It’s always good fun having a look around Aldi and the range of cheaper versions of big-name brands that are on offer. I always see the array of lagers at the back of my local store and, given the recent hot weather, thought it would be the perfect time to test them out.
Each beer is modelled on a big-name brand and is available for under £2 a bottle. Aldi stocks Grande, based on Madri, Birra Mapelli, based on Birra Moretti, and Rossini, which is the Peroni equivalent. Despite not being a huge fan of knock-off beers, one of them stood out to me as potentially better than its big-name peer. Here is what I thought.
Grande – 4/10
Grande is inspired by Madri and has a very similar red label of a man holding a beer. It is available for £1.75 and comes in a 660ml bottle.
Although my hopes weren’t too high ahead of testing the trio of lagers, the Grande left me fairly disappointed. It was pretty flat and lacked the usual flavour you’d be after.
I’m far from a beer expert but I could certainly tell the difference between Grande and Madri. However, it was still fairly easy to drink and, I can confirm, that I didn’t have any issue in finishing it.
Birra Mapelli – 7/10
Next up was the Birra Moretti dupe, which is available for £1.49 in a 500ml bottle. This was probably the beer I was most excited for, as Moretti is a typical choice of mine when I’m in a pub.
The first thing I noticed was that the Birra Mapelli was far fizzier than the Grande. It certainly had more froth which I was pleased about.
In terms of comparing it with Moretti, the Mapelli seemed a bit sweeter. It also seemed a bit darker in colour compared to the big brand alternative.
While it wasn’t quite as good as Moretti in terms of flavour, the Mapelli was close. Overall, I’d say it’s a decent beer which I’d certainly try again.
Rossini – 9/10
Peroni is considered a premium lager, so, in theory, the Rossini had a lot to live up to. My first impression of the Aldi beer, which costs £1.49 for a 500ml bottle, was positive as the packaging looked the part.
I certainly couldn’t tell much difference in taste between the Rossini and Peroni. The Aldi dupe actually seemed a bit smoother and less gassy, which I prefer.
Combine this with the cheaper price point, and I think the beer is a real winner. The Rossini also had an appealing crispness, which I think Peroni lacks.
Overall, I think the Rossini was the best of the three beers I tasted. It’s worth giving them all a go while the sun shines this summer!
