France has become synonymous with wine over the years, obviously for good reason. However, France has a long tradition of brewing beer too. Kronenbourg 1664 traces its roots back to Geronimus Hatt who started the Canon Brewery in 1650. While Kronenbourg 1664’s Blanc doesn’t date back quite that far it is still steeped in tradition.
Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc pours well. For an 11.2 ounce bottle it filled a pint glass nicely until the foam started to settle. It gave a nice pour, with an inviting head and rich golden hue. It has the color a white beer should have.
Aromatically it has a slightly earthy, sweet smell. It hints at the spices but it is different than almost every other white beer I’ve ever had. Upon first sip you will be in for a bit of a shock if you’re used to traditional lagers or white beers. This has a sweet, rich, smooth flavor. It isn’t a citrus flavor that many have become accustomed to with white beers. This has almost a hard cider sweetness before giving you the grainy, earthy flavors.
The carbonation is moderate and the beer feels very light in your mouth, almost as if you have taken a bite of a beer cloud. It is light, airy, crisp, sweet, and kind of delightful all at once. As the beer drinks it laces your glass and leaves a small reminder with each sip and gulp. It also has a floral note as you progress.
This is a beer you are either going to like or hate. My one true complaint is that after being poured into a glass it loses some carbonation as you drink whereas drinking from the bottle keeps the bubbles intact and offers a much more pleasant experience.
If you aren’t a huge fan of beer but like hard cider this might be a beer for you to try. It really doesn’t have much of the beer taste despite the 5% ABV. It is very crisp and sweet with floral undertones and really doesn’t have the citrus, wheat taste that white beers tend to have.
All in all this is a very drinkable beer. It plays well as a day beer during the summer, with its refreshing sweetness and floral notes. The one true drawback is the 11.2 ounce bottle. The shape of the bottle and label shape remind me of old-school Michelob but the flavor is definitely unique and worth a try. This was a refreshing beer that stands out among its peers. In the end, Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc is something I would come back to every now and again, especially in the summer.