De Ranke XXX Bitter
Brouwerij Brasserie De Ranke

josanguapo from Spain

4.26/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

De Belgiuminabox. En copa Teku. Leyendo sobre PERT. Excelente ejemplo de IPA belga. Aún embotellada en noviembre de 2019 (pero caduca en 2021), el lupulo sigue dandole un toque herbal y un feel muy agradables que se integran a la perfección con un perfil de belgian blonde nada edulcorado

Sep 27, 2020

VABA from Virginia

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a hazy light golden color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has citrus, herbs and hop hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a pleasant citrus, herbs and hop flavor
M-A medium bodied moderately carbonated beer
O-A well balanced Belgian IPA

Aug 25, 2019

Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle: Poured a hazy golden color ale with a large pure white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of huge dry hoppy notes with some herbal and grassy notes which is very enjoyable. Taste is also dominated by grassy hoppy notes with some herbal notes with some hay notes and a dry finish. Body is pretty full for style with good carbonation. I loved the hoppy profile which is very different then what you get from American style IPAs.

Aug 02, 2019

Bitterbill from Wyoming

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750 ml capped bottle bought at Liquor Shed.

Excellent head of foam sitting on a orange gold liquid, lacing and head retention..excellent.

Nose is of spicy and fruity hop bitterness. Flowery and I have to say, the spice is very mild. Citrus is not ignored.

Light citrus, spice, biscuit malt, smoother than a baby's butt..the tastes put you in a sit back and enjoy mode. Probably the greatest asset this hoppy Golden Ale gives me.

Smooth bodied, due partly to the low level of carbonation. I don't expect to encounter many burps drinking this beauty.

I think that this was around the $14 mark. No regrets.

Aug 22, 2018

puck1225 from Texas

4.27/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bought the bomber during a visit to Austin at a shop that had a small but choice selection of beers.

Poured into a small fluted glass. Beautiful foamy head and great curtain lacing atop a fairly cloudy yellow body. Refreshing smell. Taste of lemon, honey, and pepper. Some nice earthiness to the beer. A great table beer.

Jul 16, 2018

Stevedore from Oregon

3.83/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

On draft. Served in a wine glass. Slightly cloudy golden yellow body, orange hue, one finger white head, fair retention, not much lacing. Smell and flavour are fairly hoppy, with an assertive floral and herbal hop component, peppercorn, lightly toasted malt, light leather and hay. It's a hoppy saison through and through. Mouthfeel is lighter bodied, good carbonation, dry finish.

Mar 24, 2018

rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Real good bitter bite with the yeast esters playing off that bitterness very nicely. Not much to it other than that, but it does beat XX in terms of bitterness.

May 29, 2017

Immortale25 from North Carolina

3.71/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a Duvel tulip. Cap says 11DEC14 EXP: 06/12/19.

A- Pours a slightly hazy medium amber color with a full inch of white head that retains well before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a full sheet of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves a broken ring behind.

S- Estery belgian yeast with some herbal hop fume and a slight skunkiness.

T- Oxidative quality at the start, then there's some fruity hop character that's still there and a bitter afterbite. The bitterness is the main player here and it's actually quite nice. Drinkable but with an intense bite that keeps you interested and coming back for more. The oxidation actually kind of complements the bitterness and together make for a pretty enjoyable drink.

M- Sharp and spritzy from the hops and medium-high carbonation. Lightish body.

O- Had the XX at nearly two years old and it was skunky and oxidized beyond enjoyment. Recently had a friend bring home a bottle and I'm not sure how old it was but it was much more enjoyable than the bottle I'd previously had which led me to go ahead and buy this. This bottle is a year and a half old and though it's not as enjoyable as the XX I recently had, it has it's good points: intense bitterness that mingles well with the yeast and somehow works with the oxidative properties it's developed. I would say it needs more malt balance though as it gets to be a bit of a chore to get through since it's only riding on two dimensions - hops and yeast - while it should be riding on three. Decent but this will probably be my last time buying their bitter beers.

Jun 05, 2016

craftbeersweden from Sweden

4.06/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

For the third time in the world and for the second time in Sweden this beer is released to the public.

Released at Systembolaget in October 2015. Only about 700 75cl bottles found it's way to Sweden this time.
I've saved this for a rainy day and that's today! (January 29 - 2016)

The beer pours hazy, light yellow with a huge, three finger high, white head that leaves lacing on the glass.

