Brouwerij De Ranke
Brouwerij De Ranke is in Dottignies in Hainaut and has existed under that name since 1997. Nino Bacelle and Guido Devos brew bitter and mixed-fermentation beers there from natural ingredients, with no additives. They are known for XX Bitter, a distinctly bitter blonde ale, and for their sour beers made with lambic.
- LocationMouscron, Wallonia
- Founded1997
- TypeMicrobrewery
- Untappd 3.55 · 424k ratings
- At Hoptimaal1 in stock
In stock now 1
From lemonade factory to own brewery in Dottignies
The roots lie in Wevelgem. Around 1930, Germain Noffels started a beer bottling plant and lemonade factory there. In 1948, his daughter Irene Noffels and son-in-law Napoleone Bacelle took it over. Nino Bacelle (1958) began experimenting in 1981 and took over the business with his brother in 1986.
In 1994, Nino released his own beer as Brouwerij Nino Bacelle, brewed at Deca in Woesten. After a year, 9,000 litres of Guldenberg had been sold. In 1995 he met Guido Devos through the beer tasters' association HOP. Devos was a co-founder of HOP and had been a homebrewer for years. In 1997 they joined forces and it became Brouwerij De Ranke, a name that refers to the bines on which hops grow.
In 2005, after eleven years at Deca, they started their own brewery in Dottignies, in Hainaut. In 2010, Nino turned his hobby into a full-time job. In 2015, De Ranke brewed 5,000 hectolitres, about half of it for export, with six people employed.
Bitter beer with respect for tradition
The reason was concern. In the 1980s, many small and medium-sized breweries disappeared, and bitter beers were sweetened. Hop extract made cheaper brewing possible than hop flowers. De Ranke wanted to prove that quality starts with the best ingredients and respect for traditional methods.
The principles: natural ingredients without additives or artificial ingredients, and new techniques only if they improve quality, not to save costs. The beers are unfiltered and unpasteurised.
XX Bitter, first brewed in 1997, is regarded as a milestone: a blonde, bitter ale of 6% with pilsner malt and plenty of Brewers Gold and Hallertau, using whole hop flowers only. Kriek De Ranke (2000) is a blend of old sour ale, cherries and lambic from the Senne valley. Cuvée De Ranke (2005) is mixed-fermentation: 70% sour ale, 30% lambic, with oak notes. They also brew Noir de Dottignies, Saison de Dottignies and Hop Harvest, made with fresh, undried hops right after the harvest.
Buy De Ranke at Hoptimaal
From De Ranke, we sell beers of 7%. Best drunk fresh. Serve hoppy and bitter beers cool; mixed-fermentation beers can be a bit less cold, and with the stronger beers, take your time with the glass.
You order per piece; order before 3 pm on working days, shipped the same day. Shipping within the Netherlands is free from €75, and returns are free.
Frequently asked questions
Where does De Ranke come from?
Brouwerij De Ranke is in Dottignies in Hainaut, Belgium. The brewery came about in 1997 from Brouwerij Nino Bacelle, when Nino Bacelle and Guido Devos joined forces. They have brewed in Dottignies since 2005.
What kind of beer does De Ranke make?
Mainly bitter beers such as XX Bitter and mixed-fermentation beers with lambic, such as Cuvée De Ranke and Kriek De Ranke. They also brew a tripel, a saison and a dark beer, among others.
Are De Ranke beers filtered or pasteurised?
No, the beers are unfiltered and unpasteurised, and no additives or artificial ingredients go into them. That is why they are best drunk fresh.
