… for beer. Was it a good year for wine? Maybe but how would we know? What we know is that its a good year for beer – French, to be precise. Kronenbourg, to be really specific. And the classic Kronenbourg variety stands in the top 5 beers in our favourites list. But more of that classic brew variety in another upcoming post. Today we dissect the K1664 variety, as it is known in the UK.

First, a bit of background on the brewery. Geronimus Hatt, who obtained his Master Brewer’s certificate in 1664, started up the Canon Brewery in the Place du Corbeau in Strasbourg. His son Claude (born November 1665), succeeded his father in the trade in 1683. However, the frequent flooding of the River Ill compelled in 1850 a move to the higher terrain of Cronenbourg, an area of Strasbourg. Now owned by Carlsberg, Geronimus Hatt, who obtained his Master Brewer’s certificate in 1664, started up the Canon Brewery in the Place du Corbeau in Strasbourg. His son Claude (born November 1665), succeeded his father in the trade in 1683. However, the frequent flooding of the River Ill compelled in 1850 a move to the higher terrain of Cronenbourg, an area of Strasbourg. Now owned by Carlsberg, Kronenbourg is the largest selling beer in France today.Now about the K1664. With Dynamo Système it delivers a lively canned lager with smaller bubbles creating a smoother taste. Smaller bubbles. Smoother taste. That’s the positioning of one of the newer commercial mass brews to hit Singapore, brought in by our friends at Carlsberg Singapore; already on tap in a couple of our favourite watering holes like KPO in the heart of Orchard Road, Singapore. Kronenbourg 1664, the company’s main brand, is a 5.5% pale lager first brewed in 1952. It is the leading brand of beer in France, where it has a 40% market share. It uses the Strisselspalt hop – a French aroma hop from Alsace, used mostly in pale lagers  (source: wikipedia). You can expect to find it at Beerfest Asia 2010.

This slightly dark golden coloured, strong Pilsner-style  beer has a good frothy head when poured and the bubbles hold steady for a while when left to stand for a minute. Nice – keeps the freshness in. Taste-wise, it has a finish that I would describe as reminisce of grass – and not in a wheat or  bad way though. It is full bodied and smooth -the latter  testament to the small bubbles and hence persistent frothy head. The slightly hoppy taste was not apparent in its aroma which was strong and inviting. The only thing that got me wondering was why they had to go add colouring (E150c) into an otherwise all natural product. Now I’m usually a fan of natural foods and beverages but if you’re not too fussed, I’m sure you’ll like the 1664. At 5% abv for this sample that was passed to us, its a good strength brew that’ll keep most drinkers happy.

Aside, Kronenbourg also has a variety called  Cold Premier 5.0% – a super chilled variant on 1664, draught only, UK. I was blessed enough to have tried that at a London local for close to £5 some time ago, but that was probably the best beer I had used to wash down a scrumptious pub meal of lamb chops ever. Try it if you have the chance. I bet still have remnants of coagulated lamb fat in my gut courtesy of the deliberately freezing brew. No regrets though, heh.