OB launches improved Hanmac lager beer
Models pose with OB's new Hanmac beer at its launch event at LW Convention in Seoul, on March 27. Courtesy of OB
By Kim Jae-heun
Oriental Beer (OB) introduced an improved version of Hanmac, its latest lager beer, at LW Convention in Seoul last week, the company said Thursday.
The country's leading brewery invited brewmaster John Yoon to demonstrate the “smooth head ritual” at the event. The ritual consists of three steps. The beer has to be poured to the two-thirds mark of the glass while tilted. Then the remainder is poured as the glass stands straight. After 10 seconds, the foam becomes sticky and the remaining residue is added on top.
The Korean lager beer Hanmac, which was introduced in 2021, is brewed with rice. It was developed by OB to commemorate a century of Korean beer.
This year, OB has made major upgrades to its Hanmac recipe to give it an extra smooth taste. The package design has also been improved.
First, the product packaging emphasizes the upgraded smoothness of Hanmac's beer foam. The white band at the top of the labels on its bottles and cans expresses the beer's smooth and rich foam. There is also an emblem at the center of the label which symbolizes a window conceived from the traditional pattern known as “Gihamun.”
The company also improved Hanmac's foam consistency for easier ingestion. It filtered out elements that interfere with easy gulping through a four-step microfiltration process. In addition, the brew is made with 100 percent domestic high-quality rice to give it a rich flavor that suits the Korean palate.
“We have improved every aspect of Hanmac from its taste to package design. We hope to lead the lager beer trend in Korea this year with the new Hanmac,” an OB official said.