Moretti La Rossa 6Pk

Moretti La Rossa 6Pk is a 7.2% ABV Italian-style doppelbock packaged as six 330ml bottles, brewed entirely with roasted barley malt. This double malt beer earned 92 points from Tastings.com and took gold at both the 2007 and 2010 World Beer Championships, making it one of Italy's most decorated dark lagers.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.2%  |  Origin: Italy  |  Style: Double Malt / Doppelbock  |  Brewery: Birra Moretti (Heineken N.V.)

Production & Heritage

Birra Moretti was founded in Udine, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy, and has been part of Heineken N.V. since 1996. La Rossa is the brewery's double malt expression, brewed with 100% barley malt that is dried and roasted to produce its distinctive deep amber color. Despite its Italian heritage, the recipe adheres to the German Reinheitsgebot (Purity Laws), relying solely on malt, hops, water, and yeast — a commitment that gives the beer its clean, malt-driven profile without adjuncts or additives.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Baked bread and warm caramel arrive first, followed by dried raisin and a gentle floral hop presence. A subtle toasted grain character anchors the nose and hints at the malt intensity to come.

Taste: A moderately strong malt sweetness hits the palate on entry, developing into layers of raisin, milk chocolate, and caramel through the mid-palate. As the beer warms, cherry cordial and biscuit notes emerge alongside a restrained bitterness from noble hops. The balance tilts decidedly toward malt, but never becomes one-dimensional.

Finish: Medium-long and smooth, with lingering licorice, toasted biscuit, and a faint coffee-like dryness. The residual sweetness fades gradually without becoming cloying, leaving a clean roasted malt signature.

How to Drink La Rossa

Serve La Rossa at 10–12°C (50–54°F) in a tulip glass or goblet to concentrate its malt aromatics; pour with a slow tilt to develop a moderate tan head. Its robust character holds up well in a Bock Shandy — mixed with fresh lemon juice and a touch of honey for a lighter warm-weather serve. A Beer Flip, shaken with a whole egg, a barspoon of demerara sugar, and grated nutmeg, transforms La Rossa into a rich, dessert-style drink that showcases the chocolate and caramel notes. For a simple mixed serve, a Diesel (half La Rossa, half cola) amplifies the beer's toffee and roasted malt sweetness.

Best For

• Pairing alongside hearty Italian or German cold-weather dishes
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast exploring European doppelbocks
• Autumn and winter fireside sessions with friends
• Introducing a lager drinker to malt-forward dark beer styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does La Rossa taste like? La Rossa leads with caramel and baked bread sweetness, followed by raisin, milk chocolate, and a gentle licorice undertone. A moderate hop bitterness keeps the malt richness in check, finishing smooth and dry.

How does La Rossa compare to Ayinger Celebrator? Both are doppelbock-style beers built on deep malt character, but Ayinger Celebrator is a Bavarian original at 6.7% ABV with more pronounced dark fruit and a drier finish. La Rossa, at 7.2% ABV, tends toward sweeter caramel and chocolate tones with a softer bitterness profile rooted in its Italian brewing tradition.

Is La Rossa good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its complex malt layers, moderate carbonation, and 7.2% ABV make it a rewarding standalone pour, especially when served at cellar temperature in a proper goblet.

Where is La Rossa made? La Rossa originates from Birra Moretti, founded in Udine in northeastern Italy. Since Heineken's acquisition in 1996, production has expanded to multiple facilities, including locations outside Italy.

What foods pair well with La Rossa? Braised beef or ossobuco, where the beer's malt sweetness complements rich, slow-cooked meat. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, whose nutty salinity contrasts the caramel notes. Dark chocolate desserts that echo the beer's roasted malt and cocoa flavors. Roasted root vegetables with their natural sugars mirroring La Rossa's toffee character. Grilled sausages with mustard, a classic pairing for any malt-forward German-style beer.

What sizes does La Rossa come in? La Rossa is commonly available in 330ml bottles, sold individually or in six-packs like this offering.

Is La Rossa worth the price? La Rossa positions as a premium import beer that sits above standard lagers but well below specialty craft doppelbocks — strong value given its gold medal pedigree and 92-point Tastings.com score.

Why La Rossa?

La Rossa stands apart from most Italian beers by committing fully to a German doppelbock framework — Reinheitsgebot-compliant, 100% barley malt, no shortcuts. Its gold medals at the 2007 and 2010 World Beer Championships and a 92-point rating from Tastings.com back up the approach with third-party validation. At 7.2% ABV, it delivers genuine doppelbock weight and complexity while remaining approachable enough for drinkers stepping beyond pale lagers for the first time. For anyone seeking a malt-driven, award-winning dark lager with Italian provenance, La Rossa remains one of the most accessible and well-priced entry points in the category.