Brewers to present unique red IPA beers
Jason Lindley, center, is one of the founders of Magpie. He moved back to America last fall. / Photo by Jon Dunbar
By John Redmond
Five independent Korean breweries will be pouring their unique red IPA beers at a special event at Magpie Brewshop in Gyeongnidan on Sunday.
Titled “Red IPA Smackdown” and featuring the brewers Magpie, The Hand and Malt, Gorilla and a team-up between The Table and Playground, the event will see teams pour their brews from the same specialty Red X malt to create four totally different beers.
The brewers themselves will be behind the bar pouring beers and answering questions.
Magpie will offer its Red Magick Red Rye IPA. Gorilla has its Red IPA. The Hand and Malt will provide a Red IPA. The Table and Playground will offer a Red Double IPA.
The tasting will begin with Magpie at 3 p.m. and finish with Gorilla at 6 p.m.
For the growing number of people interested in beer as a career there will be a special talk on “How to Become a Brewer” at 7:30 p.m.
Magpie Brewing Company was started in Seoul in fall 2011 by four friends.
The group opened with just one beer on tap (one of the first pale ales made in Korea) and helped spark the explosion of the craft beer scene.
“We began with a love for craft beer and culture and a belief that if we wanted something and it didn't exist, we could build it,” the Facebook page stated.
Magpie offers four core and five seasonal beers featuring Magpie Porter, Thunder and Winter Warmer.
In 2016, the company opened its own brewery on Jeju Island in an empty tangerine-processing plant.
Founded in July 2015, Busan-based Gorilla Brewing Company boasts nine signature brews ranging from Gorilla Stout to White IPA and Gorilla Blonde.
The British and Korean staff is dedicated to providing a consistent quality product.
“We aim to aid in the growth of this market by helping to educate the public about the wonderful world of craft beer,” stated their website.
The Hand and Malt Brewing Company, based in Namyangju, was founded by Bryan Do and features four beers and one seasonal brew.
Located in Ilsan, Playground Brewery was founded in January 2016 and brews six beers.
Relative newcomer, The Table Brewing Company is based in downtown Seoul.
The event is sponsored by Brew Source International.
Visit the “Red IPA SmackDown” Facebook event page for more information.