United Nations of Beer

Kronenbourg 1664 beer

by Dallas Reimer
(Beer Delegate, MB, Canada)

Kronenbourg 1664 beer (5% ABV)
France
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It arrives in a green bottle, which almost always indicates that it will taste like rotten fruit and be weaker than my grandmother.

However, Kronenbourg 1664 is surprisingly good. I apologize to my grandmother for the crude remark and pick up the bottle to examine it and to read the beautiful French inscription on the label – "Brasseur depuis seize cent soixante quatre". It almost brings a tear to my eye.

I imagined that it was a love note from the original brewer to his illicit sweetheart, or maybe the key to some ancient riddle that no one would ever know. This was before I learned that it meant "Brewed since 1664", which I had already guessed due to its name. Le sigh. I should have paid attention in sixth grade French.

1664 is a 5.0% ABV lager with a little more flavour than you'd think. I can imagine drinking bottles of it under the umbrella of a French café on a rainy night, basking in the romance of the city while simultaneously getting bombed (which, in France, is still romantic). I am especially thankful for the inset handle of the bottle; it doubtless will improve my grip, which seems to weaken after a few bieres.