Kronenbourg 1664 - Brasseries Kronenbourg

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on tap with a nice meal. This was served to me well chilled, in the matching Kronenbourg glassware, which certainly enhanced the experience.

A) Nice golden color. There was a good looking finger of white foam, which gradually settled to a dusting. There was just a little lacing. Looked good....

S) There is not much to describe here, but it did have a good lager aroma of grains, malt sweetness, a little fruit or floral fragrance and grass.

T) Again, nothing to complex. Nice malt sweetness. I picked up a little fruit on the nose, but not with the flavor. This was more like very light honey. Good hop bitterness, grassy finish. Clean aftertaste.

M) A lighter medium body, definitely not thin. The carbonation suited this style well. This was crisp and easy to drink.

O) I've enjoyed this beer here and abroad. I think it is a notch better than most of the mass produced Euro Pale Lagers.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2012 08:50:39 | More by RoamingGnome

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

Been a long time since the Chumley's passport day that first introduced me to this beer. Wasn't a fan then, but maybe things have changed after all those years... It pours a clear very pale straw topped by a finger or so of white foam. The nose comprises rice husk, light funky wheat, and hard water. The taste holds notes of funky wheat, rice, hard water, chalk, and what seems like fake lemon creeping in from some dank room in the back o' the place, ax in hand. The body is light, with a moderate carbonation and a watery feel. Overall, I'm still not a fan of this beer: The supposedly arrogantly quality hops don't come through very well, and things just taste super watery and super adjunct-y (if that makes sense).

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 05:37:37 | More by TMoney2591

FosterJM

California

3.08/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

1037th Review on BA
Bottle to Pilsner
11.2 oz

This was a white elephant from my boss at Xmas. Part of a Cost Plus World Market Beers of the World.

App- A medium yellow with a small 1/2 finger pure white head the escaped the glass quickly. Left a nice small amount of cling down the glass.

Smell- Right down the middle. Smelled like a lager but that was about it. Very diluted aromas of yeast and malt but not skunky. Just there.

Taste- When it opens this was just a tad floral with a small amount of maybe lemon? It was a unique citrus note that was just kinda there. A small amount of malts balanced with a little grain note.

Mouth- A bit thicker medium for a lager which was nice and balanced by a medium carbonation level with some malty sweetness and residual lager yeast.

Drink- It was just pretty average. I wont knock it for what it is. Its a staple in Europe and France but just too bland for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 04:56:33 | More by FosterJM

metter98

New York

3.3/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: The beer is crystal clear yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that gradually died down and left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of grainy malts in the nose along with hints of floral hops.
T: The taste has flavors of bready and grainy malts along with some hints of associated sweetness. No bitterness is perceptible, although the hops keep the sweetness in check.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and smooth on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink and has a better taste and thicker mouthfeel compared to others in the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 02:16:13 | More by metter98

WrathsU

Florida

2.7/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Brilliantly clear golden body with eggshell white head. Thin head that dissipates quickly. Moderate lacing.

S - Very malty up front. Towards the end a hint of lemon and a very very slight hint of urine which is undesirable. No hop aroma detected.

T - Watered down malty sweetness throughout. A slight DMS fault towards the end. Bitterness levels are nice throughout.

M - Light bodied, with a nice carbonation level to it. Feels great.

O - The beer is okay overall. The taste isn't great which greatly brings down my opinion of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 20:25:17 | More by WrathsU

WoodBrew

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I brought a 500ml can back from a recent trip to Europe. The beer pours out looking like a pale clear yellow with decent carbonation that forms a white head that eventually vanished. The smell was weak and slight grains. The beer flavor of the beer was typical of most Euro pale lagers in my opinion. Mouthfeel was a light body and overall it was just ok.

