Korean Job Discussion Forums

Glorf · Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul Area

Yeah, the title's sorta fucked up, but I was talking to three people between aim and msn when I posted it.

I'm going to Korea next month for the first time (hagwon job) and I need to know about the beer. I know that if nothing else I could always get imports for an arm and a leg, but I really want to sample Korean brews while I'm over there.

Since I assumed that Koreans picked up the stuff from the US after WWII, I had thought (and been worried that) pretty much all Korean beer would be light beer. Then, one time last semester (I just finished my undergrad years) a Korean friend said that you can get some Korean stouts. I like stouts, but most of the time I prefer a nice brown ale, or a pale ale. I'm also a big fan of nice amber brews, aka the only cheap beer that tastes worth drinking at a lot of bars here, when I can get my hands on them.

So seriously, now that I've bored you all with that, what can I expect in the way of Korean beers, and does anybody have some suggestions? I know OB is popular and I'd like to try it, but don't they just make light beers?

Hyalucent · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: British North America

The "Stout" your friend mentioned is only a stout on the outside of the bottle (label). Inside it's just beer. Not bad beer though. I like it.

** That is provided he's talking about Hite Stout.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 8:57 pm Post subject:

Korea is not an alcoholic's paradise due to great beers; it's earned such a moniker for the ease of which it can be obtained. Any hour is beer o'clock in Liquor City.

But seriously, the local beers are pretty crappy, but they make some decent little wines. Good imports can be had in bars, but different areas have different prices.

thorin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

Every straight guy in Korea drinks this:

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

If you like dark beer, you get used to drinking the universal Korean pale beers. Most of the beer tastes like Molson Canadian.

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 10:07 pm Post subject:

I was more referring to the plum wine, �鼼��, crap like that, than some sucky literal wine.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

peppermint · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 10:09 pm Post subject:

Most drinkable beer I've found in Korea by far is Red Rock.

Hang on, am I even allowed to post in this thread?

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 10:16 pm Post subject:

kermo · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 10:27 pm Post subject:

Korean beer is a bit of a shock to the system, and it's rarely a delight to the palette. It might take some time to get used to, so be prepared for a nasty hangover at first.

"Wa Bar" is a good place if you're looking for foreign beer, though it's certainly pretty pricy. Their draft beer is quite drinkable at a mere 3,000 though.

I woudn't cringe too much about paying 8,000 for a Guinness; I've been suckered into worse. I was at Wa Bar last week and in the mood for a screwdriver. After a lengthy explanation, they mixed a few up for me, and charged me.. yes... 8,000 a glass for vodka and orange juice.