Brewing under licence

Just noticed recently that Birra Moretti seems to have gone from an imported beer to a one brewed under licence by Heineken UK. Stands to reason I supposed, as it’s much more prevalent on draught now compared to a few years back.

This got me thinking, can you actually tell the difference between the original and ‘copy’ or is it marginal? I like a beer but I’m not exactly a conneseur, so just wondering.
 


Just noticed recently that Birra Moretti seems to have gone from an imported beer to a one brewed under licence by Heineken UK. Stands to reason I supposed, as it’s much more prevalent on draught now compared to a few years back.

This got me thinking, can you actually tell the difference between the original and ‘copy’ or is it marginal? I like a beer but I’m not exactly a conneseur, so just wondering.
I don’t know really.
I like it, I drink it, I don’t try to work out where it originated.
 
Easily.

Surely Birra Moretti has been Heineken owned (and brewed under licence) since the day it was launched in the UK?

No. It’s a recent change I think. Got a pack from B&M at Leechmere earlier and it says imported lager, and the pack is a slightly different colour to the one that says brewed under licence. They had both side by side.

And before anyone asks, I didn’t have enough on me to buy two packs!!!
 
I stopped drinking Beck's when they started brewing it over here. "German Heritage" appeared on the box instead of ' brewed in Germany'. The taste difference was huge. You can still get imported Moretti though. Home Bargains sell it in 4x330ml bottles.
 
I don’t know really.
I like it, I drink it, I don’t try to work out where it originated.
Same. Surely if it’s brewed in the same way using the same products it’s the same beer...

They say Guinness is best in Ireland as it doesn’t travel well, but fuck knows if that’s true. It did taste nice there mind, as did Murphy’s, as did Beamish...
 
They say Guinness is best in Ireland as it doesn’t travel well, but fuck knows if that’s true. It did taste nice there mind, as did Murphy’s, as did Beamish...
It’s almost like wine snobbery.
I don’t even pretend to like alcohol.
I drink it to get pissed!
 
Water tastes different depending on where you are - so the beer that’s made with it will too.

The water is generally treated to be uniform.

Of course you still might get some subtle differences.

Yeah right!

There is a point there - just taste the difference between a glass of tap water in Sunderland vs in Durham, for example.

But still, most brewers treat their water to make it fit a certain profile. E.g they tend to ‘Burtonify’ their water when making a pale ale.
 

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