creations:

• Tatanka (Double Single Hop APA, 7.7% ABV): A powerful beer as its name suggests, characterized by the exclusive use of Simcoe hops from Yakima Valley, which gives it intense aromas of resins and tropical fruit. Amber-orange in color with compact and persistent foam, it presents a good body and a decisive but not too persistent bitterness. Its 7.7 degrees are dangerously hidden by the aromatic intensity, making it similar to "a herd of bison approaching the sky." Available in 75cl bottles.
• Zulu (Session IPA, 3.7% ABV): A gluten-free Session IPA that doesn't sacrifice taste. With a deep yellow color "like the sun on summer afternoons," it offers an intensely citrusy aroma. The body is surprisingly soft and full thanks to the use of Italian organic sorghum, while the bitterness is pronounced but not persistent. With only 3.7 degrees, it's perfect for those looking for a joyful and drinkable beer. Available in 33cl bottles, ideal for individual consumption.

These beers perfectly represent Herba Monstrum's production philosophy: quality artisanal products, where raw materials are treated with care and respect. As they like to say: "A good beer is pure passion, from those who create it, those who produce it, and those who drink it!"

Dulac: Between Two Lakes, a Family Passion

A Story of Family and Territory

The name Dulac, which in "lagheé" dialect means "two lakes," is already a tribute to the territory where this brewery was born in 2014. Located in Galbiate, in the area between Lake Annone and the Lecco branch of Lake Como, Dulac is a perfect example of a family business born from a passion for craft beer.

Alessandro, Daniele, and Marco, the founders, have transformed a dream into reality by creating a brewery that today produces over 24 different types of beer, all baptized with names in local dialect as a tribute to their Lecco roots.

Tradition and Innovation

What makes Dulac special is its ability to range between different beer styles, from Belgian to German tradition, through England and modern American interpretations, while always maintaining a strong connection with the territory.

The production mainly includes top-fermented beers, but there are also interesting experiments and collaborations with local producers. An example is the "Maron" beer, a chestnut ale made using dried chestnuts from the upper lake, or the "Durada," a tripel enriched with organic linden honey from the Como area.

The Beers You'll Find at Our Place

At Boogie Bistrot, we have selected some of Dulac's best creations:

• La Ciara (Pilsner, 5.0% ABV): An authentic pilsner that pays homage to the Czech tradition born in 1842 in Pilsen. Straw-yellow in color with fine and compact foam, it offers herbaceous and spicy notes given by the noble Saaz hop. In the mouth, it is lush and refreshing, with flavors of crackers and bread crust that blend with the sweeter notes of Carapils malt. The finish is dry and well attenuated, with a slightly bitter cut that makes it incredibly drinkable. Produced with the traditional "Decoction" technique, it is perfect to accompany fish fries or white meats. Available in 75cl bottles.
• L'Ambrada (Belgian Pale Ale, 5.0% ABV): With a deep amber color and generous foam, this beer strikes for its remarkable balance. On the nose, aromas of ripe fruit are supported by hints of honey and biscuit. On the palate, it opens with a nice sweet and malty note, with hints of biscuit and toffee candy, then evolving into delicate hints of honey, cherry, and ripe orange. The finish is perfectly balanced, with the hop supporting the overall harmony. A versatile table beer, ideal with cheeses and medium-aged cured meats. Available in both 33cl and 75cl formats.
• Centenario (Smoked Strong Ale, 7.0% ABV): A beer with a copper color with ruby reflections and beige, fluffy, and persistent foam. It offers intense malty notes of dark caramel, toasted hazelnut, and bread crust with a fine smoky profile. The entry to the palate is full and round, with hints of caramel and caramel candy that veer toward smoky notes of bacon, speck, and provola thanks to the use of special malts smoked on beech wood. Its complexity makes it perfect to accompany aged cheeses, smoked cured meats, and important first courses such as carbonara or pizzoccheri. Available in 75cl bottles.

Gastronomic Pairings: A Journey of Flavors

One of the most fascinating aspects of craft beer is its extraordinary versatility in food pairings. At Boogie Bistrot, we have carefully studied the organoleptic characteristics of each beer to offer you pairings that enhance both the beer and the dish.

