Kronenbourg 1664
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Kronenbourg 1664 is touted as the premium beer of Brasseries Kronenbourg brewers since 1664, well let me tell you it’s not anymore, at least not here down under.
The Kronenbourg 1664 we buy here in Australia is brewed under license in Victoria by the Foster’s Group and it is this version that I am reviewing here. Originally Kronenbourg 1664 came to Australia from the Kronenbourg Brewery in France and the name Kronenbourg comes from the French village of Cronenbourg. The other part of this beers iconic name came from the year in which the brewery was founded, 1664. It was originally founded in Strasbourg as the Hatt Brewery but was relocated & renamed in 1850 and is now owned by the Carlsberg Group. Kronenbourg is the fifth oldest beer brand in the world that is still being used to this day. You can get your hands on the real imported Kronenbourg 1664 in Australia but don’t count on 1st Choice or Dan Murphy’s stocking it as I unfortunately made this mistake. Kronenbourg 1664 is premium lager with an alcohol content of 5% per 330ml volume. It has a crisp, clean and refreshing taste that presents with an initial bitterness. It would make for a good season beer. Neither of the two bottles I consumed poured with any noticeable head but they did leave an even amount of lacing on my glass. There’s a clear golden hue to this beer and it comes well carbonated, which it quite noticeable with its mouth-feel. The aroma smells of sweet malts and is generally pleasant all round. A commendable point about this brand is it’s cap covered labelling and green 1664 embossed bottling. Both add to the pedigree of this beer making it stand out from the crowd.
Although Kronenbourg 1664 may not be the most amazing lager on the market it does come with high regard in certain circles and its name has every reason to. If you haven’t tried Kronenbourg 1664 for yourself I suggest you do, and where possible, read the label first and see if it’s the fully imported version.
Rating (out of five):
Category : Beer Reviews, Lager
Kronenbourg is my favorite beer! But ONLY the real French import (the aussie brew is puss). Do you know where I can find the “real” Kronenbourg in Australia – preferably somewhere in or near Adelaide?
Hi Richard, it’s been a while since I’ve bought a bottle of the ‘real’ Kronenbourg, but have you tried the usual suspects like Dan Murphy’s and 1st Choice?
No, Dan Murphys rarely stock the real 1664, in any store. Another great beer destroyed by the CUB number-crunching halfwits. Hopefully if will fail as I believe local Becks did. The customer’s always right, and beer is not just beer.
ps. Even reputable French eateries stock the CUB 1664 version – be wary – I always ask to see the label.