RSS

Category Archives: De Ranke

Review of De Ranke XXX Bitter

Hello everyone. It’s time for another craft beer review and today I’m going to be trying the De Ranke XXX Bitter produced by the Brouwerij De Ranke located in Wevelgem, Belgium.

I’ve only ever had the De Ranke XX Bitter and I thought it was wonderful, so I’m guessing that this beer should rank right up there with it.

I checked on the website, deranke.be, and didn’t find any info for the XXX Bitter, but I did check on ratebeer.com and found this.

Brewed especially for the Shelton Brothers “The Festival” 2013 in Portland, ME. Limited kegs and 75cl bottles productions. Not to be confused with the regular XX Bitter.

Not much to go on there, but that’s ok. Let’s drink this thing.

This beer came in a 25.4 oz. bottle with an ABV of 6.0%.

It poured a beautiful, mostly clear, golden color. It formed a billowy, soft, fluffy, rocky, white head from a very easy pour. It was sized great and the retention time was awesome. The lacing was patchy and soapy, but very nice looking. This was a gorgeous looking beer and just staring at it in the glass made me want to turn it up and take a sip.

The nose was very floral. Tones of fruity green apple and pear made their way into my nostrils while spices of pepper and coriander followed. Fresh smelling grasses, yeast and bready goodness added more complexity, depth and roundness. This brew smelled very, very nice.

Within the flavor a fresh grassy, grain and hay-like component began first. The fruitiness didn’t seem as strong, however it was still noted. The green apple gave it the slightest bit of tartness. The yeast and bready characteristics were rather profound though. At the back end a very nice hop bite tickled the tongue while a peppery sting complimented.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied. Very crisp, refreshing and dry with a wee bit of bite. A good, medium strength carbonation allowed a lot of flavor to completely cover the palate for enjoyment between sips.

I tell ya. I thought this was a great beer. It was very easy going and it would be a great Spring time brew. The freshness would totally match that point of the season. It was well balanced and intricate in both the aroma and the taste. Not to mention that it looked spectacular standing in the tulip. I have no doubt that this beverage could be appreciated by even the most advanced craft beer enthusiast as well as someone just getting started in the world of better beer. I know that I really enjoyed it and I hope that De Ranke brews the XXX Bitter again sometime because I’ll definitely pick it up. Did any of you guys get the opportunity to sample this brew? What did you think of it? Feel free to leave a comment and tell me all about your experience.

Thanks for reading everyone. I really appreciate it.

Until next time. Cheers.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

Grade: A

Review of De Ranke XX Bitter

12 Jun

Hello everyone. For today’s craft beer review I’m going to be trying the De Ranke XX Bitter produced by the Brouwerij De Ranke located in Wevelgem, Belgium.

I have seen this sitting on the shelf at my local bottle shop numerous times, however I have never pulled the trigger and picked up bottle….. until now.

Let’s see what we can find out about this beer from the website, deranke.be, shall we?

XX Bitter or Extra Extra Bitter is a blond, bitter ale containing 6.2% vol. Alc. It’s famous for it’s very bitter and strong flavour. XX is being made with pale pilsner malt and loads of Brewers Gold and Hallertau hop flowers. A perfect combination that has been nationally and internationally praised. This ale has been a real trendsetter for the current comeback of bitter ales in Belgium.

Sounds very nice. Let’s drink.

This brew came in a 25.4 oz. bottle with wrapping paper of the brewers logo and information. The ABV was 6.2%.

It poured a cloudy, golden/orange color. The head was slightly off white and smooth, however it was a touch soapy. The size was excellent, the retention time admirable and the lacing noteworthy. It settled to a fine ring around the outer edges of the tulip glass that remained for the entire drink. It looked very nice I thought.

The nose was nice and hoppy with a slight hint of sourness and tartness. It smelled a bit musty with malty white breads and hints of yeast, which provided the lightest touch of “funk”. Very earthy with a fruity undertone of lemon and pear. Very well balanced, harmonized and good.

The taste was both bitter and fruity as well. Savors of not quite ripe “green” pear and lemon citrus. Wonderful grassy and floral hops with just a smidgen of tarty goodness. The funk was very light too. Additional touches of yeast and white bread. Like the bouquet, it was very well balanced, harmonized, even and enjoyable.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied, quite dry, snappy, refreshing and thirst quenching. The carbonation was excellent and a nice dose of flavor was left covering the palate long after each sip.

Man, I thought this was a GREAT brew. I’m so glad I picked it up and tried it. I will not pass it up next time that’s for sure. In some ways it kind of reminded me of a slightly hoppier Farmhouse Ale. It had a very feeble amount of tartness and funk, although enough was found to account for a comparison. The hops were spot on and blended very well with the other characteristics. The drinkability was superb and this brew would make for a killer treat during the hot/humid days of Spring and Summer here in Kentucky. If you guys have yet to try the De Ranke XX Bitter, don’t hesitate any longer. It’s a super good beer that could satisfy most any craft beer drinker in my opinion. With that being said, pick up a bottle and see what you think. Be sure to let me know in the comments also if you don’t mind.

Thanks for all of the support and for reading the reviews everyone. I’m so appreciative.

Until next time. Cheers.

Score: 4.5 out of 5
Grade: A