On August 7, 2026, we headed to Birrificio Basei in Latisana for a “svuota fusti” night, a keg-emptying event to clear out what’s left in the tanks before the next batch, with live music on top. I first met Basei (owner and head brewer) a good eight years ago, but until this visit I had no idea he’d opened a taproom right next to his brewhouse!
Despite the nearly 60 kilometers to get there, it turned out to be well worth the drive. On a warm summer evening, Fernanda and I arrived around 8pm, with the sun still out. We ordered straight away: two Matniks and a porchetta sandwich (porchetta being Italy’s classic seasoned, slow-roasted pork). The Matnik surprised us with its intense hop aroma and bitter, remarkably refreshing finish: simply excellent! The sandwich was outstanding too, flavorful porchetta with a slice of pancetta on the side. If you’re into that kind of thing, you already know pork rarely disappoints, but this was next-level, and it paired perfectly with the beer (which, unsurprisingly, was gone in minutes!).
The simplicity and genuine atmosphere of the place won us over right away: you can tell it’s a spot built by people who love beer, for people who love beer. It was easy to spot plenty of regulars and local friends around. Basei and his partner welcomed us warmly, walking us through what was on tap. For us, as serious beer lovers and especially fans of IPAs, it was a real treat. Over the years we’d kept a very fond memory of their beers, and the three IPAs and one APA we tried that night (Matnik, Baru, Ciulo, Mojo) more than confirmed it.
While we enjoyed the music and the beers, we also noticed a detail that any craft beer fan will appreciate. I already knew there was a scale for measuring beer color, but at Basei’s, for the first time, I saw the EBC unit actually posted, both on the tap chalkboard and on the posters on the wall. As explained in Quality Beer Academy’s guide to beer color, EBC (European Brewery Convention) is the European standard for indicating the color of beer and wort: the lower the number, the paler the beer, the higher it goes, the darker it gets. Every outing is a chance to learn something new, and that’s exactly what makes exploring Italian craft breweries so much fun!
We had such a great time in a warm, easygoing setting. Birrificio Basei comes highly recommended, whether you’re nearby or willing to drive the extra distance, like we did!
A big thank you to Basei, and well done! 🍻
Basei Brewery
★★★★★
Latisana (UD), Friuli Venezia Giulia
Six beers on tap, a carefully made porchetta sandwich, and hops that leave no doubt.
A few words from the evening
What does EBC mean in beer?
EBC (European Brewery Convention) is the scale used in Europe to indicate beer and wort color. The lower the number, the paler the beer, the higher it goes, the darker it gets.
What is a session IPA?
It’s a lower-alcohol IPA, made to be easy to drink without giving up the hop aroma and bitterness IPAs are known for.
What is a “svuota fusti” night?
It’s an event breweries hold to empty out the kegs left before switching to a new batch, often paired with live music or other taproom happenings.
Before you go, the takeaways:
- You’ll spot the brewery right away by the yellow building on the main road
- The Matnik has an intense hop aroma and a bitter, refreshing finish
- The porchetta sandwich is simple but carefully made, the kind of detail you notice
- Basei is worth a visit, whether you’re in the area or willing to drive a bit further