The origin of Birra Pedavena

The popular Pedavena Beer takes its origin from the ancient brewery in Canale d’Agordo with the Luciani’s Family who founded this new activity.

They produced and sold beer since 1847, when the brewery was founded, to 1930 ca. There was a great coming and going of boxcars in that period in the village.

In winter time outside the brewery, next to the church,  there was a high wood structure which was constantly kept wet by a natural source of water so when it turned into ice people used it to keep beer fresh.

At the end of ‘800 Luciani’s family moved from Canale to Pedavena because here there was a large vein of good water and in 1896 they started a new business here with a reduced artisanal production of beer.

In 1917 with the Austro-Ungarian invasion the factory was sacked and its copper equipment were destroyed by a fire. So by the end of the war the plant had to be  rebuilt and in 1920 the factory became the second in Italy.

In 1927 they built the beautiful cooking lounge, decorated in cooper and completed with mosaics and stuccoes.

In 1928 Luciani Bros acquired Birreria Dreher in Trieste and after the II WW the production of beer increased a lot.

In 1953 a school for beer masters, the only in Italy, was founded in Feltre.

At the end of ’60s the Luciani’s decided to leave one name only to their beer and they opted for Dreher. In 1974 The brewery was sold to the Dutch Heineken Group.

In 2004 Heineken decided to close the factory in Pedavena. But in 2006 after many efforts the plant was opened again by the Castello Group of Udine.

Pedavena beer is 100% Italian  and it is still produced according to the ancient Luciani’s receipt with the fresh water of the Dolomites.

Birra Dolomiti was born in 2006 just on the Dolomites and, as the name suggests, it is strictly linked to the territory. It is produced preserving the environment and using the local products. Barley is cultivated by Cooperativa La Fiorita using some old seeds found in some ancient trunks in Livinallongo del Col di Lana and Val di Zoldo