Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/6221
january–february 2010 / the tasting panel / 47 G len Margosian grew up in a beer family; his father owned a large distributorship in Central California. Today, Margo- sian is throwing his passion for beer and his vast knowl- edge of the industry into a new and unique project: Oro di Milano, the first artisanal craft beer from Italy to be imported to the States. THE TASTING PANEL met with Margosian and his field sales manager, Tom Phipps, at Oliva Trattoria in Los Angeles to taste through the Oro di Milano collection and to find out more about how the duo plan to revolutionize the way Americans perceive Italian beer—and even beer in general. The project began five years ago when Margosian set out to find an Italian craft brew worthy of investment and nurture. He nar- rowed his original list of 15 prospects down to five, then to three. Finally, he selected a tavern-based brewer in Milan who was mak- ing a serious product and had an interest in expanding to the U.S. After work on branding, a name change (Oro di Milano means "Milan Gold"), updated produc- tion in a brand new facility, developing eye-catching packaging and securing dis- tribution commitments, the new beer launched in California in late 2009. The portfolio consists of three beers. Oro di Milano Puro Malto is a lager with mid-palate weight, precisely delineated flavors and a slightly more aggressive hop quotient than other, more familiar lager imports. The Oro di Milano Doppio Malto, premium ale with burnished gold color in the glass, delivers expansive, delicious malt tones on the palate. The top-of-the-line offering (and Margosian's personal favorite) is Oro di Milano Riserva Speciale, with deep amber hue, lacquery character and 8.2% alcohol. All three are offered in fourpacks of 33 ml. bottles and in 750 ml. bottles that are a hybrid style between a wine flask and a crowned beer bottle. Both formats have an SRP of $9.99. "These are wine-drinkers' beers," says Margosian, whose marketing plan is to appeal to the Italian lifestyle that consumers desire. With solid 20-year-contracts with Southern Wine & Spirits for distribution on the one hand and with the Mi- lan-based brewery on the other, Margosian is prepared to strike gold with Oro di Milano. —David Gadd Oro di Milano is imported by Bravo Beverage; www.orodimilano.com. gaddS sIXPacK oRo dI MIlano iS The neW reFerenCe Beer FOr iTalY the Gold Standard Brand owner Glen Mar- gosian (left) and Field Sales Manager Tom Phipps (right) intro- duce Oro di Milano to Oliva Trattoria General Manager Luigi Di Bella (center). The Oro di Milano Doppio Malto matched with the pizza capricciosa from Oliva Trattoria in Sherman Oaks, CA. PHOTO: MERIDITH MAY