Gyeonggi Agricultural Research Institute Develops Strawberry Beer... Holds Prototype Tasting Event

Strawberry Beer Tasting Event

The Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services has developed a prototype of strawberry beer and unveiled it to the public.

On the 19th, the agency announced that it showcased two types of strawberry beer prototypes at the 'Geumgok Go! Go! Go! Market' held on the 17th at Lee Seok-young Square in Namyangju.

The strawberry beer was developed based on the patented technology for 'rice beer with enhanced aroma and its manufacturing method' owned by the agency, and it was made by adding strawberries produced in Namyangju.

The strawberry beer manufacturers are two companies located in Namyangju: Eight People Brewery (CEO Jo Jun-hwi) and Brauhaus Vaneheim (CEO Kim Jeong-ha).

Eight People Brewery is the company that developed 'Mimi Sour,' a rice beer containing 51% Cham Dream rice, a rice variety developed by Gyeonggi-do.

Using rice beer manufacturing technology, they produced the beer by adding 30% Cham Dream rice and 30% strawberries relative to the grain content. The product name is 'Mimiberry.' The beer features an International Bitterness Unit (IBU) of 7 on a scale of 1 to 100 and an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 6.3%. It was launched in early June and is currently on sale.

The 'NYJ?strawberry (Namyangju-Strawberry)' produced by Brauhaus Vaneheim contains 44% strawberries relative to the grain content, with an IBU of 10 and an ABV of 4.2%. It is scheduled for release at the end of June.

The agency plans to use the evaluation of color, aroma, and taste preferences of the prototype beers as data for developing various fruit beers.

Lee Young-soon, head of the Crop Research Division at the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, stated, "The strawberry beers are products developed through collaboration between Gyeonggi-do, Namyangju City, and the beer manufacturers," and added, "We hope that interest in strawberry beer will grow through tasting events, leading to increased consumption of Gyeonggi rice and strawberries, a specialty crop of the Namyangju region."