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                  Beer Xx Bitter 6% 24x33cl Ranke | IPA
                  €52,50
                  Belgique Blonde Bouteille Hainaut

                  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. 

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                  Beer Amer-Amer 6% 24x33cl Ranke | IPA
                  €52,92
                  Belgique Blonde Bouteille Hainaut

                  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.
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                  IPA beer

                  What is an IPA beer? - Definition, history and origin

                  Any beer lover is familiar with an IPA beer and has at least once tasted this hoppy beverage. IPA beers have become largely popular and are even many beer lovers' favourite styles. But apart from the delicious taste, how much do you really know about IPA beers? The origin story and definition of IPA beers have become a common party discussion topic. In case you are not familiar with this style of beer, read on and get prepared for the next party. 

                  We will discuss the following topics about IPA beers:  

                  1. The definition of IPA beer
                  2. The origin story and history of IPA beer
                  3. Who invented the first IPA beer, and what was it?
                  4. How is IPA beer made?
                  5. Why is IPA Indian?
                  6. Different types of IPA beers
                  7. What is the taste and aroma of an IPA beer?
                  8. IPA beer - the bitterness and IBU
                  9. Is IPA stronger than regular beer?
                  10. Buy some of the best IPA beers online

                   

                  The definition of IPA beer

                   

                  IPAs are bitter beers, IPA stands for Indian pale ale, it is the name of a style of beer that dates back to the time of the British colonization of India.

                  IPA beers are generally pale beers that contain a lot of hops. Indeed, hops bring two essential characteristics to today's beer: bitterness and an aromatic dimension.

                  Unlike fruit beers, some beers smell like pineapple, pine or peach.

                  IPA style beers generally have a high IBU rate, which is proportional to the amount of hops used in the brewing process.

                  Some microbreweries have also made it their DNA to produce almost exclusively Indian pale ale style beers.

                   

                  The origin story and history of IPA beer

                   

                  The history of IPA beer goes back centuries, to the time when English colonists in British India imported beer from the country, which then contained a lot of hops in order to preserve the beer during the long journey by ship across the ocean.

                  Before IPA, there were pale ales, but it was complicated to provide them to the British Empire in the east. It was too hot to brew any beer in India, so the beer needed to be brewed in Britain. But then there was another problem. The long journey could ruin the beer. This led to the invention of heavily hopped beers that were a solution to all those issues.

                   

                  Who invented the first IPA beer and what was it?

                   

                  The first strongly hopped beer was made by a brewer called Hodgson. He was the one who thought hop would be the solution to make the beers last the journey from England to India. And, indeed, it worked. His hoppy beer was called October beer. 

                  Brewers started to imitate this style of beer. But with the spreading of the refrigerator, the IPA style of beers was fading away. 

                  It was the Americans who popularized IPA and all other hoppy beers. 

                  Although IPA style beers have been widely popularized from the United States, other regions of the world have now taken over, such as Scandinavia or England.

                  What a story! A beer invented in England to go all the way to India and then to be popularised in the States to become a hit worldwide. 
                   

                   

                  How is IPA beer made?

                   

                  Beer has always contained aromatics, mainly for preservation, but it is now a century or two since hops became the main preservative in beer worldwide.

                  In recent decades, the role of hops has evolved. Today, with the cold chain, the role of hops as a preservative is no longer essential, but they now play the main role in the recipe in terms of their ability to determine the taste of the beer.

                  When brewing IPA beer, hops are dominant in the process. At the start, hops and malts are boiled together. Then shortly after, several finishing hops are added. Dry hops are added for a hoppy aroma. In addition, multiple hops are added to create different variations of taste and aromas. In the making of IPA, all grains are mashed at a lower temperature to enhance the taste of hops. In the end, the brewing process, when various hops are added during different stages of brewing, is the root of making an IPA beer. 

                  However, there is a difference between bittering hops and aromatic hops.

                  Regardless of the style of hops, those used at the beginning of the boil will always produce more bitterness than hops used at the end of the boil which will produce more aromatics.

                  Hops are so characteristic of IPA beers that some beers are named after the hops used. Thus we frequently find Citra, Simcoe or Cascade IPAs.

                   

                  Why is IPA Indian?

                   

                  Because IPA stands for Indian Pale Ale, some people think that IPAs come from India. It is not true. The name is only related to the origin story of the British exporting beer to their colonies in India. 

                   

                  Different types of IPA beers

                   

                  Today the IPA style is subdivided into several sub-styles, the main ones often corresponding to different regions of the United States.

                  One of the best known styles is the New England IPA, there is also the West-Coast IPA. The double IPA or Imperial IPA styles are simply related to the alcohol content of the beer.

