[Joyongjun's Travel Journey] The Hip Flavor of Craft Beer and Night Market Delights

Autumn Ripening in the Soolmaeul
The Charm of Beer, Sokcho Mont Beer
Over 70 Breweries' Drinks in One Place
Omija Wine That Moved the World

A memory of enjoying a craft beer while listening to LPs at Jinju Jinmaek Brewery

Steamed rice used as an ingredient for alcohol

People experiencing Sulbitgi at Samhwa Brewery

Oak barrels aging Omija wine

We live in an era where food becomes a journey. Among them, alcohol is indispensable. How about listening to the sound of ripening alcohol along with the crunch of fallen leaves in autumn? There is no way alcohol wouldn’t taste good in regions blessed with beautiful mountains and pristine waters. Alcohol brewed at home is called gayangju. Korea had a ‘gayangju culture’ until the Joseon Dynasty. Historical records document over 600 types of alcohol. However, during the Japanese colonial period, the liquor tax policy enforced a gayangju licensing system and banned brewing alcoholic beverages from rice, causing most traditional liquors to disappear. Yet, there are still villages that have preserved traditional brewing for generations. It’s not just gayangju. Refreshing and crisp lagers (bottom-fermented beer) that quench thirst and rich ales (top-fermented beer) that pair well with autumn capture the palate. Some people enjoy finding beers that suit their taste, while others have taken up homebrewing to make beer themselves. Makgeolli cannot be left out either. In the season of abundant harvests, its sweet flavor becomes especially desirable. The smell of steaming cooked rice is part of the journey of autumn ripening. We recommend travel destinations with breweries where alcohol ripens alongside autumn. The Korea Tourism Organization’s recommended theme for October is ‘Finding the Village Where Alcohol Ripens.’

#Falling for the Charm of Craft Beer, Sokcho Mont Beer

At Mont Beer Bar, you can enjoy freshly brewed beer.

Mont Beer is a cooperative formed by people who fell in love with craft beer and brewed beer as a homebrewing club. They create various beers to showcase the unique charm of local craft beer. From the second-floor beer bar, looking out the window, you can see Seoraksan Mountain, Ulsanbawi Rock, and the peaks of Geumgangsan Mountain. The name ‘Mont,’ derived from the French word for mountain, and the logo shaped like Ulsanbawi Rock explain the origin of the name. The greatest pleasure of visiting Mont Beer is tasting freshly brewed beers of various kinds. Mont Beer offers more than 10 types of beer. They make beers with strawberries from Eunggol Strawberry Village in Sokcho and peach juice from Gom Village in Yangyang. Following the potato crisis, they spent two years developing a beer using domestic yeast and potato starch. To use domestic hops, one of the main ingredients of beer, they cultivate hops directly in their fields. The Imperial Stout beer, Round Midnight, is a limited edition released annually. Inspired by single malt whiskey production, it undergoes primary fermentation in oak barrels for over six months, then secondary fermentation in bottles to complete the process. Groups of 10 or more can apply for a tour. By booking on available dates, visitors can tour the brewery with detailed explanations.

Seorak Hyanggi-ro is a walking trail harmonizing with the scenic Seorakdong Valley. It is a 2.7 km course along the Ssangcheon riverside, with 863 meters newly constructed including a suspension bridge. In the evening, gobos lighting (video lighting) and firefly lights provide visual delights. Yeongnangho Barefoot Loess Trail is a 420-meter one-way circular course equipped with a loess path, walking trail, foot-washing station, loess ball bath, and loess foot bath. The loess soil retains moisture, giving a soft sensation to the feet. Oeongchi Sea Scent Trail is an approximately 890-meter coastal walking path between Oeongchi Port and Oeongchi Beach. Along with the open East Sea, visitors can enjoy a rock observation path, security experience path, sky deck path, and bamboo meditation path, each offering changing scenery.

#Over 70 Breweries’ Alcohol in One Place, Seocheon Hansan Sogokju Gallery

Tasting Experience at Seocheon Hansan Sogokju Gallery

Sogokju is said to be the oldest recorded Korean alcohol. Hansan Sogokju refers to sogokju produced in the old Hansan area, now the Hansan, Gisan, Hwayang, and Masan townships of Seocheon County, Chungnam Province. It is a traditional liquor registered as Agricultural Product Geographical Indication No. 110, the third after Gochang Bokbunja-ju and Jindo Hongju. To bear the name ‘Hansan Sogokju,’ only local ingredients produced within this area must be used. Currently, over 70 households have brewery facilities and liquor manufacturing licenses, making this area the ‘village where alcohol ripens’ with the most breweries in a single region nationwide. The taste of alcohol varies among the 70 breweries, reflecting the unique characteristics of homemade liquor. Although the two-stage brewing method?making the base mash by adding nuruk to rice and then adding steamed rice?is similar, each brewery uses different ingredients and secret recipes passed down through generations, making the taste as diverse as kimchi or jang (fermented sauces). Visitors can taste all varieties of Hansan Sogokju at the Hansan Sogokju Gallery, which exhibits and sells Hansan Sogokju produced by over 70 breweries in Hansan Township. Free tastings are available, with five breweries featured weekly on rotation. Hansan Sogokju uses the same brown bottle made by Seocheon County. The Hyangeum Experience, where visitors dressed in scholar’s robes taste three types of sogokju with simple side dishes (15,000 KRW per person, for groups of 10 or more), operates by reservation.

Another representative specialty of Seocheon is ‘Hansan Mosi’ (ramie fabric). The earnest desire to preserve fading Korean traditional culture is deeply embedded in the Hansan Mosi Village. The Sinseong-ri Reed Field, one of Korea’s four major reed fields, and Munheon Seowon Confucian Academy are the best travel destinations to feel autumn.

