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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 Orval is considered the queen of Trappists.

Both bitter and sour, it is suitable for aperitif and meal or after a long day of work.

When you serve Orval beer you notice a beautiful amber colour filling your beer glass. The beer has a generous white foam. On the nose, you’ll get notes of the fresh hop, Brett, orange, savoury and malty aromas. The beer aroma reveals a slight acidity from maturing in the cellar. The taste of Orval beer is unique. Bitterness is rather strong, and you’ll taste wild yeast. The ageing process has added a fruity note to the taste. It has a nice spark to it and a bitter finish. The special taste comes from the quality of the water, hops and yeast. 

One of the best beers in the world

Orval beer is considered one of the best beers in the world for many reasons! The beer is very rare to start with. The strict traditional production methods set certain limitations, and thus, they cannot be mass-produced. Also, the demand for beer is higher than the production. And most importantly, it respects the Trappist tradition. Trappist beers are very rare, and only 12 monasteries in the world produce Trappist beers. It makes Orval a true gem, and the beer has become a reference for Trappist beers!

How Orval beer is made

Making Orval beer is not like making any other beer. The beer-making process is complex to guarantee quality. 

The basic recipe and methods for brewing beer are starting with malting and then the actual brewing process. During the brewing process, the source of starch, often barley malt, is turned into simple sugars, which then are turned into alcohol. The resulting liquid is left to rest and then filtered. 

For making Orval beer, the barley and hops need to be harvested first. Once the harvest is completed, the barley will be prepared by the malters. For Orval, pale malt and a small proportion of caramel malt are used. After the hops have been turned into pellets or extracts, the hops will be dried. When the malt has been cleaned, it is crushed by using the wet-milling method. During this process, water from the Mathilde fountain is added. The mash is pumped directly into the filtering tanks. The mixture is constantly stirred during mashing. 

Sweet wort is obtained in just a few hours, and then it is brought to a boiling vessel where hops are added. When done, the boiling wort needs to be cooled down rapidly. The cooled wort goes to fermentation tanks where yeast is added. The fermentation lasts about four to five days. After the fermentation, the young beer is pumped into holding tanks for maturing for up to three weeks. Yeast is carefully added to the tanks. Orval beer referments to the bottle at 15 degrees celsius. Only two months after the beer has been brewed and checked several times for quality, the beer can reach the consumers. 

How to serve Orval beer

Serving Orval beer is a celebration itself. When opening the bottle, apply some pressure to the cap, so it stays on the bottle. You’ll hear some pressure getting out. Once the bottle cap is removed, pour the beer slowly into a special Orval beer glass. Keep the beer glass tilted and the bottle horizontally. Slowly straighten the glass until only one cm of beer is left in the bottle. And now you are ready for a tasty drink!

The Orval beer glass is chalice-shaped. In case you do not have an Orval glass to enjoy your beer, use another chalice-shaped glass. A tulip-shaped glass will work as well, but still, the classiest way to drink Orval is from its proper glass. 

The recommended serving temperature for Orval beer is the same as its storing temperature, between 10 to 15 degrees celsius. If it is served at colder temperatures, the beer colour is less bright. 

How to store Orval beer

Orval beer is like good wine and can get better at ageing. The beer label has a creating date on it. The beer drinker can decide either to drink it right away or to keep it in a cellar. If you do not want to drink your Orval right away, store it away from the light between 10-15 degrees celsius. Thanks to the Brettanomyces yeast, the beer can be stored for several years in a cellar. 

The taste will change a bit depending on the age of the beer. The young beer tastes more like a bouquet of fresh hops. It has a lighter palate with fruity notes. Older beer has a caramel touch and slight acidity added to its flavour. 

Orval beer bottle shape

Even the shape of the beer bottle is special, a very round and curvy shape. It resembles a bowling keel. The special shape has the purpose to allow the bottle to resist the strong pressure the beer contains. 

The story of the Orval beer logo

The logo of Orval beer is recognizable anywhere. It is an image of a trout holding a golden ring in its mouth. The legend has it that Mathilde, the countess of Tuscany, once lost her wedding ring, her only memory of her deceased husband, into a fountain in the valley. She immediately started to pray to God when a trout appeared with a golden ring in its mouth. Mathilde exclaimed that truly, this is a golden valley! To be thankful, she decided to build a monastery in the valley. The Orval beer’s logo carries out this legend. 

Which foods go well next to Orval beer?

Orval beer goes well with strong cheeses, red or white meat, poultry, fish and vegetarian dishes. You can even pair it with desserts to balance the bitterness.

In French, do you say “un” Orval or “une” Orval?

Well, that is a heated debate that beer drinkers like to discuss. We’ve written a full article on how to order Orval beer correctly. 

Thirsty for an Orval beer? Buy Orval beer online and add it to the cart! You may also find Orval beer in one of our beer boxes or discover it with our beer subscription. 

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. 

Jungle Joy is the fusion of mango and passion fruit. A fruity but unsweetened beer that everyone enjoys. It is an exotic beer that is not only fresh but has a tangy touch. The best part is that the beer has no added sugar or artificial flavours. The beer is brewed with real pieces of fruit like mango and passion fruit!

When you pour it into your beer glass, you’ll notice a yellow-orange, slightly murky colour appearing. The beer has a large white head. 

On the nose, you will notice fruity aromas like mango, passion fruit, lemon, apricot, but also malt. 

On the palate, you can taste authentic fruit flavours. The passion fruit and mango flavours are dominant, but you’ll also taste malt and cookies. It has a slight bitterness, is medium-bodied and has mild to moderate carbonation. 

Jungle Joy is a Belgian Dubbel style of beer, but the fruitiness masks the style and pushes it under the fruit beer category. 

