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Craft beer festival to be held at COEX

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  • Published Apr 14, 2015 8:56 pm KST
  • Updated Apr 14, 2015 8:56 pm KST

Visitors mingle with each other at the Great Beer Festival at the Museum Cafe, the War Memorial of Korea, in October 2014. / Courtesy of Media Paran

By John Redmond

A craft beer festival will be held at the COEX SMTOWN Plaza, formerly the Piano Fountain Square, and G20 Plaza from April 30-May 3.

Organized by Media Paran and taking place during the Convergence Festival (C-Festival), the Great Beer Festival will feature a selection of some 100 beers, along with food pairings and activities, including stencil tattoos and darts games, along with non-alcoholic drink options.

“The festival is sure to be an entertaining time for couples, friends, and families,” the organizer said in a press release.

What was once seen as a foreign market item, craft beer is becoming a feature of many local establishments.

“The biggest appeal of craft beer, beer fans agree, is that it lets them find the flavor that suits their mood, their taste and their personality. Since every kind of craft beer is made in a unique way ― combining basic ingredients (water, barley, hops, and enzymes) at a different ratio and adding in various spices ― the flavor of the beer depends on who’s making it,” said the organizers in an email interview.

The C-Festival is composed of five core programs including “Asia Mania,” “Creative U,” the “Culture-Tech Fair,” the “Grand Sourcing Fair” and a concert, and is organized by the World Trade Center Seoul MICE Cluster Committee.

The C-Festival is held over several major holidays in Asia, including the Japanese Golden Week and the Chinese Workers’ Week during the Russia-Korea Mutual Visit Year.

Participating companies at the beer festival will include Craftworks Brewing, Platinum, the Hand and Malt, Ka-brew, Czech Beer International, Muse International, Big Rock Brewery, Global Craft, Doa International, Chet International, Gimpo-Paju Ginseng Agro Cooperative Association and Jejusien.

Food companies represented will be Jinju Ham, Suji’s, France Gourmet and Auntie Anne’s.

The beer festival will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with 11 beer and four food companies participating.

The COEX is located at exits 5 and 6 of Samseong Station on Subway Line 2.

For more information visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/greatkoreanbeerfestival.