The first thing I noticed about this beer as it sat on the shelf was the blue bottle. Then I saw it was also Italian and I couldn't resist. Besides Redstone Meadery and Tenant water it is the only blue bottle I have seen on the market. In fact from my homebrew days I remember the one blue bottle manufacturer most shops used had a problem with his oven and they aren't really available in the US anymore.

The beer had a slightly haziness with a deep copper color. The was a definite noble hop aroma. When I moved on to tasting it I only noticed only noble hop flavor but with a high level of bitterness. There was some crystal malt sweetness and a bit of roasted character. After considering the beer I'd call it an amber more intense version of a traditional European lager. Perhaps the first European made Imperial Lager I have run across.

At the end there was bit of trub but not as heavy as Fleurette. The beer came in at 6.5% and according to the label it should be served between 50-55 degrees, which fits my lager suspicion, but then the importer calls the beer an Italian Amber ale so I am not sure where it goes style wise. Postscript: The bottle does in fact state the beer is an ale, the serving temperature and beer character threw me off.

Birrificio Barley was founded by Isidoro Mascia and Nicola Perra. It is a brewery is located on the island of Sardinia in the town of Maracalagonis. In addition to Sella del Diavolo Barley brews Friska and Toccadibo. They are try to use local Sardinia ingredients in the beers whenever possible. Their goal is to be "a small craft brewery with the creative idea of producing beers that would be served on tables in parallel to wine" according to their website.

From the taste of Sella Del Diavolo I'd say they are well on their way to reaching that goal.