Cuvée De Ranke
Brouwerij Brasserie De Ranke

Cuvée De RankeCuvée De Ranke
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From:
Brouwerij Brasserie De Ranke
 
Belgium
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #304
ABV:
7%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,296
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 10.02%
Reviews:
139
Ratings:
385
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 12, 2023
Added:
May 22, 2008
Wants:
  65
Gots:
  59
Cuvée De Ranke is a mixed fermentation, blended ale. A combination of barrel-aged beer and lambic.
Taste: Full-bodied sour flavour, with notes of oak from oak-aging.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by joe1510:
Photo of joe1510
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois

4.37/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750ml
$12.99
West Lakeview

From Shelton Bros. Website: "The Cuvée de Ranke is roughly a 70/30 blend of a beer brewed with top fermenting Rodenbach yeast and aged Girardin lambic." It's the base beer for Kriek de Ranke.

This lambic styled brew form De Ranke fills my tulip wit ha deep sunset orange bordering on red with a mild haziness that makes the body though to see through. This beer looked still until the glass was half full and an ecru head grew to a half finger before fizzling out to a thin cap. Each drink and swirl leaves thin sheet lacing down the glass. This is an excellent looking brew with great color!

The aroma of this beer is packed to the gills with complexity. All the complexity morphs over time in the glass and actually changes from whiff to whiff. Dried out woodiness comes forward first and resembles rosemary at times and horse blanket & straw at others. A little bit of sweat comes through here and there accompanied by dried, cracked leather, summer weeds, slightly under ripe plum, and barnyard all in that order of intensity but switching positions often. There's even a ghost like spicy hoppiness in there somewhere.

The flavor is as dizzyingly complex as the aroma but the profile is actually quite different. The sourness comes across mid-palate and grows through the finish. It's hard to put my finger on the flavors in this one. Sweaty horse blanket, dry leather, damp mildewing straw, and plum all slide over the tongue. The sourness is enough to permeate my cheeks and cause a small pucker while the finish brings something completely unexpected. The dry woody like rosemary combines with glistening orchard fruit that was nowhere to be found in the nose. Juicy peach, pear and melon (I know it's not orchard) all come together on the finish to cool down the sour finish. The sour is still there but the slight fruity sweetness balances it out nicely. I almost forgot about the quick flash of herbal bitterness on the swallow. Cuvee de Ranke is delicious brew!

The body is light with a bone dry woodiness on the swallow. The sourness coats the entire mouth and the mild bitterness comes in afterwards, growing after each drink. The carbonation is very light but the light, almost watery body keeps this beer flowing without a problem. The combination of bitter and sour do a number on the taste buds halfway through the glass.

I started off giving this a 4 for drinkability but it's now to the point I can't drink it fast enough. It's not a slamable beer at all but it can be quietly sipped all night long, one after the other. This beer goes down supremely easy.

Next time I see Cuvee de Ranke on the shelf I will be picking up a few more bottles. This really is an outstanding beer that will smack you over the head with its complexity. This beer should be enjoyed over a long period of time with the huge change in flavor as it warms. Pick this up if you see it.

Reviewed: 11/8/08
Aug 19, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottled in a huge bottle and shared out amongst the bar flies at Temperance street tap
Pours a slightly hazy golden body with nice but spotty head
Aroma is buttery lactic Belgium candy
Flavour is sherry and oak
May 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by smithj4 from New York

Mar 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.16 by Boone757 from Virginia

Sep 26, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.17/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Shared 750 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV 7.0%. Deep golden to orange colour, white head. Lovely aroma of brettanomyces / farmhouse, white wine vinegar and mild spicy notes. Funky flavour with brettanomyces notes.
Apr 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.35 by dukeufo from California

Feb 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Dec 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4.46 by Chico1985 from Massachusetts

Aug 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Aug 12, 2020
Photo of octortus
Reviewed by octortus from Canada (ON)

4.21/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750 mL Bottle. ABV 7%.
Appearance: Veiled gold/canary yellow, Under half a finger of bright white head, Good retention (considering the style), Apricot colour and suspended yeast on final pour.
Aroma: Belgian pale ale/golden ale base, Lambic (30%) comes through, Belgian yeast, Brett Funk, Grapefruit, Lime peel, White grape, Hay, Slight Woodiness.
Mouthfeel: Wonderfully mellow, Clean, Well hidden alcohol, Great carbonation, Clear separation of styles when evaluating but it works well, Refreshing.
Flavour: Belgian pale ale/golden ale base, Lambic (30%) comes through at the end, Belgian yeast, Brett funk, Grapefruit dryness and bitterness on finish, White grape, Hay, Woodiness.
Overall: Pretty pricey here in Canada but it was a refreshing treat and one that was thoroughly enjoyed. Belgian beer culture shines through.

Review: 185
Jun 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by KensWorld from Florida

Jun 07, 2020
Photo of eppCOS
Reviewed by eppCOS from Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L- proper unfiltered look at 70% sour 30% lambic. Has a golden foamy glow.
S- smells like acid and bruises in a good way. Citrus peel on the back of the nose
T- dreamy sour golden cherries with great attack, superb acid and sour balance. Stunning.
F- excellent bubbles, mate. Great mouthfeel that asks for sip after sip.
O- one of the better blended sours I have ever enjoyed.
Jan 21, 2020
Photo of jngrizzaffi
Reviewed by jngrizzaffi from Texas

4.04/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a copper orange color with a thin foamy head. Head retention is mild as is lacing. Has a tart, funky, lemony, white grape and apricot aroma. Taste follows the same route. There may be some mild green apple as well. Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Jan 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.22 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Dec 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Dec 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.13 by stephenlee93 from England

Oct 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.95 by Lofreqwave from California

Oct 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.43 by edthehead from Maryland

Jul 06, 2019
Photo of Snowcrash000
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a cloudy, dark golden amber coloration with a small, foamy head. Smells of biscuity malt, mild, cheesy funk, lemon peel, apricot, white grape and green apple with just a hint of oaky tannins. Taste follows the nose, with a great balance of light biscuity malt, mild cheesy funk, light/medium tartness and acidity and notes of lemon peel, apricot, white grape, green apple and just a hint of oaky tannins, with the dry, somewhat vinous, white grape notes standing out particularly. Finishes quite dry, with a light/medium tartness and some white grape and green apple notes lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

This tastes exactly what you might expect a 70% Sour Ale and 30% Lambic blend to taste like. While it's not too complex, there is a subtle depth to it and it just has a fantastic, smooth and mellow balance of tartness and acidity, with mild funk and a wonderful, dry white wine character supplemented very nicely by some mild oaky tannins and fruity notes of apricot and green apple. A fantastic, easy-drinking and refreshing summer beer with a subtle complexity.
Jun 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by rale from France

May 14, 2019
Cuvée De Ranke from Brouwerij Brasserie De Ranke
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 385 ratings