Seoul makgeolli has more than one personality

If makgeolli still means one kind of cloudy white drink to you, a few Seoul bottles can open up the options. Fruit-like aromas, restrained sweetness or hop bitterness: where would you start?

For sweetness and a fuller texture

Naru from Seongsu is 11.5% ABV, described with apple- and melon-like aromas, sweetness and a substantial texture. The fruits are tasting comparisons. A fresh-sounding aroma does not necessarily signal a light drink.

Chowol in Mapo, Miju in Jung-gu

Chowol is 6.9%, with a production story of 48 days of fermentation and maturation. Chunpoong Brewery’s Miju is 12%, with different impressions described for its clear upper layer and mixed drink. Their profiles offer different things to explore.

When hops and flowers enter the bottle

Coolmak adds hops for herbal aromas and bitterness at 8.5%. Pink uses prickly pear and azalea. If an unfamiliar ingredient catches your interest, the label is a useful companion to the tasting description.

One neighborhood, one bottle

You do not need to tour every brewery. Look for a bottle sold near where you are staying or eating dinner. Finding something you like gives you a starting point for choosing a different style next time.