Jeju Yaksuteo: Great Craft Beer in Seogwipo
My former team leader from my old company came down to Seogwipo with his wife and asked to meet up. I was wondering where we should go, but thankfully he picked the spot, saying we absolutely had to visit "Jeju Yaksuteo." I looked it up and found out it's a famous brewery in Jeju. Maybe it's because the water from Hallasan (Mount Halla) is so good, but Jeju seems especially famous for its beer. I don't think there's anywhere else in the country as serious about craft beer as this place. Perhaps Jeju's traditional liquor is a bit less competitive compared to other regions, but beer made with their excellent local water is dominating the market. Among them, Jeju Yaksuteo is a famous spot you'll hear about everywhere.
Thankfully, there was exactly one table left, so we sat down as soon as we arrived. It's usually a place where you have to wait in line, so we got really lucky. As soon as we sat down, we ordered the BBQ with the very literal name "Pulled Meat and Bread" and went to order our drinks. Unusually, you have to go straight up to the bar to order your beer. You can even sample them first, just like in a department store food hall.
We each chose Namjjok Nara (Southern Country), Olle-gil, and Tamna Wheat Beer. We started out wanting to try every single beer they had, but the ABV was higher than expected, so we couldn't drink that much. It would be great if they had a sampler menu to try everything, but since they don't, we deliberated, looked up some blogs, and made our picks.
Personally, I liked Olle-gil, which goes down light and smooth like water. Since I'm a lager fan, the light and highly drinkable taste of Olle-gil really appealed to me. They have such a diverse lineup that it's hard to try them all, so it might be fun to challenge yourself to find the perfect beer for your taste.
The BBQ is similar to Linus BBQ or Manimal Smokehouse in Itaewon. The meat portion is a bit lacking compared to Itaewon, but it was plenty to enjoy with our beer. It was a little small for three people to share, so we ordered french fries, and of course, we ended up with leftovers. If you're like me and believe it's better to over-order than not have enough, I recommend ordering two dishes.
I know you can generally try these beers in Seoul too, and the taste is something you might have had somewhere in Gangnam. You can't see the Jeju ocean or Hallasan from here, but if you're a beer lover, Jeju Yaksuteo has its own unique charm that would be a shame to miss when visiting Jeju.
"They only sell this here?" For that reason alone, it's a must-visit for beer enthusiasts.