 "French froth")
Beer guzzlers in India have never had it better. Beer from countries like Germany, Belgium, Japan and England are quite easily available now. It is nice to have so many options available at your corner liquor store and you can actually look beyond the usual suspects available in the market. France is perhaps one country one doesn't associate too much with beer. But France too has now made its entry into the Indian market.
Carlsberg, which markets brands like Tuborg in India, has launched Kronenbourg, one of France's best-selling beers in the country. There are two variants: the Kronenbourg 1664, which is a lager, and Blanc, a wheat beer. The two brands will be available across 14 cities in the country.
But how good are these beers? First the 1664, the lager: for people who love strong beer, this is certainly not the one to pick. It does taste a little bit bitter, as soon as you take the first sip you realise that this is a nice, smooth beer. It takes its name from the year in which the brewery was founded. It is quite frankly very like the standard lager beer which is available in the country. If someone blindfolds you and asks you to drink the 1664, you would not be able to say that this is French beer, as it's very close to the Indian lagers. For some, this might just work in the 1664's favour.
The 1664 tasted a bit flat but goes down quite well. There was too much of fizzy white head in the 1664. It's not a beer for which one would like to spend Rs 175 for a 330ml pint. Nothing special apart from having a fancy name and that it is a French beer.
The Blanc, however, is a different story. Now this is one beer which one can easily become your favourite. If you like wheat beer, then don't look beyond this, although Belgian beer, Hoegaarden gives it close competition. There's also German Erdinger Weissbier but that is a bit bitter compared to the Hoegaarden or the Blanc.
From the first sip, you know that Blanc is a beer which is not only refreshing but is actually quite delicious. Yes, delicious is not something you say for a beer but if you have had wheat beer, then it's not wrong to call it delicious.
The Blanc tastes fruity, is full of flavours and goes down extremely well. It has a good floral scent and the citrus and coriander flavours give it a very different taste. With every sip you take, the Blanc grows on you. The aftertaste of the Blanc lingers on for quite some time and it is something one actually enjoys. It also comes in an eye-catching blue coloured bottle. Priced at Rs 190, the Blanc would certainly find many takers.
When you put these two beers together, it's unlikely many would pick the 1664, unless you swear by lager. Blanc is the hands-down winner and for those who only recently turned to Hoegaarden, you have a nice option to look out for.
Carlsberg, which markets brands like Tuborg in India, has launched Kronenbourg, one of France's best-selling beers in the country. There are two variants: the Kronenbourg 1664, which is a lager, and Blanc, a wheat beer. The two brands will be available across 14 cities in the country.
But how good are these beers? First the 1664, the lager: for people who love strong beer, this is certainly not the one to pick. It does taste a little bit bitter, as soon as you take the first sip you realise that this is a nice, smooth beer. It takes its name from the year in which the brewery was founded. It is quite frankly very like the standard lager beer which is available in the country. If someone blindfolds you and asks you to drink the 1664, you would not be able to say that this is French beer, as it's very close to the Indian lagers. For some, this might just work in the 1664's favour.
The 1664 tasted a bit flat but goes down quite well. There was too much of fizzy white head in the 1664. It's not a beer for which one would like to spend Rs 175 for a 330ml pint. Nothing special apart from having a fancy name and that it is a French beer.
The Blanc, however, is a different story. Now this is one beer which one can easily become your favourite. If you like wheat beer, then don't look beyond this, although Belgian beer, Hoegaarden gives it close competition. There's also German Erdinger Weissbier but that is a bit bitter compared to the Hoegaarden or the Blanc.
From the first sip, you know that Blanc is a beer which is not only refreshing but is actually quite delicious. Yes, delicious is not something you say for a beer but if you have had wheat beer, then it's not wrong to call it delicious.
The Blanc tastes fruity, is full of flavours and goes down extremely well. It has a good floral scent and the citrus and coriander flavours give it a very different taste. With every sip you take, the Blanc grows on you. The aftertaste of the Blanc lingers on for quite some time and it is something one actually enjoys. It also comes in an eye-catching blue coloured bottle. Priced at Rs 190, the Blanc would certainly find many takers.
When you put these two beers together, it's unlikely many would pick the 1664, unless you swear by lager. Blanc is the hands-down winner and for those who only recently turned to Hoegaarden, you have a nice option to look out for.