Jungle Joy is also one of the All-Star beers of Brussels Beer Project. This means the brewery presents prototypes and the community chooses the best beer. Jungle Joy won in 2016 against 4 other fruity beers. It is now one of the permanent and best beers of the brewery. 

The Jungle Joy beer stands out as it is unlike any other classic fruit beer. The beer has perfectly balanced acidity and just a hint of bitterness. Any beer lover will add it to their list of favourites. 

More about Jungle Joy beer:  

• Where is Jungle Joy brewed?

The Brussels Beer Project brewery, as its name hints, is located in the capital city of Belgium. The home, where Jungle Joy is brewed, is situated on Dansaert street near the canal of Brussels. 

• How to serve Jungle Joy beer? 

The best is to serve Jungle Joy in a Teku beer glass. The best pouring temperature is 7 degrees celsius. 

• What are the ingredients of Jungle Joy beer?

The beer contains barley malt, hops, yeast, water, and extracts of mango and passionfruit.

• Is Jungle Joy beer gluten-free?

No, it is not gluten-free.

• What are other beers by Brussels Beer Project brewery? 

Some of the other beers by the brewery are Delta IPA, Wunderlager, Grosse Bertha, Pico Bello and Dark Sister. 

Thinking about buying Jungle Joy beer? Then go ahead and add it to the cart! You can also find this beer in our Brussels Beer box or choose a monthly beer delivery, where you’ll find surprising beers like this!

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.

A tangy and fruity taste, the woody aromas due to the time of fermentation in barrels provide a long final touch in mouth.

This beer can be kept for an extremely long time, it will only get better.

The Gueuze Cantillon is a blend of several organic lambics.

The Gueuze Cantillon has a golden blond colour with some orange reflections. The head of the beer is very thin. The beer has delicate citrus aromas. On the nose, you can notice lemon, apple and apricot. On the palate, you have fruity tastes, especially the lemon and apple. It provides a strong acidity with a long finish in the mouth. The balance of acidity is perfect. 

The Cantillon brewery and its gueuze have become famous not only in Belgium but all around the world. Some people even call the beer “Champagne de Belgique”. The demand has not only become high among beer drinkers but also among collectors. People as far as the United States are trying to get their hands on a good Cantillon Gueuze. 

Now, the Gueuze Cantillon represents half of the brewery’s production. The brewers follow a thousand-year-old brewing tradition and promote the natural taste of a beer by using the best raw materials. The cereals they use are 100% organically grown.
 

The history and making of Gueuze beer

In the 18th century, a Benedictine monk discovered champagnisation by blending different non-sparkling white wines. It was just the beginning of discovery, as, during the next century, a Brabant brewer mixed several Lambics that caused fermentation in the bottle. And finally, the Gueuze was born. 

Before that, only Lambic and Faro beers were drunk in Belgium. The monk’s discovery of champagnisation and the Brabant brewers mixing of lambics started a new revolution. The Gueuze beer then became a hit. In fact, it was not the Belgians but Americans who noticed the value of a gueuze beer. Before it came back to the spotlight in Belgium, the demand was much higher in the United States. 

Creating this complex mixture of different lambics requires some work. Around ten lambics from different barrels need to be tasted to select the best half for the mixture. Young lambics that are one year old are mixed with old lambics, which are three years old. The bottles are then placed horizontally in a cellar for a second fermentation that takes about one year. Once the lambic has become sparkling, it has become a gueuze. 

Anecdote of cooking with Gueuze Cantillon beer

Proper beer lovers and geeks would call anyone mad to waste a good Cantillon Gueuze on any dish. Nevertheless, there is a whole recipe book about cooking with Cantillon beer!

You can find this book at Brussels Gueuze Museum, which is a museum dedicated to gueuze beer and established in the Cantillon brewery. 

The book called “La Gueuze Gourmande” was published in 1995 and only focuses on dishes that use Cantillon beers. There is a recipe called tête pressée that even requires two full bottles of Cantillon Gueuze. This book was made when the consumption of traditional gueuze was declining, especially during the tough times after World War II. This book intended to use the beer in recipes in a way that the unique beer flavour would not disappear. 

The recipe book may be forgotten now, but luckily the consumers have once again started to appreciate a traditional gueuze beer the way it is.

Learn more about the Gueuze Cantillon beer.

How long can you store a Gueuze Cantillon beer?

The good news is that this beer only gets better with time! In a cellar, Cantillon Gueuze can age for more than 20 years without losing any taste or aromas. 

Where is the Gueuze Cantillon brewed?

The Cantillon brewery is located in the Anderlecht neighbourhood in Brussels, Belgium. It is very close to one of the main train stations, Brussels Midi. 

How to serve the Gueuze Cantillon?

The Gueuze Cantillon can be served at 15 degrees celsius. Cantillon brewery has a dedicated beer glass for the gueuze. If you are unable to buy a Cantillon beer glass, then use any straight format beer glass to enjoy your beer. 

What are some other similar beers to Gueuze Cantillon?

If you enjoy the Gueuze Cantillon, you must see the other gueuze beers in our collection. 

What are the other beers by Cantillon brewery?

We encourage you to try out Cantillons Kriek and Gambrinus. 

Are you interested in trying Gueuze Cantillon? You can buy the beer online by adding it to the cart! 

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.

Berliner Weisse with a slightly salty taste. It is produced in the tradition of this style, with raw wheat and by crazy but exceptional brewers.

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.

Stout with roasted aromas and a very balanced bitterness.

The acidity is well balanced and the taste of the oak barrels is present. Assembly of lambic of 1, 2 and 3 years of age, unfiltered and unpasteurized. The majority of the lambic comes from the 3 Fonteinen production but it is still blended with lambics from other breweries.

Lambic with Raspberry.

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.