Serving type: can

12-17-2011 14:52:18 | More by WoodBrew

Paincane

Georgia

3.03/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured into a pint glass producing a thin white head that dissipates quickly but leaves a small amount of spotty lacing. Gold in color and clear.
S: Grain, grass and slight sweet malty aromas.
T: Grain, yeast, slight sweet malt flavors with a hint of citrus.
M: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
O: Decent Euro lager. Nothing to write home about. Will be in Strasbourg in less than a week. Would like to compare to a fresh one at its home, but there are so many other beers to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 02:50:13 | More by Paincane

rwrk42

New Jersey

2.88/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Decent head at first pour but settles very quickly.

Smell: Very light & mild hop aroma. Other than that there is not much to it.

Taste: Very Light bodied but clean and smooth. Slight and I mean a slight hop taste. A very faint citrus taste finish.

Typical Euro lager and nothing to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 03:58:15 | More by rwrk42

medic25

Connecticut

3.48/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Brasserie Les Halles; seemed like a good selection to go with a classic French meal. Clean golden color with a thick white head, served in appropriate glassware. Sweet, slightly grainy aroma. Taste was enjoyable compared to some of the other brews in the style. A little grassy, a little bitter, but it at least had some degree of flavor and was relatively light and enjoyable to drink. Not my favorite style, but for a pale lager this was a tasty option.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2011 06:36:24 | More by medic25

MEsoJD

California

2.5/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

[Poured into an straight beer glass]

B: [11.2 FL OZ] Bottle is attractive with upward ridges of 1664 on its waste, but the label lacks information. The cap is nothing special to me.

A: Light yellow body with heavily carbonated head(fast dissipation), and spotty lacing.

S: Ugh... This is one skunky beer. Other smells would be grass, yeast, and malt. Really couldn't stand putting my nose to this.

T: Grainy sweet malt, citrus (but I can't put my finger on it... fruit wise)and very faint bitterness.

M: Crisp, light/medium bodied, light alcohol presence, and medium carbonation.

O: Well... Overall it wasn't awful, but the smell was distracting. Don't inhale when you drink this beer. Taste was decent, but it maybe a little too sweet. I wouldn't buy again or recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 02:37:21 | More by MEsoJD

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a very light yellow color with some of the best lacing I have ever seen.

Smell: Grains and grass.

Taste: sweet with a slight dry hop finish.

Mouthfeel: crisp and smooth.

Overall: Good lager. Bought this for a friend because his wife just got back from Paris and recommended it.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 00:27:28 | More by ejimhof

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

2.93/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Draft

Appearance – Clear yellow colour with a large size fizzy white coloured head. There is an above average amount of carbonation showing and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Grains, bread, malts, floral hops, corn, skunk

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average amount of carbonation. I can taste bread mixed with light floral hops and some corn. There is also a light maltiness and a maybe just a hint of citrus. The beer finishes with a grainy slightly bitter aftertaste.

Overall – Highly drinkable, but not worth the 'premium import' price the bar was charging for it. It's just another slightly above average euro-lager that is a dime a dozen in my area.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 16:21:11 | More by spinrsx

kojevergas

California

2.73/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Served on draught into a 1664 glass in a restaurant in Belfort, France. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one finger head of slight cream, fair thickness, and bad retention. Semitransparent yellow colour.

Sm: Cream and clean barley. Moderate in strength.

T: Cream and clean barley. Slight butter, especially on the climax, is a nice effect. Simple. Well balanced and decently built.

Mf: Smooth, creamy, buttery, and wet. Complements the simple flavour.

Dr: High price by French standards. Very easy to drink. I'd have it again. It's refreshing and pairs decently with a burger.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 05:44:00 | More by kojevergas

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a frothy three finger pillowy white head into a medium wine glass - sticky lacing lingered on the glass in rings as the big head slowly subsided to a nice one finger collar - the colour is a clear crisp gold

The smell is sweet bready malt and somewhat floral

The taste follows the nose with a hint of light fruit - slight bit of pipper in the aftertaste - pretty straightforward and generic

M - light to medium body with plenty of carbionation - a slight bitterness as well with this relatively smooth brew

O a decent pale euro lager which is easy to put back on a warm September day - not my style but certainly drinkable and worth a try

Serving type: can

09-13-2011 17:26:58 | More by Stocean1

pijiu

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Honey color. Dense and fine, but not creamy head, which quickly dissipates.

