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.

BMX IPA is brewed with Pacific gem, Citra and Chinook 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. 

Double Trouble Citra is an extremely easy-drinking beer with mind-blowing bitterness from Citra and Cryo Citra hops.

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.

Less aromatic than Pico Bello, it is more based on malt which gives it a unique aroma in this style.

This IPA is only dry-hopped with Simcoe hops.

Barbe Rousse is the first beer of the trio behind the DrinkThatBeer project

English style IPA with three strong hops (Merkur, Nelson and Citra).

Ideal as an aperitif since the hops will whet your appetite.

Typical sweet bitterness with a fruity dimension.

The intensive hopping gives it a fruity and spicy taste without being bitter.

Perfect substitute for people who like aromatic IPAs but don't want or can't drink alcohol.

Californication est une bière double IPA côté côte ouest des Etats-Unis.

Saison dry-hoped with Amarillo and Nelson Sauvin.

Bière de style IPA rouge

Bière houblonée à la bergamote via une infusion de tisane lors du brassage. Les malts d'épeautre et de caramel salé lui donne une petite touche unique.

Double dry hoping with citrus flavors and a touch of resin in the mouth.