North East Beer Review

Birra Baladin is a brand new brewery to me and this from the Piedmont region of Italy. I bought this IPA as part of box build from Beer52 and being I believe the first Italian IPA I have ever had, expectations were high. So for today’s review I am covering Birra Baladin L’IPPA and during the course of this review I will cover the history of this beer and brewery, the pour, the taste and aroma and my verdict.

A pioneer of Italian Craft

Birra Baladin was founded 1996 by Teo Musso in the small village of Piozzo, located in the Langhe region of Piedmont. Before becoming a fully fledged brewery, “Le Baladin” was a pub which was opened by Musso with inspiration from Belgian beer culture. After learning Belgian brewing techniques, he began producing his own brews using a small homemade brewing system from repurposed milk-processing tanks.

Baladin quickly became one of Italy’s pioneers in craft brewing. As stated above, inspiration came from Belgian brewing culture with the use of Italian creativity and agricultural ingredients. Over the years, Baladin expanded from a tiny brewpub into one of Italy’s most influential craft breweries, while maintaining a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients and Italian brewing identity. Today, Baladin is widely regarded as one of the breweries that helped establish modern craft beer culture in Italy, with many beer enthusiasts considering it among the country’s most iconic producers.

L’IPPA is one of Baladin’s India Pale Ale inspired brews which was launched in 2020 for the brewery’s “From the Earth to Beer” project. This emphasizes the use of 100% Italian ingredients. The beer is brewed using Italian-grown barley, Italian hops, water from the Maritime Alps, and Baladin’s own house yeast. Four hop varieties—Cascade, Chinook, Comet, and Magnum—are cultivated in Italy, giving the beer a unique aromatic profile that differs from many international IPAs. L’IPPA has an ABV of 5.5% and was designed to be balanced and highly drinkable.

A glowing pour

L’IPPA pours a clear golden-amber colour with a slight hazy appearance. A generous white head forms on the pour, showing good retention and leaving light traces of lacing down the glass as it recedes. The carbonation is lively, with a steady stream of fine bubbles rising through the beer, giving it an inviting and refreshing appearance.

A citrus first interesting flavour profile

Aroma

The aroma opens with bright citrus notes of grapefruit, orange peel and tangerine, followed by hints of tropical fruit such as mango and melon. Floral and herbal hop characteristics emerge as the beer warms, while a light malt sweetness provides balance in the background. The overall aroma is fresh, inviting and distinctly hop-forward without being overpowering.

Taste

On the palate, L’IPPA delivers flavours of citrus fruits, including grapefruit and orange, alongside subtle tropical notes of mango and melon. A gentle malt backbone supports the hop character, adding hints of biscuit and honey-like sweetness. The bitterness is moderate and well-balanced rather than aggressive, leading to a clean, crisp finish that encourages another sip. The beer’s Italian-grown hops contribute a unique character that sets it apart from many American-style IPAs.

Time for my verdict

Overall, Baladin L’IPPA was an interesting introduction to Baladin and Italian craft beer as a whole. This beer was a crisp, citrusy and overall balanced ale which would be perfect during a heatwave or spell of hot weather. There is a slight unique flavour from the hop profile and possibly the Italian grown barley. I overall quite liked this one, it isn’t my favourite but still a solid ale. I rate this 4 out of 5. Cheers

Where did I purchase this beer?

I bought this from Beer52.

Thanks for reading my review. If you enjoyed this review you will love my review of Moersleutel Fruit Bomb.