S - Citrusy, and light, hop smell.

T - I suggest having this as a draft. Bottled version is not as good. Easy opening with light grassiness, bitter, sharp and bright middle, bread, green apple, and hop aftertaste.

M - Initially there's a sharp carbonate bite, which quickly relaxes over the tongue. Leaves a light aftercoating, that is pleasant.

Overall: Very drinkable and not heavy. Would pair well with casual fare. Good for warm weather drinking.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 01:10:45 | More by pijiu

ummswimmin

New Jersey

2.93/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I had never had a French beer before; so I figured, why not?

I poured this beer into a pilsner glass. There was a lot of really thin head from the pour. This left speckled lacing on the glass.

The 1664 smelled like tons of Saaz hops on the pour. I am beginning to embrace this lager flavor, and it was a decent smell off the top.

The flavor is much more muted than the head. Even as the beer warmed, the flavor was really thin. It wasn't unpleasant, but this beer is not really special.

I recommend it as a decent tasting lager without much of a flavor challenge.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 21:50:23 | More by ummswimmin

RyanBelle

Ontario (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +44%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A top-shelf beer without question. First review in a while so I figured I'd make it a good one. This beer comes from France and the quality all around on it is far and beyond the norm for the EPL style.

A - Thick 1.5 inch head that takes several minutes to dissipate.

S - Corn, Hops, Fruity, Grainy, Warm (Inviting!).

T - Very hoppy and very special and unique because of the type of hops used. No it is not marketing ploy - It is true. Also, high carbonation throughout yielding a very pleasant feel on the tongue and palate, very lively, full of complex flavor, and especially full bodied for 5.0% abv. Impressive.

M - The best part. I like the mouthfeel of this beer because it's balanced, not boozy, at 5% but has enough of a kick to make you feel like you are drinking a classic beer rather than simply beer-flavored water. A trait worth noting I would say when you try the beer. Again, it may have something to do with that special type of hop used.

Overall: Try it and you probably won't look back. The best French beer I've tried yet.

Serving type: can

09-01-2011 03:43:50 | More by RyanBelle

thatruth

Washington

3.28/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

picked up a sixer on a recent trip to Vancouver from the strip mall down the street from the Biltmore Cabaret. poured into pint glass.

pours a pale yellow, 1/2" white head with slippery, minimal lacing. damn bubbly, pretty standard.

smells of mighty, mighty hops and barley. doughy, the "skunky" vibe "green" bottle beers tend to get associated with the bourgeoisie is there.

interesting twang to the taste, perhaps from the hop/barley infusion, sort of floral. other than that, not much there. thin, "skunky" (for lack of a better term) aftertaste.

smooth and refreshing brew. damn good cold. it's own twist because it's French, I suppose. they like to have their own twists.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 19:28:35 | More by thatruth

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.53/5  rDev +43.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On-tap at several places

The appearance and smell aren't anything particularly special, but it does have a nice golden color and decent lacing.

However, I am in love with this beer. This style (and similar styles) are hard to stand out in, but this one does. There's some sort of ineffable magic here. Maybe it's that special hop they talk about on the package. It's simple, crisp, smooth, refreshing and all too easy to put back a few.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2011 21:25:56 | More by TheRealBigC

UCLABrewN84

California

3.48/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Part of a Beers of the World pack from Cost Plus World Market.

