Have You Tried Beer with Korean Food? (feat. Hanmaek)

That Flavor That Fits Perfectly in Your Mouth!

If you want to enjoy alcohol more deliciously, it's good to try pairing it with various side dishes. The charm of alcohol changes depending on what kind of side dish you pair it with.

“Isn't there a beer that pairs well with Korean food, the soul food of Koreans, like Pimaek or Chimaek?” After pondering this, I recently started trying beer with Korean dishes. I began pairing beer with Korean foods we often enjoy, such as bibimbap, bulgogi, and clam soup. I used to think beer was typically paired with foods like chicken or pizza, but after trying it myself, I found that truly delicious beers also go well with Korean food. For those who are not yet aware of this fantastic combination, the DrinKit editors have beautifully set a table for you.

The alcohol to enjoy with Korean food is OB Beer’s Hanmac. Hanmac was born through OB Beer’s “Korea’s Representative Lager Project” to create a beer representing Korea! The beer’s flavor, which perfectly matches food, boasts fantastic chemistry with various dishes. The reason this umami flavor keeps drawing you in is thanks to domestic rice. The umami and soft carbonation from domestic rice make it a perfect match with Korean food. It’s really perfect for mouthwatering Korean dishes!

For the dishes, we prepared crispy bulgogi, Jeonju bibimbap, and mussel soup. Korean cuisine expert Chef Lee Won-il once described Hanmac as “a beer that retains its character and leaves a rich taste and deep aroma no matter which Korean dish it’s paired with.” After tasting the beer with the dishes, I naturally nodded in agreement. From the salty and savory crispy bulgogi to the fresh vegetables and spicy gochujang in Jeonju bibimbap, and the refreshing and rich broth of the mussel soup, all the menus harmonized well with the beer.

If a beer’s bitterness is too strong, you might not be able to fully appreciate the taste of the food. But Hanmac is not that kind of beer. It’s not overly bitter, so it enriches the flavors of Korean food. With a smooth texture and a subtle sweetness unique to rice, it deliciously complements the strong seasonings of Korean dishes.

Especially, the salty seasoning of crispy bulgogi and the spicy Jeonju bibimbap showed a fantastic pairing with Hanmac. It felt like the deep umami and savory flavor enhanced the taste of the food.

Moreover, pairing Hanmac with the refreshing mussel soup brought out a clean and perfect taste. The moment you take a sip, it leaves a very impressive feeling of neatly cleansing your palate.

Let me also introduce the Hanmac Water Jug, which resembles a beer can. It features a deep green body reminiscent of the Hanmac can, with a leather-like handle and sturdy legs, combining style and practicality. It has a generous capacity of 3.5L. Despite its size, it’s lightweight, making it perfect to carry around for camping. You can also decorate it with trendy DIY stickers to fully express your own style.

If you want to fully enjoy pairing Hanmac with Korean food, visit Homeplus Jamsil, Dongdaemun, Gangseo, or Incheon Ganseok stores. They are running a promotion called “Hanmac with Korean Food.” You can participate in various raffle events including water jug and DIY sticker giveaways, as well as discounts on fresh products. By the way, the water jug is also available on OB Beer’s official goods site, “Cheers & Goods.”

If you’re looking for a more sophisticated pairing combination than the usual side dishes, try pairing Hanmac with Korean food! You might be surprised by how harmoniously the beer’s flavor blends with Korean cuisine.

How about Hanmac with Korean food for dinner tonight?

Photo by Seo Jeong-jun, guest reporter