Melle is a small town located in the Varaita Valley, in the southwestern part of the Alps. Like many mountain places, Melle suffered from abandonment and depopulation for several decades. Ten years ago, after living in the city for some time, two young and visionary men decided to go back to their hometown and make one thing: beer. And beer they made, turning that dream into something much bigger. Today, the Antagonisti group counts fourteen people. They all live in or nearby Melle, where they run a restaurant, a bar, and a hostel; they keep making and selling several types of beer, plus delicious gelato and locally farmed vegetables. 

We stayed with them for two weeks, sleeping in the beautiful rooms of their hostel, working from the mayor’s office, and hiking in the woods surrounding the village.