Pours a clear golden yellow with a 1 inch fizzy off-white head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. Random spots and streaks of lace line the glass on the drink down. There is a slight skunky aroma upon first opening this bottle. After that, the smell is of sweet grains and some grass/hay aromas. Taste is of sweet grains, grassy/hay notes, and an herbal hop bitterness on the finish. The bitterness is pretty mild and fades from the palate after each sip. I am also getting a slightly metallic taste. This beer has a pretty good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this a pretty good European lager that is pretty enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 02:02:28 | More by UCLABrewN84

DrewSnyc667

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +39.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

11.3 oz custom Euro bottle into a pilsner glass...

A - Light straw color, pours to a Nice fluffy 1 inch head that sticks a bit to the glass. Decent activity

S - Very grassy, slight euro skunk is cut with sweeter, lighter malts

T - Sweet floral hops are there and balanced nicely by the malt. Lemon grass finish has a nice sweetness to it.

M - Nice and crisp, nice amount of carbonation leaves the palate clean, extremely refreshing and easy to drink

O - Really nice lager, a great step up from the AAL and an EPL of note, one of my personal favorites. It goes under the radar for most, but it shouldn't.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 18:36:39 | More by DrewSnyc667

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is the second French beer I've tried, and the only one I've bought more than once. I don't remember it being that amazing, but we'll see how I feel today:

It pours a nice golden lager colour with a nice finger of foamy head that leaves some lacing. It looks better than an average lager just due to the head retention. Everything else is standard.

The aroma is faintly hoppy, but also with some hints of wet grain. Nothing exceptional here.

Now I remember what stuck out about this beer! The taste is quite distinctive. Its slightly sweet to start, with some graininess coming through. There is quite a lot of hops for this style of beer, and makes for a different flavour with a nice bitter finish. Highly drinkable!

Serving type: can

07-23-2011 22:14:24 | More by evlu1441

TheBrewo

Michigan

2.88/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

We pour a crystal clear brew of a near neon yellow color. It holds a chunky white head of two fingers, which recedes at a medium pace leaving spotted lacing around the glass. There is no sediment noted and the carbonation appears to be standard, with countless bubbles sticking submerged around the insides of the glass. The aroma is of steely, adjunct grain. While bright, the general affect is subdued, with a soft chalkiness. There is a cooling metallic finish, with a sweet candy lollipop lime. As we sip, the mouth meets with corny adjuncts. These bite with steel and baker’s yeast, but are otherwise relatively muted. Through the middle there are more metallics, with a sugary twinge in the middle, not unlike the lime activity from the nose. The finish is quite abrupt, with the flavor loaded onto the very back of the sip. Here it sings of slightly darker malts that fade out into the distance beyond. The aftertaste breathes with the faintest booze, airy malts, and a perfume-like floral affair. The body is light to medium and the carbonation is high. The feel to each sip is on the watery side and there is cooling, but the mouth is left ultimately dried. There is slight froth and little slurp with each drink. The abv is higher for the style but the beer drinks easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was how the taste was surprisingly distant and clean from the abrasiveness from the nose. While the aromatics offered that classic metallic adjunct lager vibe, the taste was crisp with a cleaner finish. Although the flavors didn’t pop, they were mellow and light enough to keep this beer refreshing and not entirely undesirable.

Serving type: can

07-21-2011 03:07:35 | More by TheBrewo

rvdoorn

Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev +34.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was my standard pub pilsner during my stay in the French part of Switzerland.
Look: The beer pours a clear golden color, with a large white head.
Smell: Malts, grains and grass.
Taste: Grains, malts, grass and some honey. Aftertaste is nicely dry bitter and long.
Mouthfeel: High carbonation, thin body
Overall: Maybe based on my sentimental memories, but for me a perfect example of the style

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2011 13:17:28 | More by rvdoorn

rarbring

Sweden

2.17/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A pale hazy straw colored brew with a white firm head, some lacing.

Very odd jelly bean sweet sour smell.

The taste is unfortunately even more accentuated jelly beans in sour beer.

Rather small carbonation, somewhat sticky, no dryness.

No, this is not for me, reminds more of a candy shot than a beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 18:36:08 | More by rarbring