Birrificio 50&50 — The Surprising Brewery of Varese
There is a brewery in Varese, Lombardy, founded by two friends — Elia and Alberto — with a philosophy that is written directly on their cans: "FUCK RACISM, ENJOY ALL!!!". It’s called 50&50, and for years it has produced some of the most interesting and technically precise craft beers in the Italian craft scene. From award-winning Pilsners to West Coast IPAs with experimental hops not yet on the market: every batch is a chapter of its own.
Who is 50&50
Elia and Alberto founded 50&50 with a clear vision: to make good beers, without compromise, with a strong and authentic identity. Elia is the brewmaster — his obsession with raw materials, new generation hops, and technical precision is evident in every beer. The catalog ranges from classic low fermentation beers to hoppy IPAs, from dark Stouts to English Bitters, up to experimental brews with hops that no other Italian brewery has yet. A range that few breweries of their size manage to handle with such consistency.
Beers to Order Now
Manbassa · €4.50 — Pilsner
Elia and Alberto’s first love, and you can tell. A Pilsner with a bright golden yellow color and aromas of freshly cut grass, bread, and cereals. Clean, smooth, with a well-balanced herbal bitterness and a dry, inviting finish. The beer to drink repeatedly, in every season. Order Manbassa →
Alus · €4.10 — Bavarian Helles
Close your eyes and you might find yourself in Bavaria. A Helles inspired by Munich beers, with the crisp cleanliness and freshness typical of the style and a slight floral push from noble hops. Straw yellow, clear, refreshing — an easy and carefree drink, never banal. Order Alus →
Silvio's · €4.60 — Oatmeal Stout
A style that few Italian breweries dare to tackle — and 50&50 does it with great skill. An English-inspired Oatmeal Stout with a silky texture thanks to the oats, notes of chocolate, coffee, dark caramel, and vanilla. Soft, enveloping, with a smooth bitterness and a long finish. Serve at 8–10°C in a mug. Order Silvio's →
Better Call Welly · €4.20 — English Bitter (collab Wellington Pub)
An authentic English Bitter, born from a collaboration with the Wellington Pub in Lodi. Intense copper color, Ernst hops with herbal and dried fruit notes, dry body and quick sip. The finish is dry and delicately bitter — the quintessential pub beer, designed to be drunk by the liter without ever getting tiring. Order Better Call Welly →
United DDH West Coast IPA · €4.40 — Double Dry Hopped
A modern, clean, and balanced West Coast IPA. Mosaic and Simcoe — both also in Cryo version — for an intense aromatic impact: tropical, floral, citrusy. Clear bitterness, dry body, dry finish. The IPA that convinces at the first sip and immediately calls for the second. Order United DDH →
HBC1183 West Coast IPA · €4.80 — Experimental Hop FWD
The rarest piece in the catalog. The FWD (Forward) program by Yakima Chief — the world’s largest hop grower — tests future hop varieties on a handful of selected breweries worldwide. For 2026, the only one in Italy is 50&50. HBC1183 is a code, a number, a variety not yet on the market. Single batch, unrepeatable: ripe orange, mango, lychee, coconut, fig. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Order HBC1183 →
The Complete Catalog
Besides the beers available now, the 50&50 catalog includes classics like the Kalopsia (tropical Pale Ale), the Italian Pils with Diamant hops, and the Mr. Crocodile with New Zealand hops — beers that return periodically and are worth keeping an eye on.
