Chris Hammond is an Edinburgh-based editor and journalist who has written extensively on the drinks industry, both at home and abroad. He is currently working on a guide to Scottish beer, due for publication in 2011.
Italy has long been the friend of both food fanciers and wine worshippers. Yet despite this, it is also a country that is viewed with suspicion by the beer-guzzling masses beyond its borders. Beer, you see, is the world's most popular alcoholic drink, and it stirs strong rivalries