I arrived in Florence for the first time in January 2016. Mostodolce, was one of the first restaurants I went to that beginning week. Located on Via Nazionale, down the street from the Santa Maria Novella train station, Mostodolce is a restaurant and brewery, originated in Prato. You know it is good when a local recommends it. I was lucky that a friend of mine, who grew up in Florence, was in town when my study abroad semester began. He suggested the montegioco pizza, which has continued to be my favorte favorite pizza in the world, to this date. It is basically a pie with red sauce, blotches of burrata cheese (the best cheese on this planet) and smaller blotches of spiciness. It was this visit that I tried coccoli for the first time! You can read about this amazing Florentine appetizer HERE. While I raved about the food for two years (taking my friends and family to Mostodolce during their visits to Florence), my most recent visit was about the beer. Beer has been my drink of choice for years but craft beer wasn't a huge passion of mine until the summer of 2016. My first visit I drank a specialty beer of theirs, only available a couple of times a year, called the Natale. But I didn't put two and two together. I didn't know at the time that they were a brewery, or that I would be so passionate about visiting every craft brewery in the world. So when I returned, summer 2017, to work for Smart Trip, and made a visit for my favorite pizza, I was happily surprised to find out they made their own beer! I have visited four times total. On my most recent visit, I learned they started serving flights! While the word itself- "flight"- isn't used or even translated into Italian, they gave me a sampler of all their beers in mini steins! I had the Martellina, the Oggy, the APA Francesco, the Pepita, the Rebe, and the God is Dead. I have had the Martellina more than once. It is easily their most popular beer, however, it was my least favorite in the mix. It had a strong honey flavor but in my opinion is overly sweet. The Oggy, an American Session, is perfectly hoppy, refreshingly mild and coming in at 3.8% ABV. The American Pale Ale, Francesco, has higher alcohol content than the one above, at 5.6%, and a significantly higher IBU of 50. It has a bold and bitter hop character that lingers. The Pepita is surprisingly one of my favorites. Rarely do I like pilsners but it has a larger hop presence than expected, using an American hop variety, instead of the traditional Czech. I tasted subtle fruity notes fading into the beer's bitter finish.
The Rebe Blanche, was honey sweet, light and bubbly with a spice filled aroma and bready notes in taste. Last but not least was the God is Dead Black IPA: this beer is sweet with a hop finish and roasted after taste, with a dark malt character to it. I enjoyed my flight and the fact I finally made a beer centered trip to my favorite pizza spot. For me, the vibes and presentation of breweries also really makes it. The restaurant is super local in environment, and laid back. The tiny stein glasses were cute and fun. Even if you aren't the biggest beer fan, please make a trip and try that pizza! It is unimaginable.
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