Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bronski]

[Easter Clark]

I went through a 5-year phase back home where I would try any and every micro-brew and import I could get my hands on. Then I gravitated toward light beer. My favorite nowadays is Miller Lite...but I also like the Silver Bullet!

In Korea, I prefer "cream draft beer," which isn't available everywhere. I also like the flavored beers served in some Hofs--like hazelnut draft or cranberry draft. That seems to be the only beer that actually has any alcohol in it.

As for the Big 3, I'd have to go with Cass Ice Light...but I suspect the "light" refers to the alcohol and not the calorie content.

[Beeyee]

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

[T-J]

While I understand the bottle over can crowd, I'm not a part of it. I've always preferred cans, whether it was soda, beer, what have you. I guess I should count myself lucky in that if you take the bottle preference out of the equation, then Korean beers are slightly more tolerable.

[Steelrails]

As a slight aside to this tpic, what's the most impressive beer collection you've seen? An acquaintance of mine had walls of beer bottles. I believe the final total was somewhere between the high 100s and the low 200s. Note he did not include mainstream beer in that collection. The baseline for entry was Rogue/Flying Dog/Spaten/Bell's.

[seonsengnimble]

As odd as it sounds, I like the taste of Cass red the most. I think it may just be because it has a flavor at all. It also reminds me of the malt liquor I drank in my younger years.

Ok beer isn't too hard to find in seoul. Most family marts or GSes carry tsingtao, heineken, asahi and/or hoegarden. Bars in the HBC or Itaewon areas will have alley kat or red rock, and some will have a nice selection of ales.

I do miss the pacific northwest, though. Going into a bar in summer and getting a micro hefeweizen in summer or a brown or porter in winter was always a treat.

[rchristo10]

HITE

[Crockpot2001]

Went to Portland about a month ago and spent a good deal of time/money on Rogue beers despite not really liking bitter ales. I am a bit more lax on that now. The sad part is that they have Rogue bar at the international terminal in Portland. They offer bottles to take on the plane since you are already past security. Sweet. I was assured this was fine and that people do it every day. I bought 3 for my journey back to the shiess-hole known as Incheon. Upon entry into Japan for a transfer, all three bottles were taken away. I'm not sure if the brewery thought it ok to take them if you don't have a transfer or if Narita is unique in this.

Because I was so sad, on the verge of tears, I immediatly booked another trip, this time to Germany, Austria, and BELGIUM for 2 weeks. I am fat, happy, and starting to sober up. I also can't deny or confirm that a bottle or two of Grimber, Westymalle, and Chouffe didn't return with me.

Sort of OT: I've let many Native Korean suckle from the teet that is my Belgian beer selection. The response was always overwhelming, enough so that they shed their guzzling technique in favor of a two handed, slow style similar to that which one might use when drinking from Jesus's cup. Yet, when it comes to buying Belgian beers at places like E-mart, they say "too expensive" and refuse to buy less and enjoy it more.

[Bronski]

[Crockpot2001]

Well, I woulda jumped all over Leffe until I actually had some while in Belgium. Very surprised at the difference. The hop bitterness is stronger here. Maybe they use hops as a preservative for the transport or maybe it's made closer to here than we know an made differently. Regardless, I love the dark Leffe adn it's fairly affordable.

Duvell is great too but a totally different beer, more like a champaign and reflects the link to Cramant (sp?) sparkling wines from nearby Luxembourg. When I say different I mean that it tastes the same here and in Belgium but it's a somewhat unique experience. My trip to Belgium has also marred my view of this beer as it is about $2.00 for a 750cc bottle but $4 per 330 cc here.

I've also enjoyed some of the other beers available there, and mentioned on this thread, in a can but those were not Belgian.

My trip to that part of the world has me very motivated to begin home brewing. If I could make Ommegang style Abby ale I would be very happy.

[Steelrails]

Everytime I read this thread I'm filled with a pronounced sadness, followed by a desire to wet my whistle. Since the closest liquor store is far away (all of 10 minutes) I reach for whatever is in my fridge's rainy day space, usually gifted soju/hite. This in turn causes a return to sadness and viewing of this thread, followed by more of said soju, followed by...you get the idea.

All I gotta say is there better be some good beer somewhere on my vacation to Seoul.

[RobLeeTeach]

what about Cafri

[Rusty Shackleford]

Just picked up some Kirin. Good tip whoever mentioned it.

[Bronski]

Thanks Crockpot2001 for the Belgian beer advice. Maybe you can help me answer another question. What is the name of a Belgian beer that is brewed by monks, and comes in red and blue (not the color of the beer, but the label and the name)? Perhaps there are many beers that fit into that category. I don't know. I had this beer sometimes in Spain. I loved the blue one, but I forget what it's called. I think I've seen it in the states, too, at special shops. I won't be able to find it in Korea, but just want to remember. I think it starts with the letter G or C and sounds like a French word.