XXX Bitter
XXX Bitter began when an American beer festival asked De Ranke for a dry-hopped version of XX Bitter. Instead of dry hopping, the brewery raised the hop charge by half, from about ten to fifteen grams of whole cones per litre, on the same pale pilsner malt and top-fermenting yeast. Despite the higher bitterness units, the larger share of aroma hops makes it come across softer than its sibling. The nose shows fresh-cut grass, hay, mint and white pepper; the palate brings a sharp, green bitterness with lemon zest, a hint of honey and a crisp, bone-dry finish.
Tasting Notes
AI-generated sensory profile for XXX Bitter
Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.
The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.
More from Brouwerij De Ranke
About Belgian Pale Ale
Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives
What is a Belgian Pale Ale?
Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.
Finding a similar Belgian Pale Ale
hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same bitter, dry, grassy character as XXX Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.
Other Belgian Pale Ales in hopIQ
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