New 1664, 4.6%

[HertsBiker]

Any thoughts? i tried one.. won't be buying any more. So upset it was my fave lager.

[andburg]

Probably another victim of being brewed in the U.K.

Edit: yeah now owned by carlsberg Marstons and brewed in U.K.

Edited by andburg on Thursday 18th April 19:15

[Levin]

These are the redesigned cans with the 'Kronenbourg' name reduced in importance, right? I haven't had one but I noticed them in the supermarket lumped in with the older Kronenbourg 1664 cans. I can't say I'm surprised they used it as a chance to reduce strength either. They're by no means the first culprit, nor will they be the last. I am curious what it means for the recently-relaunched 1664 Blanc though. It's still 5% unless it gets a sneaky reformulation two months after its relaunch.

andburg said:

Probably another victim of being brewed in the U.K.

It has been brewed in the UK for quite a long time. The reduced strength almost coincides with it having moved into the Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company stable, having previously been part of the Heineken Group.

However, OP, I am shocked that Kronenbourg is anyone's favourite lager!

[ApOrbital]

Tax.

[gruffgriff]

I thought, hoped, it might be a temporary brand identity alignment with the European version for multi-territory ads and marketing around the Olympics. It's not the same....sad face...I'm quite particular about my chemical lager preferences. It's bloody cheap in Sainsburys though. Just needs to be chilled otherwise the flavour gets a bit tonsily

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Stella used to be 5.2% as did Strongbow. This is just another downgrade.

[bigdom]

It's all due to Jeremy Hunt simplifying the taxation of on and off trade, and somehow making it far worse than the previous system. And we the consumer end up paying more. Classic hunt.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/01/u...

[soad]

Not my favourite tipple, tend to go for the Eastern European imported beer. Otherwise it’s Aldi offerings.

Stella is st too.

[sherman]

Only Kronenbourg worth drinking comes in red cans or stubby bottles

[oddman]

It's always surprised me how utterly se UK produced versions of mass market contintal lagers are. It's been that way for years. It's not as if the continental versions are produced in small quantity by Trappist monks.

Stella and Kronebourg on the continent are pleasant but unremarkable drinks whether on tap or from the supermarket. In the UK they are nasty bitter metallic brews which bear no resemblance to the continental version. Even the cheapest Carrefour's own stubbies are likely to be nicer than an ersatz continental lager brewed in the UK.

[mcflurry]

oddman said:

It's always surprised me how utterly se UK produced versions of mass market contintal lagers are. It's been that way for years. It's not as if the continental versions are produced in small quantity by Trappist monks.

Stella and Kronebourg on the continent are pleasant but unremarkable drinks whether on tap or from the supermarket. In the UK they are nasty bitter metallic brews which bear no resemblance to the continental version. Even the cheapest Carrefour's own stubbies are likely to be nicer than an ersatz continental lager brewed in the UK.

+1 - totally agree

[Flanners]

Unfortunately I just purchased a pack not realising this is now 4.6% even at 5% it tasted nothing like the French brewed variety.

This fizzy piss is brewed at a tax dodging lower ABV to increase their profits and pay less tax...at the Consumer's expense in taste and quality....it also tastes absolutely rank much like Stella.

Boycott.

[theplayingmantis]

andburg said:

Probably another victim of being brewed in the U.K.

Edit: yeah now owned by carlsberg Marstons and brewed in U.K.

Edited by andburg on Thursday 18th April 19:15

CMBC strike again, awful company, jennings, wychwood, ringwood etc just a sample of the small brewers they have bought, destroyed and closed.

british brewed mainstream continental lager (and the likes of red stripe, and 4x when it was here) as im told is crap compared to the overseas country brewed due to the chemicals in it. not sure if true, but most people anecdotanlly prefer the orginal.

If you want a decent uk lager, that is available in a fair few major supermarkets, then try black sheep 54, sharps offshore, st austell korev, adnams kobold, geene king flint eye or hook norton ironstone.

There not great as still lager, but better than the crap brewed in the uk by the big boys (yes sharps is owned by MC but the smaller volume stuff is still mostly brewed locally).

Clarksons hawkstone is good but pricey, but my personal fave is bishop nick Latimer, but you will have to buy from the brewery shop/online.

[Short Grain]

Flanners said:

Unfortunately I just purchased a pack not realising this is now 4.6% even at 5% it tasted nothing like the French brewed variety.

This fizzy piss is brewed at a tax dodging lower ABV to increase their profits and pay less tax...at the Consumer's expense in taste and quality....it also tastes absolutely rank much like Stella.

Boycott.

Yep, found this out the hard way as well! aholes! Will have to experiment with a few others now, Oh Well. Even the aluminium is a lesser grade!

Edited by Short Grain on Tuesday 4th June 22:37

[ambuletz]

I used to really like kronenberg, stella, san miguel, (and sometimes Heiniken) back in the day (I'm talking mid-00s) it seemed like you could really tell the difference between them all.

now they just all seem to taste the same whilst having the same ABV. or just get weaker and weaker. Sad.

[Daz68]

I now buy premium lager on Amazon. Great deal's to be had if you are patient.

[sean ie3]

Complaining of beer, WTF did they do to Hoegaarden?

Edited by sean ie3 on Wednesday 5th June 19:53

[PhilAsia]

sean ie3 said:

Complaining of beer, WTF did they do to Hoegaarden?

Edited by sean ie3 on Wednesday 5th June 19:53

Make it available to the public?

[soad]

Grolsch is st also, used to enjoy it (decades ago).

I won’t buy anything under 5.2% in general.

[FilH]

My favourite downgrade was Fosters at a wopping 4%, for some strange reason they felt it wasn't pissy enough and made it 3.7% last year at some point!