The beer is full of very small bubbles racing to the top of the beer. It reminds me of a glass of champagne.

Nose: Funky Belgian yeast, floral hops, malt (pilsner malt?), grass and some earthy notes. I love the smell!
Taste: Wow! This is good! A lot of bitterness. Pale malt, citrus, grapefruit, bread, coriande and floral hops.
Mouthfeel: Medium body. Great texture. Medium carbonation. High bitterness and dry ending. The bitterness really plays a big part in this beer!

What can I say? I love bitter beer and this is bitter! The beer takes a grip of your tongue and twist it... Nice!

I'm so glad I got hold of a few bottles.

Jan 29, 2016

kkleu357 from Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes on 9/15/15. I actually liked the XX more. Yes, this beer is more bitter, but I’m not getting the sweetness that I got from XX, which I liked. Still, pretty tasty.

Dec 15, 2015

ONovoMexicano from New Mexico

4.12/5  rDev +3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL poured into an oversized tulip.

Beautiful appearance. Majestic foamy plateau, glowing golden body, streaming carbonation. Marvelous to look at. Truly gorgeous. 5

Funky and skunky aroma, but it's seductive. Smells like it's got some pilsner or helles type of malt (or maybe it's some lager yeast I'm smelling) and a corresponding light sweetness and floral, grassy and earthy quality. Then this blends with a tad tart and crisp saison aroma. Very interesting. I'm intrigued. It seems familiar and new all the same. 4.25

Starts with gentle sweetness and graininess, then floral notes and skunkiness emerge together then giving way to a honey-like finish. Light pepperiness lingers on my tongue for ages. Though the skunkiness is probably not for all, I find something irresistible about it. 4

I won't be redundant as much of the taste captures the feel, but to add to the above, this has a yeasty floral feel towards the finish and a dry, yeasty, bitter lingering sensation. 4

This beer is lovely. Truly enjoyable. It's got some odd flavor and feel, but that sets it apart from others.

Oct 22, 2015

StJamesGate from New York

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Moeder Lambik, Brussels.
Crusty white over cloudy sunshine. 4
Big lemony sherbet and oily herb. 4
Sweet crackery grain, a pile of lemon, some pear, a bit of yeasty bite, and more herbs. 4
Lemon chiffon end and harsh chalky linger.
Super dry, almost thin, crisp. 4

Not balanced on purpose - starts out as one beer, then the hops come crashing in. Low on lemon - far more IBUs than aroma. Builds on XX - lives up to the name. 4

Oct 05, 2015

biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.86/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

De Ranke XXX Bitter has ultra-responsive carbonation and a sunny golden-orange colour that gradually gets murkier and murkier as the bottle empties. Unlike so many Belgian ales, however, it never looks completely sullied and maintains a pretty healthy glow, even after clouding over. To no surprise the head also upholds throughout. Curiously, however, it never manages to tack onto the glass.

I'm not sure what distinguishes XXX Bitter (three 'X's) from the usual XX Bitter (two 'X's). Ironically it's actually lower in alcohol (6% as opposed to 6.2%). Apparently it was brewed solely for a Shelton Brothers festival in Portland, Maine in 2013. If in fact this bottle is two years old that would explain why it doesn't strike me as being as hoppy and lively as the standard offering.

Mind you, that's not to suggest it isn't hoppy; both the flavour and aroma are underlined with a distinctive earthiness that is unmistakably that of whole cone hops. It makes for notes of herb buds and blossoming flower petals. The combination of Brewers Gold and Hallertau is an especially pungent, spicy, grassy one that leaves an interesting aftertaste of lemon peel and ground black pepper.

Of course, don't forget, Belgian IPAs are typically very different in character from their American counterparts. Those expecting pine resins and citrus rinds are in the wrong part of the world. This beer doesn't have an aggressive, obnoxious bone in its body. And there's certainly nothing tropical happening. No, this beer has the style and poise of a bonafide European.

I have fond memories of De Ranke XX Bitter which, if memory serves correct, was among the first hoppy Belgian-style IPAs (and still one of the best). This limited edition XXX Bitter didn't quite live up to my nostalgia and, in my opinion, isn't quite different or good enough to warrant a special release. Still, it speaks to the brewery's high standards and made for a more than enjoyable (rare) tipple.