Pairings with Herba Monstrum Beers

Tatanka: Thanks to its decisive character and aromatic intensity, this Double APA pairs perfectly with our most flavorful dishes. Try pairing it with our grilled beef burger or with aged local cheeses. Its aromatic intensity perfectly balances robust flavors without overwhelming the palate.

Zulu: Being a light but aromatic Session IPA, it is the ideal pairing for aperitifs. Its freshness cleanses the palate and stimulates the appetite, making it perfect with our light appetizers, summer salads, or lake fish dishes. Being gluten-free, it is also the ideal option for those with intolerances who don't want to give up the pleasure of a good beer.

Pairings with Dulac Beers

La Ciara: This authentic Pilsner is the ideal companion for our lake fish fries. Its freshness and dry finish perfectly cleanse the palate from the grease, while its lightness does not overpower the delicate flavors of the fish. It is also excellent with white meats and grilled vegetables served on our terrace.

L'Ambrada: Its versatility makes it one of our most recommended beers. It pairs splendidly with the medium-aged cured meats of our platter, with traditional Brianza legume soups, and with stewed white meats. Its aromatic complexity adds an interesting dimension to even seemingly simple dishes.

Centenario: This is our choice for the most structured and flavorful dishes. Its smoky notes enhance the long-aged cheeses of our territory, the smoked cured meats of the appetizer, and important first courses such as our pizzoccheri or pasta carbonara. It is also an excellent beer to taste on its own at the end of the meal, almost like a digestif.

Why Choose Local Craft Beers

The choice to offer local craft beers at Boogie Bistrot is not casual but reflects our culinary philosophy based on some fundamental principles:

Valorization of the Territory

Craft breweries like Herba Monstrum and Dulac don't simply produce beverages but tell stories of passion, connection with the territory, and valorization of local raw materials. Each sip is a journey through the flavors and traditions of Brianza and the Lecco area.

Dulac, whose name means "two lakes" in "lagheé" dialect, explicitly proposes itself as a symbol of Lake Como. The names of their beers, all in local dialect, represent an evident tribute to the places where the brewery came to life, between Lake Annone and the Lecco branch of Lake Como.

Artisanal Quality and Authenticity

Both breweries share the same philosophy: creating original, living, unpasteurized beers, in which raw materials are treated with care and not diminished by large industry processes. This artisanal approach guarantees authentic products that invite natural conviviality.

Sustainability and Short Supply Chain

Choosing local producers also means reducing the environmental impact related to transport and supporting the local economy. An ethical choice that also translates into greater freshness and quality of the final product.

Experiences to Live: Visits and Tastings

For enthusiasts who wish to deepen their knowledge of these breweries, both Herba Monstrum and Dulac offer the possibility of guided tours and tastings.

The Herba Monstrum brewpub is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with hours that vary during the day. In addition to tasting their excellent beers, you can also try the famous artisanal hamburgers that have made the venue famous.

Dulac, on the other hand, offers brewery tour experiences, where Alessandro will guide you to discover the production process and the different types of beer, also explaining the etymology of their names in "lagheé" dialect.

Come Discover the Flavors of Our Land

At Boogie Bistrot in Colle Brianza, we believe that quality passes through the selection of the best raw materials and the valorization of the territory. The beers from Herba Monstrum and Dulac perfectly represent this philosophy, offering our guests an authentic experience that goes beyond a simple meal.

An Aperitif with a View and Excellence Beers

We invite you to discover these brewing excellences during a special aperitif in our bistro. Imagine sipping a Tatanka from Herba Monstrum or an L'Ambrada from Dulac while admiring the sunset over the Brianza hills from our panoramic terrace. Our aperitifs include a selection of small tastings from the local cuisine, designed to enhance the unique characteristics of these craft beers.

Don't miss the opportunity to discover the authentic flavors of our land in a unique context. Whether you're a beer enthusiast or simply curious to explore new flavors, at Boogie Bistrot you'll find an unforgettable experience that celebrates the best of the Lecco brewing tradition.