Publically Well-Known 23 Makgueli (Rice Wine) in Korea. Which One Were Awarded as Best Position In Terms of Color, Transparency, Flavor, Taste and Overall Remarks.

It is a recent drink trend and style that people become more and more enjoy drink alone or family at home in like with long and somewhat tired situation Corona Pandemic last longer than expected. Some people rather make a plan to spend Year End Party at home taking into account present situation. We could consider Makgueli as possible Year End Family Party. Event Organizer arranged to Makgueli Competition which we could easily and widely buy with KRW 1,000 ~ 10,000 at publically and widely well-known supermarket. Six experts and appraisers were officially invited for fair evaluation and assessment. Followings are evaluation point (total point 100, basic point 50) and distributed marks under blind test.

l  Color and Transparency : Point 5

l  Flavor : Point 10

l  Taste at Drink : Point 10

l  Residual Taste after Drink and Sallow : Point 10

l  Overall Evaluation : Point 15

Neulin Maul Makgueli by Baesang Myeon has been eventually awarded as top Makgueli with 90.3 point. Haechang 12 by Haechang was recorded with 89.8 point as second position and Boksundoga Makgueli by Boksundoga follow as third position with 87.8 point. Please refer more details to attached Competition Result.

 

A.    Top 10 Makgueli

Meanwhile We separately summarized top 10 Makgueli with some additional explanation as below.

Top 1 : Neulinmaeul Makgueli

Fresh fruit flavor is felt like pear, mangos teen, apple yogurt, less raped peach and wheat flour. Milky white color might be originated and affected from malt which is in relation to tender taste. We could feel purified clean taste and joyful fresh sweet balance. It is brewery principal no sweetener to brewery process.

Top 2 : Haechang Magueli 12

Fresh and well raped fruit flavor is felt like banana, pie apple, melon, apple along with grain flavor. It is very sticky, high viscosity and heavy feeling looks like some debris inside Makgueli when you drink. But we could not recognize higher alcohol content as 12%, normally Makgueli 5%. We instead feel very well raped sticky rice wine, no sweetener with pure gain rewiring process.

Top 3 : Boksundoga           

Multiple flavor like fruit, yogurt, grain and malt are felt along with somewhat funky smell. Dense and heavy sweet taste are influenced together with clear acidity taste in addition to premium Makgueli so that you could feel like sparking Makgueli.  

Top 4 : Ihwabaekju

There are dark milky color, fresh flavor like cool pear, tightening feel with acidity and salty taste like sting. We feel very heavy taste under 6% alcohols. They start to do brewing originally no sweetener but recently used sweetener. Therefore its taste is changed to not premium but normal Makgueli.

Top 5 : Hwaseong Seang Makgueli

 There is a beautiful milky color, multiple flavors at this Makgueli like Ambasa, Milkis and Melona which are well harmonized together. This Makgueli is sweet taste but not too high, enjoyable and joyful. It is a good advantage this Makgueli is less residual taste after drink feeling like easy and/or good carbonated drink.

Top 6 : Seoul Seang Makgueli

Puffed grain and/or old rice flavor are in inclusive of this Makgueli which would be in relation with Bulking wheat. But taste is rather good than this flavor which we could feel like velvet rolling in mouth when you drink. We may feel somewhat stronger sweet taste than other normal Makgueli but not too high and good balance with other taste in this Makgueli. We may recommend this as a desert drink.

Top 6 : Wooguk Seang Makgueli            

We could feel heavy provably due to Godubab (dried and sticky rice) and old rice. There are rice’s sweet and bitter taste, somewhat tasty feel and carbonated drink feel which appropriately control and hamony all together and keep optimum balance, no specific and dominant taste.       

Top 8 : Yeongtak Makgueli

There is not rice flavor attributable from rice fermentation but light grain flavor. It is an interesting and remarkable feel that we could feel like “this is a Makgueli” as one shot word. This Makgueli is producing in Yeosan where we mostly remember as a good source of excellent drinking water nationwide. This Makgueli drink feel would be provably caused from a good water.

Top 9 : Golmok Makgueli

There are light creamy color, banana flavor, grain’s sweet taste which properly create carbonated and heavy texture feel, easy and conformable drink style.

