Boksoondoga
복순도가
Famous traditional brewery in Ulsan, producing Boksoondoga brand takju, yakju, and red rice makgeolli.
- Region
- Ulsan
- Address
- 울산광역시 울주군 상북면 향산리 439
- Website
- www.boksoon.com/
Products (7)
Korean Makgeolli
Boksundoga Takju
복순도가 탁주
Boksun Doga Takju from Ulsan is one of Korea's most recognized craft makgeolli names, brewed with domestic rice, purified water, and wheat-based gokja (nuruk). The 10% ABV sits in a sweet spot — strong enough to carry structure and complexity, but not so high that it becomes a sipping-only drink. The brewery earned the 2018 'Visiting Brewery' designation, and its Seoul Station AREX-exit shop has become a pilgrimage point for makgeolli enthusiasts looking for the freshest pour. On the nose, the wheat gokja gives a distinctive yeast-bread aroma layered over soft grain. The palate opens with a silky, almost yogurt-like smoothness, then builds into a sweet grain richness that spreads evenly. The mid-palate has a subtle umami undertone — unusual for makgeolli and likely tied to the wheat fermentation — and the finish is medium-length with a gentle tartness. The 935ml bottle is built for sharing. Pair with haemul pajeon where the slightly tart finish cuts through the seafood oil, or with kimchi-jeon whose fermented intensity matches the drink's complexity. Also pairs well with bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) where the earthy legume flavor echoes the wheat-nuruk character.
Yogurt-smoothWheat-bread
Korean pancakes (jeon)fried chicken
✦Tips
10% ABV935ml
Korean Makgeolli
Boksun Doga Son Makgeolli
복순도가 손막걸리
Boksun Doga Son Makgeolli is the lighter, sweeter sibling to the 10% Takju, set at 6.5% ABV for broader appeal. It uses the same Ulsan domestic rice and wheat gokja base but adds mullyeot (corn syrup), sugar, and aspartame to create a rounder, more dessert-leaning profile. This sweetening approach is deliberate: the brewery is crafting this bottle for the drinker who finds the 10% Takju too assertive. Gold at the 2015 San Francisco International Wine Competition and a 2018 K-DESIGN AWARD speak to both flavor quality and packaging sophistication. The 935ml bottle pours a milky white with gentle viscosity. The nose is softer than the Takju — creamy rice and a candy-like top note rather than yeasty depth. On the palate, the sweetness leads confidently, coated in a plush, almost ice-cream-like texture. The finish is short with minimal acidity, which explains its popularity with drinkers who dislike tang. Best purchased fresh from the Seoul Station AREX-exit official store. Pair with raw fish (hoe) where the sweetness balances the fish's clean brininess, or with haemul pajeon and fried chicken. Also works as a standalone evening drink with dried fruit and nuts.
Candy-sweetIce-cream-like
raw fish (hoe)Korean pancakes (jeon)
✦Tips★Awards
6.5% ABV935ml
Korean Cheongju
Boksun Doga Yakju
복순도가 약주
Boksun Doga in Ulsan — a brewery that earned 'Chajaganeun Yangjojang' (Visiting Brewery) status in 2018 — produces this gentle 10% yakju from domestic rice and wheat-based koji. The lower ABV and koji fermentation (rather than traditional nuruk) create a profile that is exceptionally mild: the nose carries steamed rice with a faint yogurt tang, and the palate unfolds with the texture of diluted silk — thin but not watery, with a fine lactic acidity that keeps it lively. There is a subtle sweetness midway, like rice pudding before sugar is added, and the finish is brief and refreshing. At this gentle strength, it is one of the most approachable Korean yakju for newcomers. Serve well chilled at 5-8°C with dubu-kimchi (tofu with stir-fried kimchi), where the tofu's blandness and the kimchi's funk both find a soft middle ground, or with gyeran-mari (rolled egg omelet) for a light, easygoing match.
Steamed riceYogurt tangRice pudding sweetness
dubu-kimchi (tofu with stir-fried kimchi)gyeran-mari (rolled egg omelet)
✦Tips
10% ABV750ml
Korean Makgeolli
Ppalgan Rice Makgeolli
빨간쌀막걸리
Ppalgan Rice Makgeolli is a 6.5% ABV makgeolli from Ulsan, created through a limited-edition collaboration between Boksoondoga and Hanyul. The use of red rice gives the makgeolli its distinctive color and adds a subtle nuttiness beneath the creamy sweetness. At 935ml, it is generously sized for sharing. The palate leans creamy and sweet with enough freshness to stay lively, pairing comfortably with jeon, fried chicken, and kimchi. As a limited release, availability depends on stock at the official Boksoondoga store near Seoul Station's AREX exit.
CreamySweet
Korean pancakes (jeon)fried chicken
✦Tips
6.5% ABV935ml
Korean Traditional Drink
Boksoondoga Gwahaju
복순도가 과하주
Boksoondoga Gwahaju is a 15% ABV rice-based gwahaju from Ulsan, crafted by one of Korea's most recognized artisan breweries. The recipe centers on Korean rice and wheat-based nuruk (gokja), producing a polished pour with quiet complexity that unfolds gradually. The palate stays smooth and balanced, with gentle grain sweetness giving way to a clean, composed finish. Boksoondoga's AREX-exit store near Seoul Station is considered the freshest retail source. This gwahaju occupies a calm middle ground between makgeolli's rusticity and cheongju's refinement, making it a versatile table companion.
SmoothBalanced
Korean side dishes (banchan)grilled meat
✦Tips
15% ABV750ml
Korean Traditional Drink
Boksoondoga Super Dry
복순도가 슈퍼드라이
Boksoondoga Super Dry is a 6.5% ABV rice-based brew from Ulsan, made with domestic rice and wheat starter (gokja). Where most Korean rice drinks lean sweet, this one deliberately pushes toward a drier, tighter finish that cleans the palate rather than coating it. The texture is smooth and balanced, making it highly versatile across a full Korean meal. At 935ml — a generous format — it is clearly intended for table sharing. The brewery has built a reputation for unpasteurized, craft-forward makgeolli, and their Seoul Station AREX-exit retail outlet is known as the freshest source. Pair it with banchan-heavy tables and grilled dishes where the dry finish acts as a palate cleanser between rich, oily bites.
SmoothBalanced
Korean side dishes (banchan)grilled meat
✦Tips
6.5% ABV935ml
Korean Makgeolli
Boksun Doga Glutinous Rice Takju 9do
복순도가 찹쌀탁주 9도
Boksun Doga Glutinous Rice Takju 9 is a 9% ABV makgeolli from Ulsan, one of the most recognized artisan makgeolli in Korea. With 27.4% domestic glutinous rice and wheat-based nuruk (gokja), the body is remarkably dense and naturally creamy — the kind of richness that comes from grain proportion rather than additives. The wheat gokja adds a gentle fermented complexity beneath the rice sweetness, preventing flatness and giving each sip evolving character. At 935ml, it is a generous format that invites slow, shared drinking alongside jeon, fried chicken, or kimchi dishes where its plush texture provides cooling counterbalance to heat and oil.
CreamySweet
Korean pancakes (jeon)fried chicken
✦Tips
9% ABV935ml
