Jungwondang Brewery
중원당
A historic brewery in Chungju, Chungbuk, famous for Cheongmyeongju, a traditional clear liquor with centuries of heritage.
- Region
- Chungcheongbuk
- Address
- 충북 충주시 가금면 창동리 243
- Website
- www.청명주.com/
Products (8)
Korean Traditional Drink
Cheongmyeongju 750
청명주 750
Cheongmyeongju 750 is a 17% ABV brew from Jungwondang Brewery in Chungcheongbuk-do, made with glutinous rice, nuruk, and wheat flour — a recipe that has earned designation as Chungcheongbuk-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 2. The wheat flour adds a bready, almost biscuity dimension to the fermentation that pure rice formulas lack. The nose opens with toasted grain and a warm dough note. On the palate, the body is medium-full with a smooth, grounded texture where the glutinous rice provides roundness and the wheat nuruk adds a firm, savory underpinning. The 17% strength delivers warmth without harshness, and the finish is measured and dry with a faint wheat-cracker echo. Selected as a 2015 Visiting Brewery. The 750ml bottle is generous for table sharing. Serve at 13-16°C with bulgogi where the caramelized marinade meets the bready grain warmth, or alongside doenjang-jjigae where the fermented soybean depth finds an echo in the wheat nuruk's complexity.
SmoothBalanced
Korean side dishes (banchan)grilled meat
17% ABV750ml
Korean Traditional Drink
Cheongmyeongju
청명주
Cheongmyeongju is a 17% ABV brew from Jungwondang Brewery in Chungcheongbuk-do, made with domestic rice. This is the 500ml version of the same Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 2 recipe, offering a more restrained volume for intimate settings. The profile is calm and refined — the nose carries warm, polished rice with a faint earthy note from traditional fermentation. On the palate, the body is medium-full with a smooth, even flow that never overreaches. Sweetness is subtle and grain-driven, balanced by a dry finish that maintains composure at 17%. Designated as a 2015 Visiting Brewery alongside its larger sibling. Serve at 13-15°C with jeon-platter (assorted Korean pancakes) where the even body and dry finish cut through the oil, or alongside grilled meats where the 17% warmth and grain backbone provide enough heft to stand alongside charred flavors.
SmoothBalanced
Korean side dishes (banchan)grilled meat
17% ABV500ml
Korean Makgeolli
Hoho Makgeolli
호호막걸리
Hoho Makgeolli is a 9% ABV makgeolli from Chungcheongbuk-do's Jungwondang Brewery that distinguishes itself by adding Korean sweet pumpkin (danhobak) to a base of domestic glutinous and non-glutinous rice with nuruk. The pumpkin contributes a warm, vegetal sweetness and a slightly golden hue that sets it apart visually and aromatically from standard rice-only makgeollis. The dual-rice formula creates a creamy, comforting body, while the 9% ABV keeps the drinking experience relaxed and approachable. The combination of grain and gourd produces an unexpectedly cozy drinking character.
CreamySweet
Korean pancakes (jeon)fried chicken
9% ABV375ml
Korean Cheongju
Seonhuiju Cheongju
선희주
Seonhuiju is a 12% ABV cheongju (clear rice wine) from Jungwondang Brewery in Chungcheongbuk-do, brewed with a blend of domestic glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice paired with traditional nuruk. The dual-rice approach gives the wine both the soft, rounded sweetness of glutinous rice and the clean structural backbone of regular rice, creating a cheongju that feels polished and quietly complex. The 375ml format positions it for intimate meals rather than large gatherings — grilled fish, steamed dishes, and multi-course hanjeongsik settings where subtlety matters. Jungwondang Brewery was designated as a 2015 'Chajaganeun Yangjojang' (Visiting Brewery), recognition that reflects the brewery's commitment to traditional methods and regional craft in the heart of Chungcheongbuk-do.
CleanSmooth
Korean full course (hanjeongsik)grilled fish
12% ABV375ml
Korean Traditional Drink
Boeunju
보은주
Boeunju is a 10% ABV traditional drink from Jungwondang Brewery in Chungcheongbuk-do, brewed with domestic glutinous rice, non-glutinous rice, and nuruk. The 10% ABV sits in a comfortable middle zone — structured enough for meaningful food pairing yet gentle enough for extended drinking without fatigue. The flavor profile is calm and balanced, with grain depth providing quiet complexity rather than any single dominant note. Like its sibling Seonhuiju, Boeunju benefits from Jungwondang's 2015 'Chajaganeun Yangjojang' designation, which speaks to the brewery's traditional credentials. The 375ml bottle makes it suitable for smaller gatherings or a personal serving alongside banchan-heavy Korean meals and grilled meats.
SmoothBalanced
Korean side dishes (banchan)grilled meat
10% ABV375ml
Korean Makgeolli
Seonhui 10
선희 10
Seonhui 10 is a 10% ABV makgeolli from Chungcheongbuk-do, produced by Jungwondang Brewery using domestic glutinous rice, non-glutinous rice, apple, sweet potato, orange, and nuruk. This five-ingredient combination creates an unusually expressive makgeolli where orchard fruit aromas layer over root-vegetable warmth, all grounded in dual-rice creaminess. The 330ml single-serving format at 10% encourages attentive drinking — each sip reveals a different facet of the multi-ingredient design.
CreamySweet
Korean pancakes (jeon)fried chicken
10% ABV330ml
Korean Makgeolli
Cheongmyeong Takju
청명탁주
Cheongmyeong Takju is a 12% ABV makgeolli from Chungcheongbuk-do, produced by Jungwondang Brewery using domestic glutinous rice, domestic nuruk, and domestic wheat flour. The exclusive use of domestic ingredients across all three components — grain, fermentation starter, and supplementary flour — signals a quality-focused approach. The wheat flour broadens the body and adds a savory grain dimension, while the nuruk provides genuine fermentation complexity. At 375ml and 12%, this is a substantial, premium-positioned makgeolli for food pairing rather than casual drinking.
CreamySweet
Korean pancakes (jeon)fried chicken
12% ABV375ml
Korean Cheongju
Cheongmyeongju
청명주
Cheongmyeongju is a 17% ABV cheongju from Chungcheongbuk-do, brewed with domestic glutinous rice, nuruk, and wheat flour in a traditional three-ingredient format. The elevated proof for its category gives it weight and presence, while the grain base stays clear and composed rather than sweet-heavy. Its polished character and smooth texture make it a graceful companion for hanjeongsik courses, steamed seafood, and grilled fish where subtlety matters most.
CleanSmooth
Korean full course (hanjeongsik)grilled fish
17% ABV375ml