#Birthplace of Omija Wine That Moved the World, Mungyeong Ominara

Cheonnyeon Joomak, the tasting and sales venue of Ominara

Ominara is located at the entrance of Mungyeong Saejae, the waist of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. Situated between Juhulsan and Joryeongsan Mountains at an altitude of 1,000 meters, Mungyeong is a highland with cool temperatures year-round, ideal for cultivating omija berries. Ominara is the world’s first omija winery, established in September 2008 by CEO Lee Jong-gi, a master brewer and distiller who studied world-renowned liquors and researched Korean alcohol for 44 years. CEO Lee developed omija wine with the determination to create Korea’s finest premium liquor that could compete anywhere in the world. Omija’s unique five flavors?sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and spicy?along with its benefits for digestion, fatigue relief, sexual function improvement, and prevention of stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and aging, inspired the creation of this one-of-a-kind omija wine. Ominara was recognized for its well-organized winery experience programs including wine and distilled liquor production and tasting, selected as a ‘Visiting Brewery’ by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in July 2016, and won the Korean Liquor Awards for Korean Wine in 2019 and 2020 consecutively.

The Mungyeong Natural Ecology Museum is a natural learning and experience space sharing the ecological value of the Mungyeong region, and the Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park Old Road Museum is a local museum preserving the cultural geography and history of Mungyeong Saejae. Mungyeong Saejae, meaning ‘the pass where even birds rest,’ boasts beautiful natural scenery throughout the four seasons. How about facing the clear autumn sky in Mungyeong, where unique taste and charm flourish under the Baekdudaegan mountains, offering deep relaxation?

#Romance of Craft Beer and Night Market, Jinju Jinmaek Brewery

Jinmaek with deep and smooth flavor

Jinju Jinmaek Brewery has captivated beer enthusiasts since its opening in April this year. It produces craft beer made from Jinju wheat, rich in flavor and truly authentic. The main ingredient is Jinju wheat, a short-statured wheat called ‘sitting wheat’ due to its low height. Compared to regular wheat flour, Jinju wheat is softer and has a savory taste, which explains Jinmaek’s deep flavor and smooth finish. Located at the entrance of Nongae Market, Jinju Jinmaek Brewery’s building exterior is remarkable. It was remodeled from an old used furniture store. The reddish exterior resembles the color of well-ripened sitting wheat. The first floor houses the craft brewery, beer pub, and goods shop; the second floor has a beer pub and archive space; the third floor is home to the Jinju City Commercial District Revitalization Foundation and an education center. The first-floor brewery features large windows where visitors can watch the beer-making process. The second floor has a unique space lined with LPs and turntables, allowing visitors to enjoy their favorite music through headphones while sipping beer?a realized dream. Every Saturday, the Olbam Saturday Night Market opens in Nongae Market, where Jinju Jinmaek Brewery is located. It’s a food paradise with specialties like Yukjeon (pan-fried beef slices), samgyeop-mari (pork belly rolls), flat dumplings, seafood chive pancakes, giant meatballs, and steak shrimp skewers. Tables are set up on both sides of the night market entrance so visitors can enjoy their food before it cools. Normally, Jinju Jinmaek Brewery prohibits outside food, but Saturday night market food is warmly welcomed. Visitors can also buy canned and bottled beer from Jinju Jinmaek Brewery to enjoy at the night market.

If you plan to travel to Jinju in October, don’t miss the Namgang Yudeung Festival. The scene of over 70,000 lanterns decorating the Namgang River beneath Jinju Fortress in vibrant colors offers an unforgettable autumn experience. The Somangjinsan Lantern Theme Park allows visitors to enjoy Jinju’s iconic lanterns year-round. It has become a popular night view spot overlooking the Namgang River and Jinju Fortress. The Mulbit Naru Rest Area operates the Namgang cruise ship ‘Kim Si-min,’ running at night to showcase the night view of Jinju Fortress and the spectacular musical fountain.

#Masterful Thinking on Makgeolli, Haenam Haechang Brewery

The Process of Making Makgeolli at Haechang Brewery

Haechang Brewery became famous for producing high-end luxury makgeolli. Their main products have higher alcohol content than typical makgeolli, at 9 and 12 degrees, with longer fermentation times and additional processes, resulting in higher prices. The limited edition Haechang 18-degree makgeolli is priced at 110,000 KRW at the brewery. CEO Oh Byung-in’s philosophy is firm: Korean alcohol deserves such value. Accordingly, the ingredients are different. They use organic glutinous rice grown in Haenam mixed with some non-glutinous rice. The subtle natural sweetness of glutinous rice replaces artificial sweeteners. Fans of Haechang Makgeolli include cartoonist Heo Young-man of ‘Sikgaek’ and Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group. The brewery’s Japanese-style house and cozy garden are also attractive. The garden, covering about 2,500 square meters, is filled with around 40 species of trees, including a crape myrtle tree estimated to be about 700 years old. The Rolls-Royce car in the entrance yard is also noteworthy, symbolizing CEO Oh’s dedication to luxury makgeolli. The Haechang 18-degree label proudly features a drawing of a Rolls-Royce by cartoonist Heo Young-man.

Gosan Yun Seon-do is a representative figure of Haenam. The Gosan Yun Seon-do Historic Site, including Bijarim Forest and the Gosan Yun Seon-do Relics Exhibition Hall, is well worth a visit. The Duryunsan Cable Car offers views of Hallasan on clear days, and the Usuyeong Tourist Site can be enjoyed alongside the Myeongnyang Great Victory Festival (October 18?20).