Korea’s regional beers, wines and liquors are nonetheless working to construct consciousness within the native and world markets, however for the curious, there are some extremely advisable locations you possibly can go to expertise the making of Korean alcoholic drinks — from native craft beer to “makgeolli,” or Korean rice wine — and check out some samples.
The Korea Tourism Group recommends 5 locations outdoors of Seoul that may pique the curiosity of these in quest of a neighborhood tipple.
MontBeer in Sokcho, Gangwon Province (Korea Tourism Group)
MontBeer in Sokcho, Gangwon Province
Positioned within the jap a part of Gangwon Province, MontBeer is the place a small group of homebrewers first gathered collectively to share insights on craft beer.
Hoping to share the distinctive appeal of Sokcho’s native craft brews, the members turned it right into a two-story beer bar in 2018.
Right here, you possibly can style some 10 various kinds of beer made with native elements and seasonal fruits, together with strawberries and peaches, and absorb a surprising panoramic view of close by Seoraksan — the third-highest mountain in South Korea.
One fashionable beer is Peach White, with its tangy notes of fruit, whereas Shine Musket Blanc is refreshingly evocative of white wine.
Although it will not be out there once more till subsequent season, the spotlight at MontBeer is Strawberry Ale, that includes the area’s personal specialty, strawberries from Eunggol Village.
The tasting program is accessible for teams of 10 or extra.
Hansan Sogokju Gallery in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province
A customer takes half in a sogokju tasting program at Hansan Sogokju Gallery in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province. (Korea Tourism Group)
Sokogju is likely one of the oldest sorts of alcoholic beverage in South Korea.
Solely drinks made within the villages of Hansan, Gisan, Hwayang and Masa in Seocheon are entitled to be branded as sokogju.
In these villages, seventy households have brewing licenses, their very own breweries, and are licensed to fabricate it.
At Hansan Sogokju Gallery, you should buy the standard liquor by the bottle in addition to style completely different sorts of sogokju at no cost.
A complete of 5 breweries take turns providing a free sogokju-tasting session each week.
You may make the expertise additional particular by collaborating in a tasting program on the gallery sporting the standard apparel worn by “seonbi,” or Confucian students, and style three various kinds of sogokju.
This system is obtainable to teams of 10 or extra guests. It’s priced at 15,000 received per individual.
Omynara in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province
Omynara’s wines are displayed at its vineyard in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. (Korea Tourism Group)
In case you are fascinated about increasing your wine-tasting expertise, a go to to Mungyeong in North Gyeongsang Province must be excessive in your listing of Korea locations.
Omynara, a vineyard positioned 1,000 meters above sea degree, lies within the highlands between Juheulsan and Joryeongsan, and enjoys cool temperatures year-round. This makes the world a perfect place to develop the Schisandra berry — identified right here as “omija.”
By incorporating the 5 tastes of the purple-red berries — candy, salty, bitter, pungent and bitter — Omynara has efficiently produced the world’s first Schisandra berry wine.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Meals and Rural Affairs acknowledged Omynara as one among South Korea’s iconic wineries, praising its manufacturing processes and wine tasting applications.
Omynara’s omija wine received the grand prize for South Korean wine in 2019 and 2020.
Haechang Brewery in Haenam, South Jeolla Province
Haechang makgeolli (Korea Tourism Group)
If you wish to style premium makgeolli, the standard rice wine, go to the small county of Haenam close to the southernmost level of the Korean Peninsula.
Haechang Brewery in Haenam first caught individuals’s consideration with its high-end makgeolli — their tackle a drink that’s sometimes regarded as easy and rustic.
However, after tasting the makgeolli at Haechang — made with glutinous rice from Haenam and fermented for an extended interval — you’ll agree with many fans that Haechang Brewery’s rice wine elevates the style of makgeolli to a different degree.
This rice wine has been praised by well-known figures similar to Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin, South Korea’s prime comedian guide artist Huh Younger-man and others.
Jinju Jinmac Beer Brewery in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province
A customer listens to a vinyl report with a glass of beer at Jinju Jinmac Beer Brewery in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. (Korea Tourism Group)
Jinju Jinmac Beer Brewery is the most recent brewery among the many 5 liquor-themed journey spots advisable by the Korea Tourism Group.
The three-story constructing, which opened in April, has turn out to be a go-to place for beer lovers hoping to style native brews, expertise the brewing course of, and take within the brewery’s hip, free-spirited vibe.
A part of the expertise is music — strive a Jinju wheat beer on the second ground, the place turntables and headphones are arrange so that you can take heed to vinyl LPs.
Meals lovers would possibly need to go to the brewery on Saturdays, when an evening market opens on the close by conventional market.
Although you possibly can’t deliver meals into Jinju Jinmac Beer Brewery, you possibly can take the beer out and luxuriate in it with savory road meals.