Top 10 : Dameun Makgueli

 There is obviously bright milky white color which Makgueli lovers put nick name as Cloud Makgueli. We could feel well raped banana flavor and good and tender texture like milk and velvet rolling in mouth when you drink.            

 

B.    Expert and Evalutors

There are six expert participating evaluation and appraisal who briefly left remarks as follow.

1)   J. H. Kim, Chief Director at Strategic Planning of Korea Food Research Institute : We evaluate Makgueli under blind test method in order to eliminate prior impression coming from bigger group brewery and found most their brand turned as top group. But some are felt as some poorer quality like taste. We could not confirm the reason coming from poor quality control at the factor or logistic process. This point should carefully checked and take necessary measure if necessary.

2)  D. H. Lee, Doctor of Science at Kyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Service : We could not find right flavor of each additives like pine nut or chestnut in relevant Makgueli which may come from the brewery process at the factory or logistic process. We should under line this point and feed back to relevant Makgueli Brewery.

3)  J. H. Jeong, Honorary Ambassador of Traditional Wine “Somoliae”

There are obvious difference between premium band and normal in terms of evaluation point. But I personally prefer to less sweet Makgueli and rather Seang Makgueli (live bacteria).    

4)  J. M. Lee, CEO of Daedong Yeojudo

Most high ranked Makgueli are premium Makgueli which are mostly around price KRW 10,000- which means lower price Makgueli around KRW 1,000- were ranked lower position. But it is a good under line and learning points for premium Makgueli Brewery that Neulin Maul Makgueli was positioned as top among 23 Makgueli which was KRW 2,000- per bottle and not premium price.

5)  H. J. Lee, Management of Traditional Gallery

I believe taste and feel for Makgueli wine is entirely depend on drinker’s mind and no correct answer to question about Makgueli quality assessment. We remarked 23 different brands Makgueli as in ranking order. But this ranking is not so much important for individual assessment, rather depend on individual characters. .

  

Updated : Hangang River Walking East Course 4, South From Apgujeongrodeo Station to Cheonho Station in Seoul

 1.   Preface

Hangang River is one of Major River in Korea which is starting flowing down from the Taebeak City in Gangwon Province, North East to the Ganghwa Island in West Sea and which is almost dividing half of country from North to South. Total flowing distance is estimating as 494km. There are total numbers of bridges built around Seoul and it’s metropolitan in the Hangang River as 32 pieces. But I will arrange to walk Hangang River from Gangseogu district to Hanam City in Kyeonggi Province which is estimated as total distance, 86 km and 26 walking hours and passing 22 bridges out of these total 32 bridges. Each course is arranging with about 13 km and 4 hours walking time and starting from near subway station and finishing at designated subway station. Please see more to Attached Walking Course Table and map below for bridges on the Hangang River.

2.   Course Guide Information

The Hangang River Walking Course 4 is arranged from Apgujeongrodeo Station in Shinbudangseon Subway Line to Cheonho Station in Seoul Metro Line 5 or 8 as about 14 km walking distance for about 5 hours, South including one hour break. We will pass 6 bridges at the Hangang River during the course as shown at the summary map of the Course 4 as attached below and also to linked to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf1UAvzsLoo.

2-1) Exit Gate 1 and Start at Apgujeongrodeo Station as see at Photo 1.

2-2) Walk toward next three-way Junction as see at Photo 2.

2-3) Walk Through Under-Pass Tunnel to Apgujeong Nadeulmok Junction as  see at Photo 3 and 4.

2-4) Turn Right at the Apgujeong Nadeulmok Junction and Move toward Jamshil Daekyo Bridge in Hangang River as see at Photo 6.

2-5) Head Shinsa Nadeulmok Junction at Right as see at Photo 7.

2-6) Walk under Cheongdam Daekyo Bridge as see at the Photo 8.

2-7) Pass the Shinsa Nadeulmok Junction and continue to move forward to Cheongdam Daekyo Bridge as see at Photo 7 and 8.

2-8) Pass the Cheongdam Street Parking at right as see at Photo 9.

2-9) Walk alongside Tancheon Creek Junction as see at the Photo 10.

2-10) Cross the Tancheon Creek Bridge as see at Photo 11.

