Hello from Seoul, South Korea

[wamille]

Hi Everyone,

Just joined the site and am hoping to continue learning about how to make better beer. I'm right in the middle of trying to figure out how to make my new 58qt Coleman Extreme cooler into a great mash tun, thus pretty much the reason I joined as I saw someone had done the same thing, just didn't give out the specs on how they did it.

Anyway, if any of you have ever been to Seoul, South Korea you'll know just how bad this place is regarding good beer. In fact, this might be the worst place in the world for beer enthusiasts. I view my time here in this beer wasteland as a reason to become a good brewer of IPA's and stouts!!!! haha.

Have a great day all!

Bill

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

Try this link: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ml...oof-braid-122433/?highlight=crush+proof+braid this guy has a GREAT idea on how to use a SS braid with a SS spring to make it crush proof.

I will soon be making a 52qt coleman xtreme with this method.

He gives a parts list and numbers, I beleive he ordered from Mcmaster Carr.

I think for a braid-type manifold it is the best "design" I have seen.

 

[boo boo]

Hi Bill. I got a neice who went over a few months ago to teach, and she's in Seoul.
She says the same thing about the beer there.
You can also check out How to Brew - By John Palmer for more info along with the archives here.

Cheers and good luck

 

[DragonTail]

Welcome

 

[hopdawg]

Welcome Seoul mate. Seoul 2002 stands out in my mind as the best World Cup I've ever viewed. The coverage was like nothing soccer has every witnesses. Future hosts need to take note.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I've been to seoul every year for the past 3, but may not go this year.

Welcome...

I really like soju and mango juice...

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Welcome to HBT! If you're looking for some good IPA and stout recipes, you've come to the right place.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Look for a place called Wa-Bar. I'm pretty sure there is at least one in Seoul. The one near Gunsan City had a pretty decent import beer selection. I never found a Korean beer worth drinking.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Ask around for dongdong-ju...it's a very sweet traditional beer (with floaties).

The first time I saw it I put a spoon into it because I thought it was soup.

It's supposed to be 9% (I seriously doubt it)...I had 2 large crock pots of it...and wanted more...

If you ever find it PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, (did I say PLEASE???) try to get the recipe. All I ever get is "there's no one under 60 years old that knows how to make it..." story.

 

[jrfuda]

If you're US military and can get on Yongsan, there's a restaurant in the Dragon Hill that has a microbrewery in it. They usually have a handful of varieties on tap.

Again, if you can get on a US military base, the class-6 usually has a huge selection of imports.

I spent 3 years & change, 2001-2004, and will be returning for a 2-week exercise in the near future... that'll give some of my brews (new brewer here) some time to bottle condition without me wanting to try 'em!

Once you get the equipment-end going, how will you handle ingredients, are there good local sources, will you have to ship from elsewhere? Or will you have to buy raw grains sprout & dry 'em and culture yeast from a bottle??

The beer in Korea isn't the only thing that's not the best... If you ever drink liqour on the economy, it all tastes the same, just different shades of brown (or clear) everything tastes like soju! Neat thing, though, is if you go to one of the "Beef and Beer" all you can eat places, the beer, soju and liqour is included in the "all you can eat." My wife and I staggared back from those places more times than we'd like to remember...

 

[wamille]

Thanks all for the replies and information. I actually work on the Yongsan Army Garrison, so I have access to beer at the base... but the amazing thing is the best American micro is Sam Adams Lager. Not a bad beer by any stretch, but I'm a big hop-head and find European imports lacking for my taste. I am a big American Craft Beer guy and for being on a US military installation, I find it ironic that the beer selection is remarkably un-American. Well, they do sell Miller, Coors, and Bud - hooooooooooooweeeeeeeeee. Sorry for my sour demeanor, but previous to living here I was stationed in Hawaii for six years and found the selection of beers at the various military outlets to be WONDERFUL (particularly in hindsight).

As far as homebrewing is concerned here, South Korea finally has a decent homebrew website (homebrewkorea.com) where local homebrewers can at least commiserate.

Cheers all!!!

Bill

 

[BrewUnited]

Welcome Bill!

Good to see home brewing going on the other side of the globe. The link you posted is pretty good compared to my LHBS. Any local micro brews from South Korea to share photos of?

