De Ranke Brewery
Dottignies, Hainaut, Belgium
De Ranke was founded in 1997 by Nino Bacelle and Guido Devos, two Belgian beer enthusiasts who wanted to make the sort of beers they felt the industry was moving away from. At a time when many breweries were softening bitterness to appeal to a wider audience, De Ranke went in the opposite direction. Its name refers to a hop vine, which gives you a pretty good idea of where its priorities lie. The brewery began by producing its beers at other breweries before moving into its own home in Dottignies in 2005.
Hops remain central to the De Ranke approach. The brewery uses whole hop flowers sourced from the Poperinge region of Belgium, rather than relying on hop extracts or pellets. Its beers are traditionally brewed, unfiltered and unpasteurised, with an emphasis on keeping the flavour of the ingredients intact. The result is a range known for firm bitterness, aromatic hops and plenty of character, without sacrificing balance.
XX Bitter is the beer that put De Ranke on the map. First brewed in 1997, it is a pale ale with a pronounced bitterness, floral hop aromas and a dry, refreshing finish. Guldenberg, a strong abbey-style tripel, offers a different balance of fruity yeast character, malt and hops, while Saison de Dottignies brings a lighter, farmhouse-inspired profile. The range also includes the dark, malty Noir de Dottignies and Simplex, a lighter ale inspired by the bitter, hoppy pilsners of the past.
De Ranke also explores mixed fermentation and blending. Kriek De Ranke combines aged sour ale with cherries and lambic from the Senne Valley, bringing together bright fruit, acidity and a deeper, more rustic character. Cuvée De Ranke blends aged sour beer with lambic too, creating a complex balance of malt, tartness and oak-influenced flavours. These beers show that the brewery's interest in traditional methods extends well beyond hops.
De Ranke has built its reputation by sticking to its principles rather than chasing trends. Its beers have a distinctly Belgian character, but their confident bitterness and focus on whole hops make them stand apart from many familiar Belgian styles. If you like your beer with a proper hop bite, a dry finish and a bit of old-school character, De Ranke is a brewery worth getting to know.