Aug 24, 2015

goochpunch from Texas

4.62/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pale, clear straw body with a thin head. Big citrus nose with Belgian yeast and crackery malts. Tastes of citrus, floral, and perfumey hops, crisp malt, and a lingering aspirine-like bitterness. Dry finish. Yeast brings notes of apricots and a hint of spice. Light body with bubbly and spritzy carbonation. Awesome hoppy Belgian.

Apr 13, 2015

Jugs_McGhee from Louisiana

2.93/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Truncated review below; I'm at a tasting and don't want to be impolite giving a full review.

HEAD: 1 finger wide of white colour. Creamy, smooth, and even. Light even lacing sticks to the sides of the glass as the head recedes.

BODY: Clear yellow-copper of average vibrance.

AROMA: Lemon zest, pale malts, wildflowers, floral hop character. Aromatic intensity is average.

TASTE: Pale malts, lemon zest, wildflowers, wildflower honey, pollen, and floral hop character. Balanced and enjoyable. Not the most intricate brew. Hints of graininess in the background.

TEXTURE: Smooth, wet, slightly sticky, medium-bodied, and fairly heavy on the palate - certainly overly so for the not-too-deep flavours. Lacks substance.

OVERALL: Drinkable but forgettable. Oddly bitter for a Belgian IPA. I'll pick it up again for a full review, but it's not stellar.

C

Mar 07, 2015

smcolw from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -3.8%

Excellent series of lace rings after each sip. Small head. Gold color with a mild haze.

Initial smell is of fresh tilled earth. A bit of Belgian yeast as well.

Rather thin with a high level of carbonation. The flavor is a bit harsh and biting. There's a sour start to the taste, but it morphs into singularly bitter white pepper flavor that continues through the aftertaste.

Sep 13, 2014

metter98 from New York

3.94/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Th beer is hazy yellow in color and poured with a finger and a half high frothy bright white head that has very good retention properties and hardly died down.
S: Light to moderaate aromas of floral and herbal hops are present in the nose along with slight bits of funk.
T: The bitterness really stands out in the taste of this beer, which is similar to to the smell, and the bitterness lingers through the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer seems to be very bitter for a Belgian IPA.

Aug 03, 2014

dv8sean from California

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle just like in the picture poured into a genre-appropriate Sante Adairius Rustic Ales tulip glass.

It's a pretty beer! Pours all effervescent and golden with that signature Beligian tight white head. Color is lighter than most IPAs--more straw yellow than amber honey gold.

Smells like the cellar at grandpa's house: a bit funky, but conjured nothing but good feelings.

Tastes bitter, as an ipa should, followed by all manner of herbal, medicinal, and full-on funk. All in a good way, though. Not spoiled or contaminated. Just natural, organic, exotic.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin. Malts are restrained. Carbonation levels are high...Champagne like.

Overall, as with everything I've had from this brewer, it kicks ass. Kinda takes some of my favorite aspects of a beer like Fantome Saison and packages them for a hop head. Most highly recommended.

Mar 01, 2014

clayrock81 from Florida

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured a yellow gold body that is slightly see thru with two finger head and lace patches everywhere. Citric and earthy hops galore in the nose along with touches of Belgian yeasty and gets a little dirty at times and has touches of sweet malts. Well-carbonated so it is crisp and there is a smoothness to it only found in Belgian beers. Earthy, citric, even a little peppery spice it seems with bold, assertive hops and a dry finish. There not only seems to be a little hop bitterness to this beer but it seems there is a touch of sour fruit and funk as well as some moderate sweetness.

Feb 17, 2014

draheim from Washington

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

750mL (lot B24T10; best by 02/05/18) into a tulip. Pours a pale yellow w/ a 1-finger white head.

Aroma is pale malt, floral hops, and slightly funky Belgian yeast.

Taste follows nose, kind of. Light, delicate pale malt, almost biscuity; Pilsner? Floral/herbal hops bring an almost tea-like quality, closing out with a decisive bitterness. Belgian yeast keeps things fruity and light.

Mouthfeel is balanced and crisp, medium bodied.

Overall a pretty good Belgian pale, hoppier and sharper than most. I'd give it a 3.875 overall if I could.

