[Busan/Mangmi-dong] A Hundred Years of Brewing History, The Urban Brewery 'Dongbaek 1917'

A Hundred Years of Brewing History, The Urban Brewery 'Dongbaek 1917'

 

Prologue: A Place Brewing Lost Time

It is the brewery 'Dongbaek 1917' located on the Busan Subway Line 3. It is not just a place selling alcohol. This is a space containing the firm will to reconnect the lineage of our Gayangju (home-brewed liquor), which was cut off by the Liquor Tax Decree during the Japanese colonial era in 1917.

 

1. Space

The 1st floor is the brewery, and the 2nd floor is a space where you can dine on snacks and Makgeolli. If you knock on the 1st floor, go inside, and say you are there for a tasting, they give you a chance to taste a cup. You can order food and Makgeolli on the 2nd floor starting from 5 PM.

 

2. Alcohol: Bottling the Pride of Busan

The biggest charm here is, without a doubt, the alcohol brewed in-house. You can taste pure Makgeolli made only with rice, water, and Nuruk (yeast), without artificial sweeteners (aspartame).

① Dongbaek 1917 (Dongbaek 1917 / 9% ABV) ★Highly Recommended★ price: 12,000won

• Features: The signature Makgeolli bearing the name of this place. Upon the first sip, a carbonation-free smoothness wraps around your mouth. Instead of the artificial sweetness of commercial Makgeolli, it features the subtle natural sweetness of rice and a clean finish.
• Tasting Note: Dry yet clean, it shows excellent pairing with any food. A drink that breaks the prejudice that 'Makgeolli gives you a headache.'

② Beombeok (Beombeok / 14% ABV)

• Features: The very alcohol that grabbed the '2024 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.' As the name suggests, the texture is thick like a paste ('Beombeok'). With almost no water added, it takes a form between scoopable yogurt (Ihwaju) and regular Makgeolli.
• Tasting Note: A concentrated sweet and sour flavor explodes when you hold a sip. The creamy texture, like drinking rich yogurt, is superb. The alcohol content is quite high at 14%, but the taste is so good that if you keep sipping, you'll feel pleasantly tipsy before you know it.

1st floor

 

3. Food: Fusion Korean Cuisine that Boosts the Flavor of Alcohol

Since the alcohol is excellent, the food cannot be missed. The cooking here is fusion Korean cuisine that prioritizes the pairing with Makgeolli above all else.

• Beef Heel Shank Hot Pot (Arong-satae Suyuk Jeongol): Tender beef heel shank is piled generously on top of a clear and deep broth. One spoonful of warm broth and a glass of dry 'Dongbaek 1917' washes away the day's fatigue.
• Korean Beef Tartare (Hanwoo Yukhoe): The nuttiness is exceptional as they use fresh Hanwoo beef. It focuses on the meat's natural taste rather than strong seasoning, boasting a perfect match with the heavy 'Beombeok' Makgeolli.
• Perilla Oil Tofu Kimchi: The combination of tofu infused with a nutty perilla oil scent and stir-fried kimchi is the classic standard of Makgeolli snacks.

Beef Heel Shank Hot Pot

 

 

4. Info: Pre-visit Checklist

You might make a wasted trip if you go without any information. Here are the essential tips to check before visiting.

• Location: 12, Mangmibeonyeong-ro 60beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan (2-3 min walk from Mangmi Station Exit 2)
  • Tip: It might be hard to find as it's inside an alley, so make sure to keep a map app on.
• Business Hours: Mon~Sat 17:00 ~ 22:00 (Last Order 21:00)
  • Caution: It is closed on Sundays. Also, it closes at 10 PM. I recommend visiting for a 'Delicious 1st Round' rather than a 2nd round.
• Parking: There is no dedicated parking lot. Parking is very difficult as the alley is narrow.
  • Tip: Use the public parking lot