Andy

 

[wamille]

Andy... there are a few microbreweries here in Korea... all European themed (German and Czech almost exclusively). So you get a Weizen, Pilsner, and Bock at these places. The beers at these places is mediocre at best and lack any character - they are here to satisfy (IMHO) an unsophisticated group of Koreans that fancies itself to have a sophisticated beer palate. Granted, I like IPA's (west coast and hoppy) and Russian Imperial Stouts for the most part and the unheralded beers here are watered-down wannabees. Someone had mentioned that the Dragon Hill Lodge on base has a microbrewery on premises. Indeed there is a microbrewery there and at the Navy Club. Both make the same character-less beers that either have a funky metallic taste (to every beer I've ever tasted) or have about zero carbonation. I am picky and would consider myself the Simon Cowell of beer judging and will not hide my bias towards IPAs and great, strong stouts... so consider the source regarding my opinion of the micro business here in Korea both on and off base. Also, I had mentioned in my first post that we had one good American micro... Sam Adams Lager. Well, that is my opinion about "the good" part. The base did have Shiner Bock (a lot of people like it... not me) and Leinenkugals Wheat (not a fan of wheat beers), so there has been some choice. Euro beers on base include Guiness, Newcastle, Red Stripe, Heineken (both lager and dark), Boddingtons, St Pauli Girl, Corona, and perhaps a couple of other beers - again, none an aggressive west coast IPA or good stout (IMHO). Enough of my whining.

Cheers,
Bill

 

[BrewUnited]

Hard to beat a good IPA. About to break into a good Dogfish 120 here any minute, I'll toast one to you and thank you for your service!

Andy

 

[Cheeto]

Hi Everyone,

Just joined the site and am hoping to continue learning about how to make better beer. I'm right in the middle of trying to figure out how to make my new 58qt Coleman Extreme cooler into a great mash tun, thus pretty much the reason I joined as I saw someone had done the same thing, just didn't give out the specs on how they did it.

Anyway, if any of you have ever been to Seoul, South Korea you'll know just how bad this place is regarding good beer. In fact, this might be the worst place in the world for beer enthusiasts. I view my time here in this beer wasteland as a reason to become a good brewer of IPA's and stouts!!!! haha.

Have a great day all!

Bill

Welcome Seoul mate. Seoul 2002 stands out in my mind as the best World Cup I've ever viewed. The coverage was like nothing soccer has every witnesses. Future hosts need to take note.

Look for a place called Wa-Bar. I'm pretty sure there is at least one in Seoul. The one near Gunsan City had a pretty decent import beer selection. I never found a Korean beer worth drinking.

Welcome !!

I lived in Uijeongbu ( Camp Red Cloud ) for over a year, there is a place in the downtown area called the "J" Bar that has many micro's in galvanized horse troughs, they are sorted by price

I agree with Yuri on the not worth a **** Korean beers, there is a Hite Dark but still not very noteworthy

BTW World Cup 2002 was freaking great! I watched 2 games in the new stadium in Uijeongbu, the Soju flowed like water !!

And after a long night of drinking the Beef and Leaf kicks ass !!!!

There is a place outside of Yongsan is an all you can eat and drink Beef and Leaf restaurant just at the bottom of "Hooker Hill"

Again Welcome yo HBT !

 

[jrfuda]

Someone had mentioned that the Dragon Hill Lodge on base has a microbrewery on premises. Indeed there is a microbrewery there and at the Navy Club. Both make the same character-less beers that either have a funky metallic taste (to every beer I've ever tasted) or have about zero carbonation.

That's a shame. I don't remember the funky metalic taste, but I do agree with the low carbination, and that they were low on hop flavor as well, especially for a big hop fan as yourself. Maybe their quality control has gone down over the years. I think, when we first got to Korea in 2001, the microbrewery had just opened, and they probably had a real brewmeister supervising/crafting the beer. I bet, since then, they've probably passed the job on to whomever is handy, kind of like the teenager making your pizza at the local pizza shop...

I've only developed my taste for more flavorful beers since I left Korea in 2004, so I may be more disappointed upon my return. I like mine a little on the malty side with a good malt balance.... New Belgium's Fat Tire Amber and Abbey Ales are are too of my most recent favorites, and since I'm new to home brewing, I'm trying to zero in on where my tastes lay. If I were to be assigned back to Korea on a PCS, I may be is the same boat as you!