                  There are also other lesser known Indian pale styles such as black IPA or Brut IPA.

                   

                  Here’s a comprehensive list of all the different types of IPA beers: 

                   

                  • New England IPA - NEIPA

                  NEIPA beers are usually not described as bitter, but with juicy happiness, fruity flavours and a creamy mouthfeel.  

                  • West-Coast IPA

                  This IPA style beer is characterised by high bitterness, citrus and piney notes, and a strong hop aroma. 

                  • East-Coast IPA

                  Compared to the West-Coast IPA, this style is less bitter, has some tropical notes and is very smooth. 

                  • English IPA

                  This stronger version of a pale ale is characterised as earthy and floral. The English yeast adds fruitiness to the beer flavour and aroma. 

                  • Belgian IPA

                  The Belgian IPA was inspired by the American and double style IPAs. Belgian yeast is used to add fruitiness and spiciness to the beer. The colour of Belgian IPA varies from golden to amber. 

                  • Double IPA

                  Double IPA means a bigger malt and hops profile than the regular IPA. It usually also has a stronger alcohol level. This is due to the more fermentable sugars coming from added malts. 

                  • Triple IPA - TIPA

                  A Triple IPA, also called a TIPA, gets even stronger than a double IPA. This is all because even more hops and malts are added to the beer. 

                  • Imperial IPA

                  This is a different name for a double IPA. The two beers are the same, but just some use a different names. 

                  • Session IPA

                  If you are looking for a lower alcohol content beer, then a session IPA is a good choice. It combines an IPA and a session beer. 

                  • Dry Hopped IPA

                  A dry-hopped Indian Pale Ale is when hops are used to add a more hoppy aroma to a beer. 

                  • Single Hopped IPA

                  Normally a range of hops is used to create an IPA beer. Single Hopped IPA is a rather new style when only one hop is used. 

                  • Double Dry-Hopped IPA

                  A double dry-hopping method means that hops are added post-fermentation on two separate days. This adds more complexity to the beer flavour and aroma. 

                  • Fresh Hopped IPA

                  For making a fresh-hopped IPA, undried and whole flower hops are used instead of dried or processed hops. 

                  • Hazy IPA

                  As the name suggests, this relates to the appearance of the beer. A hazy IPA literally has a hazy, cloudy look that you cannot see through the beer. 

                  • Citrus IPA

                  When making citrus IPA fruit peels, zest or juice are often added to add fresh tastes and aromas. 

                  • Black IPA

                  The black IPA is a beer dark in colour that has roasted flavours due to the darker malts used. 

                  • Brut IPA

                  Brut IPA is a new beer in the market that is made by combining champagne with an Indian Pale Ale. 

                  • White IPA

                  Wheat has been used to brew a white Indian Pale Ale. It is often light in colour and a bit hazy. 

                  • IPA sans alcool

                  Lastly, you can even find some non-alcoholic Indian Pale Ales in the market. It is perfect for anyone who likes the hoppy tastes but prefers not to get tipsy. 

                   

                  What is the taste and aroma of an IPA beer?

                   

                  As you can guess, you can taste hops in IPA beers which are combined often with other tastes, like fruity or floral flavours. It also depends on the style of an IPA, but you can find earthy, piney, citrusy, and, of course, bitter notes. 

                  The IPA beers are also very diverse in aromas. But one thing you can count on is hoppy aromas. 

                  Hops are the essential element of IPA style beer. Hops are available in both cone and pellet form. When we talk about a cone, we are talking about the whole flower, while when we talk about a pellet, we are talking about the crushed hop flowers.

                   

                  IPA beer - the bitterness and IBU

                   

                  When it comes to IPA beers, you should be also familiar with the abbreviations IBU. IBU stands for International Bittering Units. The IBU reflects the bitterness of the beer. The higher the IBU, the more bitterness you can taste. The average IPA can be between 40 to 60 IBUs. Berliner Weisse, for example, is a beer style with one of the lowest IBU that can go down to 6. 

                  Is IPA stronger than regular beer?

                  Many people actually ask this question. Especially people new to drinking beer. IPAs are generally not the strongest beers in the world. The winners for that title are mostly stout style beers. Nevertheless, most IPAs do fall between the 5-7% ABV range. It depends on the person what they consider regular beer, but we know that IPAs are generally not very light. 5% is considered the average alcohol level in a beer, and IPAs often reach that or more. Although, there exist alcohol-free IPAs, as mentioned above. 

                  Buy some of the best IPA beers online

                  After reading all this information about IPA beers, you might be thirsty for an IPA beer. Head to our IPA beer collection above. 

                  OR

                   

                  Find the beers of IPA beer collection in one of our beer subscriptions