Blond beer

Brewed with green tea and jasmine, the result is a sweet and fragrant beer.

Tea beers are generally blond beers to which tea is added. The result is a soft and fragrant beer. Here the bitterness of the hops is still a little present.

American hops mosaic and cascade. It is fruity and dry.

Zinnebir is a perfectly balanced Pale Ale, with a golden color slightly tending to amber. It develops fruity and hoppy aromas reminiscent of dried apricot and orange marmalade. They are supported by malted notes very slight biscuity, as well as by a beautiful bitterness.

When you pour Zinnebir into your beer glass, on top of the beautiful golden and orange colour lies a velvety white foam. The word balance is the key for this beer. The body of the beer is perfect, not too full or light. There is an equilibrium between the hops and malt. You have the flavours from de la Sennes' own yeast that are balanced out with the maltiness. Everything in the beer works well together. The profile is spicy, zesty, herbal and floral. The German and Slovenian noble hops give it the needed bitterness. In the mouth, you may even notice a bit of pineapple and honey. 

It is a perfect thirst-quenching beer!
 

The story of Zinnebir

Get ready to discover the story of Zinnebir as it is unlike any beer that came out of thirst or experimentation. 

Zinnebir is brewed by Bernard Leboucq and Yvan De Baets, two Brussels-based brewers and founders of de la Senne brewery. One was a homebrewer and another a social worker. The brewers first had a microbrewery in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, which then became too small for them to truly express themselves. Thus, they moved to Brussels and opened a brewery in 2010 in a converted bread factory. Both brewers had already long thought about creating an iconic beer for Brussels city. 

After planning, the brewers agreed to brew a beer for the annual Zinneke parade in 2002. The parade is a celebration of Brussels’ cosmopolitan spirit. This is how Zinnebir was born. The two beer brewers did not have their brewery back then, so the beer was brewed in a basement.

The beer name came after the Zinneke parade and also the Senne river that flows through Brussels. The Dutch part calls the river la Zenne but also Zenneke, which means little Zenne. Sometimes even the people of Brussels are called Zinnekes. 

The brewers worked on perfecting the beer throughout the years to arrive at the flawless product that it is now. They changed the raw ingredients to achieve the perfect balance between hop, malt, spiciness and fruitiness. The brewers intended to make a beer that can be drunk a lot. Thus, the alcohol content is 5.8%. And of course, the beer is brewed in an artisanal way without any additives. 

We can now say that de la Senne brewery has accomplished its mission and Zinnebir is a beer of Brussels and the people of Brussels. The beer flavour reflects the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Brussels, but like all the ingredients, flavours and tastes of the Zinnebir, the different cultures and people of Brussels live together in a perfect balance. 

Not only has Zinnebir made its name as the beer of Brussels, but the beer and the brewery also acted as a role models for other brewers. The brewery had a huge influence on the craft beer movement in the city and many people followed their footsteps, which brought Brussels other amazing craft beer breweries like the Brussels Beer Project, No Science, Beerstorming and many others. 

Lastly, the beer is the flagship beer of the brewery and their best seller. The locals can also ask for Zinnebir in any beer bar they visit. We can confirm the Zinnebir popularity, as some of our clients even order a whole beer box of Zinnebir regularly. No one can get enough of that beer! 

What else is there to know about Zinnebir?

• Where is Zinnebir beer brewed? 

Though the brewing process started in a basement, Zinnebir has now moved to de la Senne brewery, which is located in Brussels near the cultural space Tour & Taxis. 

• What does the Zinnebir beer label mean?

The Zinnebir label illustrates the Brussels city skyline, the buildings and the Senne river flowing through the city with a big bright sun behind it all. The label uses warm and happy colours such as yellow and green. It gives you a feeling like Brussels is a calm, orderly city, though there can be some crazy traffic and full of vibrant events. Despite the messiness, it all still functions in harmony. 
 

• How to serve Zinnebir and which beer glass to use?

