A fruity sour ale on a hot day, a rich porter when it’s chilly, or a lager when you’re craving a roasty wheat flavor. No two beers are alike, and we want different things depending on the weather and our mood. Once you’re in this world, it’s easy to become a picky eater, but it’s also fun to discover the finer points of taste. Here are some places with craft beers that are carefully crafted by breweries.
1. Mystery Brewing Company
Mystery Brewing Company is tucked away among the buildings of Gongdeok Station. They are especially good at making beer with refreshing fruity flavors, and the food they serve is also good. With a low failure rate, this place is open from lunchtime, so it’s a good place to enjoy a refreshing daytime beer.
📍311, Dokmak-ro, Mapo-gu
2. Macpie Brewery
If you love craft beer, you’ve probably seen this magpie logo at least once. It belongs to MacPie, a brewery that has been a stalwart of the craft beer culture in Jeju. Since opening its doors in 2011, the brewery has been part of the history of Korean craft beer. In fact, until 2016, when it converted an empty citrus warehouse in Jeju into a brewery, it was based in Itaewon. Since moving to Jeju, McPie’s beers can be found in Itaewon and Euljiro.
📍244-1, Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan-gu, 127, Euljiro-ro, Jung-gu
3. Amazing Brewing Company
Amazing Brewing Company has been protecting Seongsu-dong since 2016. The brewery is the creator of gin ramen and gin lager and is a brand that is strong in popular collaborations. With 20 flavors on tap, you can pour your own or ask the trained staff to do it for you if you’re afraid of the bubble baptism.
📍4 Seongsuil-ro 4-gil, Seongdong-gu
4. Seoul Gypsy
Seoul Gypsy is responsible for revitalizing Seosunra-gil in Jongno, where the serene view of the Jongmyo wall is enough to make you feel good, and they love to experiment with IPAs. Seoul Gypsy’s beer, made by a Gwangju brewery, is now also available in Hannam-dong.
📍107, Seosunra-gil, Jongno-gu, 28-4, Itaewon-ro 42-gil, Yongsan-gu
5. Seoul Brewery
Seoul Brewery is the largest urban brewery in Korea, offering more than 100 craft beers. The seven-story Seongsu branch has a cafe, dining, and cultural space alongside the beer tasting room. If you’re curious about the brewery’s beer-making process, you can sign up for a tour here.
📍10, Tojeong-ro 3 an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 28-12, Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu
6. Brewery 304
Brewery 304 is a small brewery in the city center that started in 2015 at 304 Asan-ro, and is now located in Seodaemun Yeongcheon Market. Their signature beer is Pluto Blonde Ale. Recently, the brewery launched the “Cat Saves the Universe” series, which features cat labels, and it’s very popular.
📍7, Tongil-ro 11-gil, Seodaemun-gu