Brewing is a revered art in Italy and the country’s monks saw beer as a form of nourishment. The country’s first medical school even praised its benefits, saying it increases well-being and strengthens the blood. Beer’s health properties were so renowned that Roman Emperor Agricola brought three master brewers with him upon his 83 AD Italian return to open a pub. Pale lagers are generally the Italian style of choice as they pair well with pizza. Over the past decades, the Italian beer scene has been diversifying as pubs and microbrews pop up all over the country.