2-11) Turn left at the Tancheon Creek Bridge and head toward Hangang River as see at Photo 12.

2-12) Move forward Jamshil Daekyo Bridge and Lotte World Tower in front as see at the Photo 14.

2-13) Walk narrow exclusive walking path at left as see at Photo 15.

2-14) Pass the Dongbang Myeongju, Chinese restaurant floating at Hangang River as see at the Photo 17.

2-15) Pass the Shincheon Nadeulmok Junction at right as see at the Photo 18.

2-16) Pass the Jamshil Ferry Dock at left floating at Hangang River as see at Photo 19. .

2-17) Pass the Jamshil Saenae Nadeulmok Junction and Clock Tower, well-known as good meeting point as see at the Photo 20.

2-18) Pass Jamshil Daekyo Bridge and its Eodo, fish-way and by pass Jamshil Daekyo Dike as see at the Photo 21.

2-19) Walk the deck road down to the Jamshil Eodo, fish-way path as see at the Photo 22.

2-20) Pass the Lotte World Tower at right, 555m high and 125 story building and highest in Korea so far, No. 5 worldwide as see at the Photo 23.

2-21) Pass the Jamshil Eodo, exclusive for fish-way and by-pass Jamshil Daekyo Dike as see at the Photo 24.

2-22) Pass the Jamshil Nadeulmok Tunnel Junction at right as see at the Photo 25.

2-23) Walk the nice and neat Exclusive Walking Road as see at the Photo 26.

2-24) Pass the Seongnaecheon Creek Bridge which is under Jamshil Railway Bridge as see at the Photo 27.

2-25) Take Songpa Dulraegil Trekking Course as see at the Photo 28.

2-26) Follow Arrow Mark at Songpa Dulraegil Sign as see at the Photo 29.

2-27) Continue to walk Hangang Walking Road guided with nice poplar trees at left as see at the Photo 31.

2-28) Pass the Olympic Daekyo Bridge and keep walking toward Cheonho Daekyo Bridge as see at the Phot 32.

2-29) Pass the Poongnap Toseong Nadeulmok Tunnel Junction as see at the Photo 33.

2-30) Pass the beautiful weeping willow trees on way to Cheonho Daekyo Bridge as see at the Photo 34.

2-31) Turn right at Cheonho Daekyo Bridge Junction as see the Photo 35 and 36.

2-32) Step up to Cheonho Daekyo Bridge through connecting stairs from ground to the bridge as see at the Phot 37 and 38.

2-33) Turn left at stair junction to the bridge and move forward Cheonho Station in Seoul Metro Line 5 or 8 as see at the Photo 39, 40 and 42.

2-34) Nice View of 88 Olympic Expressway from Cheonho Daekyo Bridge as see at the Photo 41.

2-35) Enter into Gate 1 at Cheonho Station in Seoul Metro Line 5 or 8 as see at the Photo 43 and 44. 

3.   Historic and Background Information

There are several places or spot where some cultural and historic background which you may feel interest in or useful for your better understanding. Please refer followings for brief explanation.

3-1) Yeongdong Daekyo Bridge and Yeongdong Meaning 

This bridge was built with 6 lane and 1,065m long connecting Seongsu Dong in north Hangang River to Cheogdam Dong in south Hangang River and officially opened in 1973 as 7^th opening Hangang River Bridge which was a role of Gangnam District Development. Yeongdong means long bridge in East of Hangang River.

3-2) Cheongdam Daekyo Bridge and Cheongdam Meaning

This bridge was in 1993 built with 6 lanes width and 1,211 m long which was designed double deck bridge, main deck for car transportation and under deck for Seoul Metro Subway Line 7 and opened main deck bridge in 1999 and under deck bridge in 2001 respectively. Cheongdam means Clean Conversation, socially and politically unpolluted.

3-3) Jamshil Daekyo Bridge and Jamshil Meaning  

This bridge was built and firstly opened in 1970 with 6 lane width and 1,280m long which was secondly opened in 1972 as 6^th opening Hangang River Bridges. Special design was reflected to dike and Eodo (fish-way) under the bridge. This bridge was expanded to 8 lanes in 1997 and officially opened in 2003 and uniquely connecting to Seokcheon Lake and Lotte World Tower at south Hangang River.