De Ranke XX Bitter

Brewed by Brouwerij De Ranke
Style: Belgian Ale
Dottignies/Dottenijs, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: MAY 16, 2004 Sampled May 2004, from 33cl bottle
Pours a hazy straw gold color, and is topped by a cream colored head of reasonable size. It is pretty well carbonated. Smells of earthy grassy hops with a slight lemoniness here. The taste is sharp and bitter with a light palate and a lemony finish. This beer is definitely bitter as advertised. This is pretty tasty, and is in much better condition than when I last sampled it. There is some earthy, hay character in the taste. This is perhaps a bit too bitter as it seems to hide the underlying complexity that this beer has.

Sampled March, 2004 from 750ml bottle
Pours with a lusty creamy off white head that sits atop a hazy gold beer. The aroma is of grassy hops, with perhaps a bit of light struck character. Some grain character is in the aroma as well as soft notes of honey and hay. The taste has a nice sharp bitterness to it that fades into a bit of medicinal hoppiness. The grassy hop character is here in the flavor. The beer is pretty dry with not much in the way of malt character, perhaps a hint of toasted biscuit flavors. Overall I am a bit disappointed in this beer, I hope that this is just not as fresh as it should be. I will definitely get a draft pint from the Hop Leaf the next time I am there.

Bottle 33cl. Poors clear yellow with white head gone in seconds, yeast at the bottom of the bottle. Aroma is bread, hay, little citrus. Taste is a good strong bitter with a small sweet at the end. A very good bitter.

Buona birra, si presenta di colore arancione scarico sporco con un bellissimo cappello di schiuma persistente e cremoso, aroma di limoni, molto intenso, anche nel gusto limoni, lievito e soprattutto luppolo con un ottimo amaro persistente nel retrogusto ma assolutamente non invadente e non fastidioso!

Appearance was hazy pale gold with creamy diminishing white 1 finger head, no lacing. Aromas sweet malts then the friuty spicy funky yeasts blend well with a splash of citrusy piney earthy hops. Taste was mild malt backbone then the citrus fruits and spicey yeasts, resinous hops but subtle compared with IPA s. Palate was light smooth creamy spirtzy carbonation with light-medium body. The fruity average length dryish finish. A good soft belgian bitter, wow me likey...

Cloudy golden yellow with a nice pillowy head, great retention and lace. Unappealing flakes settle to the bottomof the glass. Fruity and medicinal aromas accompany the yeast and hops. Bitterness is strong on the palate, with lemon, yeast, barnyard/horse blanket, and a touch of tropical fruit. Light to medium body, lively carbonation, soft pillowy mouthfeel, and a short bitter finish.

Backlog june 2011, bottle at Hoppy Loft Golden color, ok foam Medium body & medium high complexity Nice bitterness Very enjoyable

Golden straw colour, thick head which fades fast. Sharp, almost metallic bitter hops on the nose. There’s a slippery sweetness underlying a very sharp bitterness in the mouth; guessing that’s the pilsner malt playing around the hops. Very refreshing, very nice. Would be good for a warm summer’s afternoon in a beer garden somewhere.

Poured from ant 11.2 ounce bottle into a pint glass. Appearance is a semi hazy yellow with a thick, frothy, white head of foam. Aroma is mildly bitter with not much in the way of a hop profile. Taste is just slightly bitter with a clean pale malt backbone. Enjoyable.

Tap at Moeder Fontainas. This is a pale yellow beer, with some Belgian spice but a strong hoppy flavour. I just thought there was something a little funky and earthy coming from the yeast here, not as perfumy as some other Belgian pale ales, and just detracted a little from the overall taste.

330ml bottle. Pours light gold with a medium head. Aroma is sweet candy sugars and banana yeast. Taste has some carbonated water to start. Very bitter finish. Prickly carbonation.

Not a typical Belgian beer, hoppy with hints of wheat, light on yeasty flavours and far more bitter than any Belgian I’ve had. I want more...maybe keep a stock of these. Great beer.