[Jeju / Aewol] Hamahama Brewery – A famous craft makgeolli brewery near Gwakji Beach

When I start a trip, the first thing I look for is the local brewery and local liquor.
While planning this trip to the northwest of Jeju, including Aewol, Hallim, and Hankyeong
I ended up booking accommodation near Gwakji Beach.
Just then, there was a makgeolli brewery near the accommodation.

‘'Hamahama Brewery'—they say Hamahama means 'almost' in the Jeju dialect.

“Free Premium Makgeolli Tasting.”
There is no reason not to go in.

A large English sign reading 'hamahama YangJoJang' is prominently displayed on the exterior wall of the building.
On one side, the Korean words 'Makgeolli Brewery' were written side by side.
The cement exterior wall, the basalt stone wall, and even the cars parked in front of it.
The scenery blends in in a way that is distinctly Jeju, so it catches the eye even from a distance.
It is a place where you can feel from the exterior that they make and sell things themselves.

On the windowpane Makgeolli brewing The process is depicted with hand-drawn illustrations.
Washing, steaming, and fermentation,
The aging and bottling process
It flows freely like a doodle.

The interior is small and tightly organized.
The wall finished with wooden panels is neat.
Perhaps because it is a new brewery, it is quite sophisticated.

On the stainless steel shelf were glass bottles containing rice, yeast, and glutinous rice
It is placed there with the label carefully attached.
Much like an exhibition explaining the brewing process, the raw materials themselves are being utilized as props in the space.

In the bottom compartment, grain sample containers arranged by fermentation time were lined up.
0 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 50 minutes— the color varies slightly depending on the degree of roasting.
The buckwheat used in the makgeolli produced at Hamahama Brewery was packaged according to the degree of roasting.
Roasting techniques commonly used in beer
It was interesting to see what I saw at the makgeolli brewery.

Looking at the techniques and records, it gave off a strong vibe of a beer brewer.
When I asked, the brewer told me that he had previously worked as a brewer for Jeju Beer.
No wonder it felt familiar

I liked the way the ingredients were displayed so that they could be seen directly.
That the alcohol called Makgeolli starts from these three ingredients
You will naturally understand it without any explanation.

The showcase was filled with only one product.
‘Hamahama Nutty.
Pale cream-colored makgeolli is contained in a clear plastic bottle, and,

The label even includes alcohol content, manufacturing date, weather, location, and fermentation temperature.
It is densely packed with information filled by hand, just like a notebook.
A label with a style full of engineering vibes.

I really like these laboratory-style record labels, like those from Le Labo.
Such detailed records are essential for producing consistent, high-quality liquor.

As I read the brochure, the description of this makgeolli was written in a calm manner.
It is makgeolli made solely from the natural sweetness of rice, without any additives.
I reduced the amount of water to make the texture heavier, and,
It is said that Jeju buckwheat was roasted to produce a nutty and subtle chocolate aroma.
“The last sentence, ”Enjoy the smooth and deep nuttiness,” stuck in my memory.

I had already finished the tasting before reading this brochure.
The words I gave to the brewer at that time
It was that the chocolate flavor from the roasted buckwheat came out subtle and smooth.
It was a liquor that really reflected the brewer's intentions.

‘I also learned the name 'Hamahama' from this brochure.
It is said to be a Jeju dialect word meaning 'hamateomeon,' which means 'nearly' or 'narrowly.'.
Traditions that nearly disappeared, new endeavors that might have been overlooked—
It meant that he would keep those moments in alcohol.
It seemed like a single name explained the entire space.

I was satisfied, so I bought 3 bottles.
One bottle costs 11,000 won, and three or more bottles cost 10,000 won per bottle.
I also took a picture at Gwakji Beach…

At first, the smooth sweetness of rice makgeolli comes through, and
The nutty roasting touch felt in the aftertaste is impressive.
It also has a rich body like drinking high-fat milk.
It fit the concept of this makgeolli perfectly.
I was glad to find a drink of impressive quality.

It's a shame there's only one lineup so far.

If you are a drinker who happens to stop by the Aewol area,
I highly recommend that you visit.