Meronia

Description

Baehyejeong Doga in Gyeonggi-do takes the makgeolli template in a deliberately playful direction by layering melon concentrate, synthetic melon aroma, and a subtle milk-like note over a rice-fermented base. At just 4% ABV it is among the lightest traditional-style pours available, drinking closer to a creamy melon soda than a grain-forward brew. The nose is immediately candy-melon with honeydew sweetness and a faint dairy backdrop. On the palate, the body is soft and pillowy with the rice providing just enough starchy weight to keep it from feeling like juice. The finish is short and clean with lingering melon perfume. Sweetness comes from both the rice ferment and added corn syrup (mulyeot), while stevia extract and aspartame keep the sugar level in check. This is not a bottle for purists — it sits closer to fruit-beer territory. But for gatherings where people want something easy, sweet, and low-alcohol, it fills a gap. Pair with fruit tarts, yakgwa honey cookies, or light Korean fried snacks (twigim) where the melon sweetness becomes dessert-adjacent.

Ingredients

Korean Rice, Malt Syrup, 합성착향료(메론향), Yeast, Nuruk, 혼합제제, Aspartame, Lactic Acid, 합성 향료(밀크향), Stevioside, 멜론농축액

Tasting Notes

Food Pairings