Vecchia Orsa: Craft Beer and Social Inclusion in San Giovanni in Persiceto
In the heart of San Giovanni in Persiceto, in the province of Bologna, lies Vecchia Orsa, a craft brewery that for over a decade has combined the production of high-quality beer with an important social project. Founded in 2007 as an initiative of the social cooperative Arca di Noè, Vecchia Orsa has made its passion for beer a vehicle for labor inclusion, offering concrete opportunities to people with disabilities.
A Brewery with a Social Heart
Vecchia Orsa’s production stands out for the variety and quality of its beers. The brewery offers 13 different styles, all strictly top-fermented, ranging from the light and fresh Golden Ale, through the aromatic IPAs, to the more complex Tripels and Imperial Stouts. Each beer is born from a carefully crafted artisanal process, in which the bottling, labeling, and storage phases are carried out by people with disabilities, thus promoting autonomy and participation within the local community.
Vecchia Orsa is not only a production site but also a meeting place for beer enthusiasts. At its brewpub, equipped with eight taps, it is possible to taste the brewery’s products directly, accompanied by typical gastronomic specialties from the Emilia region. Among these stand out bread, piadine, and tigelle prepared with 'trebbie', meaning the spent malt recycled after fermentation, a choice that testifies to the commitment towards a model of circular economy and environmental sustainability.
Unique Experiences: Guided Tours and Tastings
For those who want to go beyond simple tasting, Vecchia Orsa offers the experience called “Behind the Pints,” guided tours that allow you to discover every stage of the beer production process up close. From the selection of raw materials to bottling, participants are led through an engaging and educational journey that ends with a tasting of some of the brewery’s finest beers.
Tours are held every half month and, to ensure an exclusive and personalized experience, places are limited. This formula has been very successful, attracting curious visitors and enthusiasts alike, confirming Vecchia Orsa not only as a producer of excellent beer but also as an active entity in promoting culture, inclusion, and sustainability.
Vecchia Orsa is a reality that demonstrates how craft beer can be a driver of social change, combining production excellence with commitment to a fairer and more inclusive world, without neglecting attention to the environment and the territory in which it operates.