Dec 27, 2013

LiquidAmber from Washington

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Chuckanut pint glass. Pours a light golden amber with a massive three finger head that kept growing for five minutes after pouring, making a pyramid over the glass. Great retention and tons of pillowy lacing. Big aroma of citrus, graperfrut, citrus and grassy hops, light sweet malt, and sad to say a hint of skunkiness that was very distinct on opening, but present, but not as evident in the aroma. After smelling it I looked at the bottle, yes, it is green glass. Brouwerij De Ranke, no you! Flavor seems quite light at first, refreshing light grapefruit and lemon with herbal citrusy hops; the flavor continues to build with more fresh lemon, sweet bready malt, and Belgian yeast developing, finally finishing with a very long, lingering lemon citrus and herbal hop bitterness. Medium bodied with hints of creaminess and peppery carbonation. A wonderful rollercoaster of flavor that is both refreshing and rewarding. A wonderful IPA with Belgian yeast integrated perfectly. Fortunately the skunkiness was not noticeable in the flavor, probably due to the strength and herbal nature of the hops, but why take a chance? Seek this one out, it's worth the trouble.

Oct 22, 2013

cbutova from Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- Pint glass pours to six people from a 750ml people. Clear, light golden body pours with a foamy, puffy white head. Decent retention after it rose to about two fingers. Lace is thick but somewhat spotty and decent pillows.

S- Big grassy and herbal hops off the top. Some light caramel malts and cracked grains below that lending a nice balance. Yeast is spicy and Belgian.

T- Super grassy, herbal, pine, grapefruit and spicy hops fill the palate upon first sip. Light caramel and nice fresh cracked grains. Spicy Belgian yeast with notes of pepper, spices and wheat bread.

MF- Foamy light-moderate body with high-end super bubbly carbonation. Ends with a nice spicy bitterness.

Big spicy and herbal Euro hops over a nice Belgian spicy yeast. Hopped up Spicy Golden Strong Ale to me but not as good as XX in many ways.

Oct 05, 2013

beerdrifter from Germany

4.16/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Picked this up at a great little beer store in Arlon, Belgium, Miorge Mihoublon. Cloudy golden-yellow pour with a two finger foamy white head with decent retention and lacing. The nose is herbal and grassy with hints of lemon, grapefruit, subtle yeast, and straw. The taste can be summed up with one word...BITTER! But oh what a nice bitter with tons of grassy notes along with hints of lemon, grapefruit, straw, subtle caramel sweetness, fresh picked hops, white pepper, and a touch of barnyard. The mouthfeel is sharp and tangy with incredible bitterness from start to finish. Light body with fizzy carbonation and an awesome crisp, dry finish. Overall, this is one of the most bitter beers I've tasted. Yeah, it's kind of one dimensional, but it's so bold and refreshing and really quaffable for something so bitter. Highly recommended!

Sep 18, 2013

dirtylou from New York

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, split

Enjoyed a bottle of this in Brugge last month and didn't realize it was an entirely new creation. It was nice to try it again state-side in a more controlled drinking environment. Nice cloudy straw colored body - sticky foamy retention. Nicely hopped, though not as tropical as some other "belgian ipa's" coming out of the motherland. Bready, musty, moderately bitter. Nice, but there are better options in my opinion.

Sep 15, 2013

DefenCorps from Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A new beer from De Ranke? Get the fuck out!

The first pour is a clear yellow with a dense white head with excellent retention and gorgeous lacing. This really puts even some of the recent American IPAs to shame. And the nose! What a gorgeous hop bouquet! Dank, dusty, herbal, spicy, lemony,skunky, even. Delicate cotton candy malt nose with a little dough and light honey. Superb.

The palate opens with a big, herbal bitterness, one that has a blend of mint, twigs, earth, lemon, all hallmarks of De Ranke's exquisite hopping technique. In addition to the bitterness, the hop flavor is fantastic as well. Layered oily lemons, mint, a little mineral all add to the gorgeous palate. Crisp with a blend of dough, honey and less cotton candy than the nose would have you believe. Despite being highly carbonated, this never feels fizzy or overcarbonated. Lending a mild complementary acidity to the hop bitterness, this beer finishes bitter and hoppy with a great blend of lemon and mint . A touch dusty as well. Exceptional.

Aug 31, 2013