Zinnebir is best served in a tulip beer glass, which helps to release the exciting aromas that the beer has. The minimum serving temperature is 5 degrees celsius. 

• What are the ingredients of Zinnebir?

The Zinnebir ingredients are water, hops, yeast, barley malt, and fermentable sugar.

• What food goes well with Zinnebir?

Zinnebir beer goes very well with cheese platters or cheesy dishes. It is especially good with creamy cheeses like cottage cheese or goat cheese. The bitterness of the beer and the creaminess of the cheese make a perfect match. Zinnebir also goes well with seafood. 

• What are the other beers by de la Senne brewery?

Some people argue that Zinnebir is not even the best beer in the brewery and favour the younger sister, Taras Boulba. The beer has a similar fruity and spicy taste, but more bitterness and it is an easy to drink beer with lower alcohol content. In the end, it is a question of personal taste. After all, without Zinnebir, there would not be a Taras Boulba. The brewers needed a change from Zinnebir and something lighter to drink.  

Besides Taras Boulba, the brewery also has other famous beers like the Jambe de Bois, Bruxellensis, Stouterik and Saison du Meyboom. 

Thirsty for Zinnebir? Then don’t hesitate and add the beer to the cart. Or even get a full beer box like some of our clients do! You may also find Zinnebir in our beer subscription boxes and discover it next to many other delicious beers. 

Delta IPA is a Belgian IPA because the brewers use a saison yeast, a typically Belgian style of beer. It is not a usual IPA with a little bit of spiciness and thirst-quenching bitterness.

The Brussels Beer Project brewery was founded in 2013, and Delta IPA was their first beer, also created in 2013. This was back when IPA beers were not so known in Belgium. The brewery is very involved with the community, and also you can see Delta IPA reflects Brussels. Brussels is a multicultural city, so the taste of Delta IPA is reflecting different brewing cultures. 

When you first pour Delta IPA into your glass, you notice a golden body with a mix of honey and orange colours. You’ll see very few bubbles but a big white head. 

On the nose, it gives aromas of pine, citrus and tropical fruits. But, it is not a surprise that hop aromas dominate over others. 
We find in the mouth notes of lychees and passion fruit brought by hops. You can also notice the flavours of oranges, limes, and bitter notes of hop. It has a fine aftertaste with a bitter finish. Despite the strong taste, it remains a good level of acidity. 

Want to know more about Delta IPA beer? See the most frequently asked questions and find your answers:

• Where is the Brussels Beer Project brewery?

Brussels Beer Project, which brews Delta IPA beer, is located in the centre of Brussels. It is in an area called Dansaert that is close to the canal of Brussels. It is not far from the MIMA museum or the Saint Catherine church. Another well known Brussels brewery, the Surrealiste, is nearby. In their brewery, they also have a taproom and welcome anyone for beer degustation. 

Brussels Beer Project also has its bar, BBP Bailli, where they have thirty beers on tap, and you can have tasty pizzas next to the beer. The BBP Bailli is located in the Chatelain neighbourhood and close to the most known avenue of Brussels, Avenue Louise. The BBP Bailli is also one of the best beer bars in Brussels. 

• What are the ingredients of Delta IPA beer?

The Delta IPA consists of barley malt, hops, and seasonal yeast. The malt is 100% Belgian. The hops used are Citra and Smaragd hops.

• What other beers are similar to Delta IPA? 

Try also the Brussels Beer Projects dark IPA called Dark Sister. Otherwise, head to our IPA beer collection. There are plenty of choices!

• What kind of food goes well next to Delta IPA beer?

If you are looking for beer and food pairing suggestions, then luckily, Delta IPA can go well with many dishes. It is good with pasta and pizzas, next to a barbecue or any vegetarian meal. Also, you can drink Delta IPA next to appetisers or light cheese platters. Even salads are good to pair with Delta IPA.

• How to serve Delta IPA beer?

