Gyeonggi Province is home to 66 traditional breweries. The province supports local breweries through active policies.
Bae & Brewing Co. & Sansawon
Bae & Brewing is a Korean traditional alcohol
maker that’s named after Bae Sang-myun, a renowned industry pioneer who started
the Korean traditional alcohol revitalization movement. Bae & Brewing began
operations in 1996 and has grown to become one of Asia’s top alcohol and
alcohol-related cultural brand names. Apart from that, Bae & Brewing has
also been giving traditional alcohol new life through process innovation and experimentation
with new flavors. As a result, many new and unique types of alcoholic beverages
are being created.
Profit is not their end goal. Instead, they seek to create a culture that encompasses these types of alcoholic beverages. They want their products to represent a medium, one that is able to play a positive role in society. Apart from the brewery located in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, they also have a facility called Sansawon that includes a garden and an alcohol gallery. They also operate a pub, called SlowCity, that serves many of their own beverages.
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| A museum of traditional brewery equipment in Sansawon |
In Sansawon, they have a multi-faceted cultural
space, the Museum of Traditional Alcohol, that exhibits various artifacts and
books related to Korean traditional alcohol. The museum also has a tasting hall
and a sales hall where alcohol lovers can sample many different varieties of
the alcoholic beverages available.
The large garden is very well known because it showcases hundreds of large ceramic vessels where they ferment some of their products. Many banquets and events have also been held here as it offers a scenic view of mountains. The interesting thing about the design of this garden is the science behind it. The center of the pavilion is open air without a roof so that hot air is able to rise, creating a convection current that cools the air surrounding the jars.
They also offer home brewing classes in which they offer instruction about Korean traditional alcohol and provide visitors with a hands-on experience in brewing. After the class, you get to bring your own brew home!
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| Various alcoholic beverages in the museum, Sansawon |
Their brewery produces many different alcoholic beverages such as the traditional Korean alcoholic beverage known as Makgeolli, rice wines and other seasonal beverages according to climate and crop conditions. They also produce gluten-free rice lagers as well as local fruit and dessert wines.
Bae & Brewing is located at the foot of Unaksan Mountain, which forms the boundary between the cities of Pocheon and Gapyeong. They were also designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as a “must-visit brewery” in 2014.
Gyeonggi-do Breweries
Apart from Bae & Brewing Co. (a.k.a.
Sansawon), Gyeonggi-do is home to 66 traditional breweries; many of them
produce high-quality, award-winning beverages. These are also listed as
must-visit breweries by Gyeonggi-do.
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| Sulseam Brewery in Yongin City ⓒGYEONGGI PROVINCE |
Among these breweries is Sulseam Brewery, which is located in Yongin City. This brewery produces 12 different varieties of alcoholic beverages and spirits using rice that is grown within the province. Apart from that, the area surrounding Sulseam Brewery makes for beautiful scenery.
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| Grand Coteau winery in Ansan City ⓒGGCF |
There are also various other places such as the Grand Coteau winery on Daebudo Island in Ansan City, Gyeonggi-do. This is one of the best wineries in Korea; they use Campbell Early grapes which are well known for their fruity flavor and mild sweetness. These grapes are grown locally in a pristine natural environment.
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| Sanmeoru Farm in Paju City ⓒGYEONGGI TOURISM ORGANIZATION |
Located near the DMZ in Paju City, Sanmeoru Farm’s main product is a wine made from “Meoru” (better known as crimson glory vine), which can be found in the Russian Far East, Korea and eastern Japan. Not only do they sell wine, they also host a wide variety of activities such as winemaking, winery tours and wine tasting sessions in visitors can participate.
Gyeonggi-do’s Support
There are a number of reasons why many of
these local breweries have a strong foothold in Gyeonggi Province. Firstly,
there is a variety of landscapes ranging from coastal to mountainous areas as
well as metropolitan regions. These characteristics cannot be found easily in
other provinces and play a huge role on the particular locations of breweries.
They also have easy and convenient access to the capital, Seoul, which is within a 1-hour drive from any location in the province. This also means that they are able to stay relevant with the latest cultural trends in alcohol popular among members of fast-paced younger generations.
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| There are many regional breweries in South Korea |
Gyeonggi-do also has active support policies for local breweries. As the younger generation views traditional alcohol as old-fashioned, many traditional alcohol makers and breweries are losing consumer interest and revenue sources. As a result, many of these places are being forgotten, even if superior alcoholic beverages are being produced all over the province.
In order to overcome this situation, Gyeonggi-do has been providing support for these small breweries since 2007 through promotional campaigns, consultations and marketing efforts. Gyeonggi-do is also hosting festivals and contests related to traditional alcoholic beverages to generate awareness. Through these efforts, many of the local breweries and wineries have been thriving and are able to continually produce high-quality products that represent their particular localities alongside unique brewery tours and activities.
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