ABOUT US - DANIELE AND LINO’S STORY
Daniele and Lino - The ‘Monaci Vesuviani’ - are the brewery’s heart and soul.
About ten years ago, the ‘Monaci’ - both professionals and well-established in their respective fields at the time - decided to pursue their passion: brewing.
At first, they produced beer of a surprisingly reasonable quality. Their friends were very impressed by their efforts. But the ‘Monaci’ understood they would need to learn more to improve further. Of course, they worked very hard to do so, even getting involved in a 2011 business project - one in which the vast majority of breweries in Italy collaborated.
HOW THE ADVENTURE STARTED
On a hot summer’s day, they drove in a van across the country to reach Feltre, at the foot of the Dolomites, where they met Antonio Merlo.
Antonio is an accomplished brewer and brewing systems producer, whose experience in the industry dates back to 1975. He is the owner of Braumaster, a leading company in brewing systems and equipment production.
With Antonio’s wealth of experience, the ‘Monaci’ had found the perfect teacher. With his impeccable practical skills and ever-growing knowledge of how to produce beer, the ‘Monaci’ were able to learn about longstanding brewing methods and modern ones too.
During their time with Antonio, the ‘Monaci’ learnt the art of brewing and bought their first brewing system -30 litres in size - which enabled them to produce and test hundreds of beers.
THE ‘MONACI’ HONE THEIR SENSES
In 2012, they signed up for a beer tasting class in Campania and after passing an exam, which was accredited by the ADB (Association of Beer Tasters), they were recognised as professional tasters.
The class was organised by professionals and as part of the class, participants set up two breweries, a beer shop, and a beer firm.
The ‘Monaci’ discussed their beginnings and their production methods:
“In the winter, we would go to the countryside during the weekends, to a place called Cilento. We would stay in a secret location - a cottage surrounded by nature and nothing else. An open fire, the sights and the sounds of the sea, and olive trees. It was peaceful. It was silent. And we started brewing…”
‘You are crazy! Like Cistercian ‘Monaci’!’ many people responded.
And since then, people have referred to them as the ‘Monaci’.
THE TAKEOVER BEGINS
The ‘Monaci’ took part in home-brewing competitions, in which they achieved high scores and podium finishes too.
Two of their products in particular were appreciated so much that many of their friends and even some strangers bought a few bottles to take home.
Their monastery was full of thousands of beer bottles, dozens of fermenters and sacks of malt, so Daniele and Lino decided to renovate a cellar, from which they could produce in greater quantities and in time, be able to bring their products to the public.
The monastery remained a mystical place where they could simply experiment and improve their creations.
2014 - READY, STEADY, GO!
In 2014, they upgraded their system so it could brew 500 litres, and this allowed for mass production and sales to the general public. Naturally, they took a lot of care to preserve the quality of their product.
SUMMER 2015 - DEMAND INCREASES!
After just a year of production, the ‘Monaci’ were selling their products to pizzerias and restaurants all over the region of Campania, but most notably in the provinces of Naples, Salerno and Avellino as well as Sorrento, Pompei and Ischia.
The demand had increased dramatically and the ‘Monaci’ needed a bigger brewery to meet demands. They also explored the possibility of producing draft beer.
2016 - DEMAND INCREASES AGAIN!
Production exceeded 30,000 bottles of beer, which showed that their beers were appreciated not only in Naples but all over the south of Italy too.
2017 - A GREAT START TO THE YEAR!
One of the biggest handmade breweries in Campania hired the ‘Monaci’ to manage their whole production process.
This was a new challenge and as ever, the ‘Monaci’ approached it with enthusiasm.
TOMORROW - ?
Even though there is hard work and many challenges ahead, the ‘Monaci’ are looking forward to a bright and exciting future.