Delta IPA comes in a beer bottle but is also available in a can. Once you open the bottle or can, you should slowly pour it into your beer glass. The Brussels Beer Project brewery has its own beer glasses available. They come in three styles: Teku, Hazy or Conical. For Delta IPA, the Teku beer glass is best. The Teku beer glass, designed by an Italian, is perfect for beer tasting. The ideal temperature to serve Delta IPA is 8 degrees celsius. 

• Does Delta IPA contain gluten?

Yes. If you are looking for a gluten-free beer, check the collection of brewery 28. They have many gluten-free beers available. 

• How much bitterness is there in Delta IPA?

To measure bitterness, we use the International Bitterness Unit, the IBU. Delta IPA has an IBU of 45. For reference, most beers fall in a range between 15 to 80 IBU.

• What are the other beers by the Brussels Beer Project? 

Since their first beer, Delta IPA, was so successful, Brussels Beer Project kept on creating amazing beers. You might also like Juice Junky, Grosse Bertha, Wunderlager or their alcohol-free beer, Pico Bello. 

Want to buy Delta IPA online? Then add the beer to the cart. You may also find Delta IPA in one of our Belgian or Brussels beer boxes or our monthly beer subscription boxes. 

Hoppy and thirst-quenching, with citrus and floral flavors. A bitter and aromatic beer for those looking for the rich aroma and taste of fresh hops.

The XX Bitter is the first beer of the brewery De Ranke and was the second most bitter beer in Belgium when it was released just after the Orval.

A beer cannot get hoppier than this! The Ranke XX-bitter used to be the most bitter beer in Belgium and is the most bitter beer in the brewery. It might not be for all tastes, especially for novice beer drinkers, but once you develop your palate, you can’t get enough of it!

The beer has an orange, honey-coloured body. The XX-bitter has a slightly cloudy appearance, rich in carbonation and has a fine head. 

On the nose, you will naturally smell very hoppy aromas. The flowery hoppy aromas are strong and very dominant. 

The beer flavour follows the hoppy profile, and the hop flavours are very powerful. You can also note some flowery flavours of citrus fruits and grass followed by strong bitterness. Though the alcohol level is low, the flavours are very rich and long-lasting. The bitterness is well balanced. 

The story of XX-bitter beer

The XX-bitter was already brewed back in 1994 when a home brewer and the manager of a beer tasting club decided to test a batch that uses a lot of hops. They decided to bring the beer to a festival in Kortrijk in 1996. Bitter beers were not yet popular, and many other brewers did not have faith in their new product because it was too bitter. Luckily De Ranke brewers could prove everyone wrong. 

The XX Bitter is now considered a bitter beer trendsetter in Belgium. That is because when the beer came out, the IPA beers were not yet trendy in Belgium. Thus, the brewers did not even think about creating an IPA style beer. Some beer drinkers refer to it as a golden ale and others as India Pale Ale. The brewers themselves say that although the beer fits into the IPA category, they would call it a bitter pale ale because that’s the style they had in mind when they created the beer. 

The brewers are very strict with their brewing methods and do everything traditionally. They use whole hops in their beers, and they never filter or pasteurise their beers. The brewers use direct fire and add hot water to achieve target mashing temperatures. 

The hops used for brewing XX-bitter are two varieties of European hops. The Brewers Gold and Hallertau Mittelfrueh hop are both grown in Belgium. The former is used for bittering and the latter for aroma. Moreover, fresh hop flowers are used during the brewing process so they can develop their bittering potential. 

The brewers also used to use Rodenbach yeast until a big company bought it and did not allow working with small breweries. Now the beer recipe uses Fermentis dry yeast instead. Their brewing methods allow them also to create a very dry beer. 

The XX-bitter has made its name by being a trendsetter and one of the bitterest beers in Belgium. It is now extremely popular and is also the flagship beer of the brewery. The beer is not only appreciated in Belgium but also outside. For example, you can find XX-bitter also in the neighbouring countries, the USA and even Japan. 

