Two neighborhoods, three Gongju chestnut bottles

Looking for chestnut makgeolli in Gongju? There is more than one bottle to remember. Start with two place names: Sagok and Uidang.

Try chestnuts a different way

Chestnuts are a familiar part of Gongju’s food identity. A bag of roasted nuts is one way to enjoy them; a bottle brewed with chestnuts offers another. The question is what happens to their sweetness and aroma in the glass.

Two bottles from Sagok

Sagok Brewery makes Wangbamju at 6% ABV in a 1,000ml bottle, and Wangbam at 8% in 375ml. These are different products, not simply different sizes. That extra syllable in the name matters when shopping.

Meet Gunbam from Uidang

Gunbam is described through a toasted, roasted-chestnut impression. Alongside the Sagok bottles, it gives you another way to explore the same ingredient, with a different name and a different place behind it.

Find a bottle before planning a brewery visit

You do not need to visit both neighborhoods. Start by checking which bottles a shop on your route carries. If you want to visit a producer, ask separately about direct sales and tours.