Banda Volpi Teams Up with Slow Hand to Launch New Italian Pilsner

Banda Volpi—the restaurant group behind beloved Vancouver Italian restaurants Savio Volpe, Pepino’s, Caffe La Tana and Elio Volpe—is no stranger to the world of beverage creation. Outside of their restaurant’s impressive cocktail menus, they previously launched their own private label amaro, limoncello and two seasonal beers (the Savio x 33 Acres Fox Got Your Tongue was a summer standout in 2023).

But, this time they’ve set their sights on easy sipping suds. Enter: the Banda Volpi Italian Pilsner. The newest addition to the restaurant group’s roster of fantastic beverages (note: I spent all of summer 2024 obsessed with lambrusco spritz thanks to Elio) will be offered year-round, with a flavour profile that is just as welcome on rainy days as it is when manifesting Italian summer.

To achieve that ultra-sippable beer (aka you can drink more than one without being totally IBUed out) Banda Volpi teamed up with East Van’s Slow Hand Brewing. “It’s been a privilege to work with Slow Hand throughout the entire process, from observing the parallels between our beverage programs’ philosophies to production, canning, and labelling,” says Banda Volpi Beverage Director Amar Gill. “We’ve taken quality ingredients and incorporated them into an old world classic with a contemporary twist – it’s an ode to Italian tradition just as much as it is a representation of the riches our own province has to offer.”

Think Saphir hops (known for their low-bitterness) and honey-veiled malt (honey-forward and malty, duh, but without too much toastiness) and a flavour profile that favours sweet citrus, berries and subtle notes of currants and spices. To translate: it’s fresh and lively on the palate and works just as well in a frosty glass as it does transformed into a Spaghett (made with Aperol, lemon juice, orange and of course pilsner, also available at all Banda Volpi restaurants).

The pilsner will be available at all Banda Volpi restaurants beginning April 2 as well as select liquor stores across the lower mainland.