Yeasul Brewery
예술주조
Artisanal brewery in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, producing poetically named traditional liquors inspired by nature and seasons.
- Region
- Gangwon
- Address
- 강원도 홍천군 내촌면 물걸리 508-2
- Website
- www.ye-sul.co.kr
Products (7)
Korean Traditional Drink
Moon Reflected on the River
만강에 비친 달
Yeasul Brewery in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do — a 2015 Visiting Brewery selection known for poetic, nature-inspired names — ferments Hongcheon rice with sweet pumpkin and wheat nuruk to create this contemplative 10% brew named 'Moon Reflected on the River.' The aroma evokes roasted pumpkin, warm brown sugar, and toasted wheat with a gentle earthy undertone. On the palate, the body is medium and satiny, with pumpkin's natural sweetness weaving through the grain base to create a mellow, almost autumnal warmth. The finish is long and gently drying with a wheatgrass-like herbal whisper. Serve at 12-14°C to let the pumpkin aromatics fully open. Pairs wonderfully with jeonbok-juk abalone porridge where the textural similarities create harmony, or hobak-jeon pumpkin pancake for thematic resonance.
Roasted pumpkin and brown sugarToasted wheat with earthy undertoneMellow autumnal warmth
jeonbok-juk abalone porridgehobak-jeon pumpkin pancake
10% ABV500ml
Korean Traditional Drink
When Pear Blossoms Bloom
배꽃 필 무렵
Yesul Brewery in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do produces this 9% pour whose name — 'When Pear Blossoms Bloom' — places it in the lyrical tradition of Korean seasonal naming. Non-glutinous rice (mepssal) and nuruk form the entire bill, and the brewery deliberately avoids glutinous rice to keep the texture crisp and defined rather than sticky and heavy. The aroma is floral and spring-like: white blossoms, fresh rice, and a faint pear note that the name promises. On the palate, the body is smooth and composed, with sweetness that is balanced rather than indulgent — it reads closer to mineral-touched rice water than a dessert. The finish extends with quiet grain persistence and a clean, almost austere exit. At 9% ABV, the warmth adds gravitas without disrupting the poise. Compared to glutinous-rice takju at similar strength, this one feels lighter, more transparent, and more food-flexible. Its credentials include the 2020 Korea Traditional Liquor Awards Top Prize in the takju category and 2015 Chajaganeun Yangjojang designation. Serve at 8-10°C with grilled fish where the drink's composed restraint lets delicate seafood flavors lead, or with ganjang-gejang (soy-marinated raw crab) where the clean finish cuts through the rich, briny sauce.
White pear blossom floralsMepssal crisp transparencyMineral-touched rice water
raw fish (hoe)Korean side dishes (banchan)
★Awards
9% ABV20ml
Korean Makgeolli
Hongcheongang Takju
홍천강 탁주
Yesul Brewery in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do uses locally grown Hongcheon rice and wheat-based nuruk (mil nuruk) for this 11% takju — a combination that produces a heartier, more grain-forward profile than rice-and-ipguk styles. Wheat nuruk introduces a bread-dough earthiness and a slightly tangy acidity that rice koji alone does not generate, and the local rice adds a sweetness specific to Hongcheon's cold-climate terroir. The aroma is toasted wheat with warm rice porridge and a faint sourdough tang. On the palate, the body is creamy and full, with grain sweetness that is robust and satisfying — think barley tea intensity but creamy — and the wheat nuruk adds a savory pull in the mid-palate that anchors the sweetness. The finish is long, with the 11% ABV building a steady warmth that carries the grain character out slowly. Compared to the same brewery's lighter, more poised 'Pearkkoch Pil Muryeop,' this one is the winter coat: heavier, warmer, and designed for the cold-weather table. Its 2015 Chajaganeun Yangjojang designation reinforces the brewery's commitment to regional ingredients. Serve at 10-14°C to let the wheat nuruk aromatics open. Pair with kimchi-jjigae on a cold night where the drink's body and warmth make a complete comfort duo, or with braised spicy chicken (dakdoritang) where the savory-sweet grain profile mirrors the stew's depth.
Wheat nuruk bread-dough earthinessHongcheon rice cold-climate sweetnessBarley-tea creamy intensity
Korean pancakes (jeon)fried chicken
11% ABV500ml
Korean Cheongju
Long Night of Dongjitdal
동짓달 기나긴 밤
Named after the long nights of the winter solstice month, this 16% cheongju from Gangwon-do blends glutinous and non-glutinous rice with bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) and traditional nuruk. The bokbunja is not just decorative — it introduces a tart berry undercurrent that stains the spirit a faint rose-amber and threads through the palate like a dried cranberry note woven into steamed rice. The texture is medium-bodied and satiny, with the two rice types creating a balance between the stickiness of glutinous rice and the drier backbone of regular rice. The finish is warming and long, with a last breath of wild berry and toasted grain. Designated a 2015 Visiting Brewery. Serve at 13-15°C alongside ori-baeksuk (whole duck soup), where the poultry fat meets the berry tartness in an unexpected but convincing combination, or with pyogo-beoseot-bokkeum (stir-fried shiitake), where the mushroom's umami depth meets the grain's warmth.
Dried cranberryRose-amber hueSatiny dual-rice texture
ori-baeksuk (whole duck soup)pyogo-beoseot-bokkeum (stir-fried shiitake)
16% ABV500ml
Korean Traditional Drink
Dongmong
동몽
Dongmong is a 17% ABV brew from Yesul Brewery in Gangwon-do, blending Hongcheon rice with sweet pumpkin and wheat-based nuruk. The sweet pumpkin (danhobak) addition is rare in Korean traditional spirits and gives this bottle a gentle, naturally sweet undercurrent distinct from grain or sugar sweetness — think baked kabocha squash folded into warm rice. The nose carries toasted grain and a faint caramelized pumpkin note. On the palate, the body is medium-full and smooth, with the pumpkin contributing a rounded, almost velvety midpalate that transitions into a clean, grain-warm finish. The wheat nuruk adds a biscuity base note that grounds the sweetness. Selected as a 2015 Visiting Brewery. Serve at 13-15°C with hobakjuk (pumpkin porridge) for a thematic pumpkin double, or alongside samgyeopsal-gui where the drink's rounded sweetness and firm structure manage the rendered fat.
SmoothBalanced
Korean side dishes (banchan)grilled meat
17% ABV500ml
Korean Makgeolli
When Pear Blossoms Bloom
배꽃 필 무렵
When Pear Blossoms Bloom is a 9% ABV makgeolli from Gangwon-do, crafted by Yesul Brewery using domestic rice, purified water, and wheat-based nuruk in a compact 140ml format. The small bottle signals single-serving intent, designed for a focused moment of drinking rather than extended communal sessions. Despite the miniature format, the rice and nuruk produce a genuinely creamy, softly sweet body that captures the essential makgeolli character. At 9%, it carries slightly more weight than standard 6% session styles, adding depth to the compact experience.
CreamySweet
Korean pancakes (jeon)fried chicken
9% ABV140ml
Korean Traditional Drink
Song of the Wind
바람의 노래
Inspired by the clean air of Gangwon-do, this bottle leans into restraint and balance. Rice, water, and nuruk are handled with minimal fuss, resulting in a smooth texture and calm, grain-driven aroma that never overwhelms the palate. It is the kind of traditional drink that sits naturally beside banchan and grilled meats all evening.
SmoothBalanced
Korean side dishes (banchan)grilled meat
11% ABV500ml