IGA Day is born: on October 5th, we toast to the style that literally blends wine and beer.
- Guild Secretary
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
A date to mark with a cork or a crown cap? Both.
October 5, 2025 will mark the official debut of the International IGA Day, the international day dedicated to one of the most innovative and distinctive styles in the beer world: the Italian Grape Ale (IGA).
A hybrid, aromatic, and surprising style—where beer meets grapes, and from that encounter a whole new taste category is born.
An Italian marriage between must and malt
Born in Maracalagonis, Sardinia, in 2006 thanks to the vision of Nicola Perra of Birrificio Barley, the Italian Grape Ale is a craft beer that incorporates grapes, fresh must, or grape pomace into its brewing process.
A liquid bridge between wine and beer, between fermentation and fermentation (and no, it’s not an oxymoron—it’s the magic of Italian food and wine culture).
Recognized in 2015 by the BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) and officially endorsed on October 5, 2020 by the EBCU (European Beer Consumers Union), the IGA now finally has its own official day.
And who else could have come up with the idea, if not Simone Massenza, a.k.a. The TASTE Hunter—beer taster, international judge, storyteller of fermented tales, and tireless seeker of styles?
A day to raise your glass (perhaps a tulip one)
On October 5th, breweries, pubs, wine bars, enthusiasts, and curious drinkers are invited to celebrate the IGA style with tastings, events, pairings, and—why not—a few unconventional toasts.
From Moscato-infused versions to those made with Sangiovese, from dry bodies to notes of red fruits: Italian Grape Ales are as diverse as the grapes of our land.
Anyone wanting to join in (or sip something culturally enriching) just needs to use the hashtags #IGADay, #ItalianGrapeAleDay or #InternationalIGADay, and let themselves be carried away on a sensorial journey between malt and vine.
Why does the IGA deserve its own day?
“Because it’s the style you don’t expect.
The first Italian beer style ever to gain international recognition,”
says Simone Massenza.
“Expressive, modern, deeply rooted in the territory, with a huge potential for cultural export.
Because it’s a beer that tastes like grapes but doesn’t try to be wine, and a wine that’s not afraid of hops.
Because in a world full of IPAs—often too similar—we need a different sip. And it deserves to be celebrated.”
In short?
On October 5th, whether you’re at a brewery or on your couch, pour yourself a Grape Ale, look at its color, inhale its aroma, take a sip and think:
“Could someone else have invented this? Maybe. But we did.”
Welcome, IGA Day. Cheers!
For interviews, further info or media inquiries about International IGA Day:
www.igaday.it (under construction)
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