Kronenbourg
Encyclopedia
Kronenbourg Brewery is a brewery
founded in 1664 by Geronimus Hatt in Strasbourg
, France (at the time a Free Imperial City
of the Holy Roman Empire
) as the Hatt Brewery. The name comes from the area (Cronenbourg) where the brewery relocated in 1850. The company is owned by the Carlsberg Group. The main brand is Kronenbourg 1664, a 5.5% abv
pale lager
which is the best selling premium lager brand in France.
. His son Claude (born November 1665), succeeded his father in the trade in 1683. However, the frequent flooding of the River Ill
compelled in 1850 a move to the higher terrain of Cronenbourg, an area of Strasbourg.
In 1922, the Hatt Brewery changed its name to Tigre Bock, the most well-known brand of the Tiger Brewery it had acquired to become the leading brewer in Alsace. Following the Second World War
, "Kronenbourg" became the name of the company, and began international expansion. In 1970, it was acquired by industrial group BSN (now Groupe Danone
), along with the Société Européenne de Brasseries (Kanterbräu). In 1986, Kronenbourg merged with Kanterbräu.
British company Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) plc acquired it in 2000 for £1.7 billion. In April, 2008, S&N's operations were sold to Heineken and Carlsberg, the latter acquiring Kronenbourg.
Its main breweries
are located in Obernai and in Champigneulles
, although the Champigneulles site is now up for sale.
first brewed in 1952. It is the leading brand of beer in France, where it has a 40% market share. It uses the Strisselspalt hop - a French aroma hop from Alsace, used mostly in pale lagers. The main Kronenbourg 1664 brewery (where Kronenbourg also produces almost 300 other beer brands) is in Obernai (France), but the brand is also brewed in the UK by Heineken at its Manchester
brewery at 5.0% abv, as well as in Australia
by Fosters Group.
Other brands include: 1664 Brune; Single Malt (French name Malt d'Exception), 6.1% abv; Kronenbourg Blanc 5.0% abv. A fruity white beer with citrus notes. Available on draught and in 300ml and 500ml bottles; Kronenbourg Premier Cru 6.0% abv; Kronenbourg Cold Premier 5.0% - a super chilled variant on 1664, draught only, UK; and Kronenbourg Red 4.2% abv
.
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
founded in 1664 by Geronimus Hatt in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France (at the time a Free Imperial City
Free Imperial City
In the Holy Roman Empire, a free imperial city was a city formally ruled by the emperor only — as opposed to the majority of cities in the Empire, which were governed by one of the many princes of the Empire, such as dukes or prince-bishops...
of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
) as the Hatt Brewery. The name comes from the area (Cronenbourg) where the brewery relocated in 1850. The company is owned by the Carlsberg Group. The main brand is Kronenbourg 1664, a 5.5% abv
ABV
ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code...
pale lager
Pale lager
Pale lager is a very pale to golden-coloured beer with a well attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid 19th century when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing techniques back to the Spaten Brewery in Germany and applied it...
which is the best selling premium lager brand in France.
History
Geronimus Hatt, who obtained his Master Brewer's certificate in 1664, started up the Canon Brewery in the Place du Corbeau in StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. His son Claude (born November 1665), succeeded his father in the trade in 1683. However, the frequent flooding of the River Ill
Ill (France)
The Ill is a river in Alsace, in north-eastern France. It is a left-side, or western tributary of the Rhine.It starts down from its source near the village of Winkel, in the Jura mountains, with a resurgence near Ligsdorf, turns around Ferrette on its east side, and then runs northward through...
compelled in 1850 a move to the higher terrain of Cronenbourg, an area of Strasbourg.
In 1922, the Hatt Brewery changed its name to Tigre Bock, the most well-known brand of the Tiger Brewery it had acquired to become the leading brewer in Alsace. Following the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, "Kronenbourg" became the name of the company, and began international expansion. In 1970, it was acquired by industrial group BSN (now Groupe Danone
Groupe Danone
Groupe Danone is a French food-products multinational corporation based in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It claims world leadership in fresh dairy products, marketed under the corporate name, and also in bottled water...
), along with the Société Européenne de Brasseries (Kanterbräu). In 1986, Kronenbourg merged with Kanterbräu.
British company Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) plc acquired it in 2000 for £1.7 billion. In April, 2008, S&N's operations were sold to Heineken and Carlsberg, the latter acquiring Kronenbourg.
Its main breweries
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
are located in Obernai and in Champigneulles
Champigneulles
Champigneulles is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-Points of interest:*L'Arboretum de Bellefontaine...
, although the Champigneulles site is now up for sale.
Products
Kronenbourg 1664, the company's main brand, is a 5.5% pale lagerPale lager
Pale lager is a very pale to golden-coloured beer with a well attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid 19th century when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing techniques back to the Spaten Brewery in Germany and applied it...
first brewed in 1952. It is the leading brand of beer in France, where it has a 40% market share. It uses the Strisselspalt hop - a French aroma hop from Alsace, used mostly in pale lagers. The main Kronenbourg 1664 brewery (where Kronenbourg also produces almost 300 other beer brands) is in Obernai (France), but the brand is also brewed in the UK by Heineken at its Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
brewery at 5.0% abv, as well as in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
by Fosters Group.
Other brands include: 1664 Brune; Single Malt (French name Malt d'Exception), 6.1% abv; Kronenbourg Blanc 5.0% abv. A fruity white beer with citrus notes. Available on draught and in 300ml and 500ml bottles; Kronenbourg Premier Cru 6.0% abv; Kronenbourg Cold Premier 5.0% - a super chilled variant on 1664, draught only, UK; and Kronenbourg Red 4.2% abv
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
.