Wabi

Wabi is a craft beer that is hard to classify into a specific style. It is certainly a beer with a golden color and a beautiful white foam, which immediately offers freshness. The brewers at Orso Verde selected some of the best Slovenian hops for this recipe (including the Styrian Dana, Styrian Golding, and Aurora varieties) to create an aromatic bouquet of wildflowers, freshly cut hay, and citrus hints, with lemon in the foreground. On the palate, it enters with honeyed and cereal notes, then gives way to a well-balanced bitterness. A fresh and dynamic sip, perfect for an enjoyable everyday drink.

The concept of Wabi-Sabi in beer

The name Wabi refers to the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection and simplicity. This beer perfectly embodies this philosophy: it does not try to forcibly fit into a codified style but lets itself be defined by the quality of the ingredients and the balance of the final result. It is an honest, straightforward beer that focuses entirely on freshness and drinkability.

The Orso Verde brewery

Orso Verde is an Italian craft brewery known for its constant search for quality ingredients and its ability to create balanced and accessible beers. With Wabi, the brewers wanted to explore the potential of Slovenian hops, less known compared to their American or New Zealand counterparts but equally interesting for their aromatic complexity.

Slovenian hops: a hidden treasure

Slovenia boasts a long tradition in hop cultivation, with native varieties that express unique characteristics. Styrian Golding is perhaps the most famous, appreciated for its herbal and elegant notes. Styrian Dana brings citrusy and floral freshness, while Aurora adds hints of lemon and white flowers. Together, these hops create a distinctive aromatic profile that evokes the rural landscapes of Slovenia: blooming fields, freshly cut hay, aromatic herbs, and fresh citrus.

Sensory profile

When poured, Wabi shows a bright golden color with a compact and persistent white foam. The nose immediately reveals the floral and herbal notes of Slovenian hops, accompanied by hints of fresh lemon and hay. On the palate, the beer opens with a honeyed and cereal sweetness derived from the quality malt base. This initial sweetness is then balanced by a well-measured bitterness, never overpowering, which cleanses the palate and prepares for the next sip. The carbonation is lively but not excessive, contributing to the overall freshness sensation.

Versatility and drinkability

Wabi was conceived as an everyday beer, perfect for those seeking quality without excessive complexity. Its moderate alcohol content and balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness make it suitable for many occasions: from aperitifs to after-dinner, from Sunday lunch to evenings with friends.

Food pairings

The freshness and elegance of Wabi make it perfect with Mediterranean cuisine dishes: salads, grilled vegetables, baked fish, fresh cheeses, focaccias, and white pizzas. It also pairs well with Japanese cuisine, especially sushi and sashimi, creating an ideal bridge between the beer’s name and the food pairings.

Serving temperature

Serve Wabi at 5-7°C in a tulip glass or a Pilsner glass to enhance the floral and citrus aromas of the Slovenian hops.