Read on to learn more about the XX-bitter beer. 

Where does the XX-bitter beer name come from?

One of De Ranke's brewers liked the names of English beers that were called Bitter. Nevertheless, these beers often did not taste bitter. So the brewer decided to call their beer Bitter, which actually is a bitter beer. 

How bitter is the XX-bitter?

The beer reaches an IBU of 65. Back then, one of the bitterest beers was Orval, with an IBU of 45. Generally, IPA beers fall between IBU of 40-70. Thus, we can see that the XX-bitter stays in the higher bitterness range. 

How to serve XX-bitter beer?

The best way to serve this bitter delight is using a tulip-shaped beer glass. Also, the minimum serving temperature is 6 degrees celsius. 

What are other similar beers and alternatives to XX-bitter?

If you enjoyed XX-bitter, try also the Delta IPA by Brussels Beer Project, Brussels Calling by de la Senne brewery or Troubadour Magma by Musketeers brewery. Don’t forget to check out our full collection of IPA beers to find good hoppy tastes. 

Which foods go well with XX-bitter beer?

XX-bitter beer is good to pair with fish, meat dishes and mature cheeses. It is also a good companion during a barbecue. You can also balance the bitterness by enjoying sweet desserts next to the beer. 

What are some other beers by De Ranke brewery?

If you like De Ranke brewery style, try out their Guldenberg, Franc Belge, Amer-Amer and XXX-bitter beer. 

Thirsty for a nice bitter IPA? Then add XX-bitter to the cart! You may also find the beer in one of our Belgian beer boxes, or the beer may arrive in our monthly beer subscription boxes. 

A slightly softer and less dry beer than other seasons. The Brussels Season is the first beer in a series of 5 seasons brewed by the Annexe.

Nice balance between flavors and aggressive bitterness thanks to the use of whole hops.

In the case of Amer-Amer, American hops are used, but these were grown in Belgium like all the hops used by De Ranke.

Blonde beer with grapefruit.

Very dry spelled season with the addition of brettanomyces yeast.

It's spicy and fruity, overall dry, and has won the Atrium brewery numerous awards.

Very balanced bouquet of hops with very present tropical aromas but without falling into hopburn.

Easy to drink in all circumstances, but ideal on a sunny terrace.

The Juice Junkie is one of the best beers made at the rue Dansaert brewery in Brussels.

Product with expired "best before" date.

This IPA is only dry-hopped with Simcoe hops.

Hopped blond beer light in alcohol and easy to drink.

The aromatic side of the beer quickly takes over, releasing the flavors of Citra and Galaxy hops.

Emblematic beer of Antwerp with a cereal taste, the hopping being subtle and not very present. Its copper colour reminds of other beers of the same style. It is a Spéciale Belge style of beer. The beer is known by two names as the Koninck APA, but most famously the beer is called “het Bolleke''. The initials APA are there for Antwerpse Pale Ale.

The Bolleke is the taste of Antwerp. It represents the full terraces, cargo bikes and summer evenings near the river bank. In Antwerp, every cafe and terrace has a Bolleke to offer. It is the whole Antwerp in a bottle and the people of Antwerp strongly love their beer. 

This classic beer was launched in 1913 and is not only popular in Antwerp, but all around the world. The beer has been the iconic beer of Antwerp since 1952.

The Bolleke has an amber-coloured body that is topped with a beautiful cream-coloured head. 

On the nose, you’ll get slightly malty and hoppy aromas with a hint of caramel. The aroma profile is complex. The drinker will also notice hints of chestnut, toffee and slight smokiness. These aromas are balanced out with some fruitiness and spiciness coming from the hop used. If you pay attention, you can also get hints of almonds and speculoos. 

The beer flavour profile is pleasantly soft with some nutty notes on the tongue. The taste is also rather bitter and the finale is creamy. The bitterness is balanced out with the sweetness of toffee. When drinking, you’ll also notice some notes of cinnamon and caramel. 

How De Koninck APA became the Bolleke

Before the name Bolleke took off, the beer was called De Koninck Antwerpse Pale Ale. The Koninck brewery served their beer in a spherical beer glass, the bolleke. This became the nickname for the beer and soon enough people called it the Bolleke instead of the original name. 

Bolleke is a word that comes from the Brabant dialect meaning a small ball. This word has now been used by beer drinkers in Antwerp for so long, that they can’t even remember using the original name ever. The name Bolleke is also much catchier than De Koninck, which is why it might have caught on so well. 

This nickname became the official name of the beer in 2019 with the opening day of the Antwerp city festival the Bollekesfeest. It’s a beer rich event where countless Bollekes are served. 

The brewers of De Koninck brewery decided to start using the nickname officially to avoid any confusion among inexperienced staff in bars when people order a Bolleke. 

Learn more about the Bolleke beer by De Koninck:

Where is De Koninck’ Bolleke brewed? 

De Koninck beers have been brewed on Mexhelsesteenweg in Antwerp city centre since 1833. It is the oldest active brewery in Antwerp and also has the second oldest commercial register number in the city.

What are De Koninck Bolleke ingredients?

De Bolleke beer contains water, malted barley, hops and yeast. The Saaz-Saaz hops were used to brew this beer.

How to serve Bolleke beer by De Koninck?

Of course, you must use the special spherical glass where the name of the beer comes from! If you are pouring from a bottle, use chilled bottles that are between 4 to 6 degrees celsius. The beer can be poured vigorously and there is no need to be shy. 

For bartenders, or anyone serving the beer from the tap, place the bulb beer glass directly under the faucet. You can then fill the glass until the foam is about 1 centimetre from the rim. Then set the beer aside and wait for about ten seconds. Lastly, you can top up the Bolleke until it’s filled. 

How much alcohol does De Bolleke contain? 

The Bolleke is not a strong beer and has an alcohol level of 5.2%. It is an easy to drink beer.

What food or dishes go well with De Bolleke? 

This beer is good next to stews. 

What are some other beers by De Koninck brewery? 

If you like the Bolleke beer, then you should also try Triple d’Anvers and Wild Jo.

Wish to drink the Bolleke beer? Then add the beer to the cart! You may also find this beer in one of our Belgian beer boxes or discover it with our beer subscription.

Round IPA with an intense dry hopping of exotic hops with floral and fruity aromas.

We perceive notes of lychee, grapefruit or passion fruit.

This IPA is only dry-hopped with Idaho 7 hops.

Please note the product is in a 44cl can

This IPA is only dry-hopped with Mosaic hops.

Please note the product is in a 44cl can

Jawa IPA is a smooth IPA with fruity, floral and herbal notes.

La Surréalise is a beer with tropical flavors through the use of American hops Simcoe, Mosaic and Citra.

Rather bitter and slightly aromatic due to the fact that hops are used only for their bittering characteristics.

Blonde and coppery, dry and bitter.

It is a delicious blond beer, brewed according to a unique recipe respecting tradition. Rather sweet, it is a perfect replacement for Leffe but in artisanal production in the center of Bruges.

The PAM! is a belgian pale ale very hoppy and light in alcohol.

It takes its name from a style created from scratch for this beer, the Pale Ale Marchoise! from the town of Marche-en-famenne where the brewery is located.

Very easy to drink, it will be perfect for your next walk in town or in the forest. .

Session IPA which is strong on the aromatic side of hops.

Indeed this session is really more English style than Belgian, the aromatic of the hops is sharper and the cereal does not sweeten the beer which guarantees a kick of bitterness at the end of the mouth.

A thirst-quenching beer with a perfect balance between roundness and bitterness.

Noblesse is the blond beer from the De Ranke brewery. For lovers of pils in the process of conversion.

An original hop character with complex notes of tropical fruits.

The famous season with certified organic ingredients.