[Interview] Yoon Jung-hoon Brewmaster "Two Focuses of K-Lager Hanmac"

Interview with OB Beer Brewmaster Yoon Jung-hoon

These days, I often find myself standing in front of the liquor aisle at the supermarket, wondering which beer to choose. With various factors such as emphasizing the country of beer production or highlighting unique aromas and smooth flavors, my hand and mind keep picking up and putting down beer cans. In times like this, it's best to pick a beer that pairs well with the side dish. Since I plan to enjoy it with spicy tteokbokki, I inevitably chose Hanmac. This combination was recommended by Brewmaster Yoon Jung-hoon, the first Korean appointed as an international beer competition judge, so there was no hesitation at all. Hanmac boasts an excellent pairing with Korean food above any other side dish. With news that it has been renewed to be even smoother, my curiosity grew, so I added Hanmac to my shopping cart and asked Brewmaster Yoon Jung-hoon some questions.

Yoon Jung-hoon, Executive Director of OB Beer’s ZITEC & Craft Brewing team and Brewmaster, is responsible for Hanmac, Goose Island, Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, as well as Hand & Malt, non-alcoholic beers, and Beyond Beer. Especially through the upgraded Hanmac, he introduced a drinking method using foam to maximize the beer’s flavor.

Q. You are also called the ‘First Mover’ in the craft beer world. What kind of work did you do before joining OB Beer?

After graduating from a beer school in the U.S., I worked continuously in the craft beer brewing industry in the U.S., China, and Korea before joining OB Beer. Thanks to holding the rare position of Brewmaster, even in the U.S., where the craft beer industry is the most developed worldwide, I have taken on many new challenges. I have been appointed as an international beer competition judge and participated in the world’s top three beer competitions, continuously engaging in various activities as a Korean beer expert from past to present.

Q. I heard you were the first Korean appointed as an international beer competition judge.

I started judging internationally at the World Beer Cup held in the U.S. in 2008, and now I judge at over ten international competitions. It is an honor to be the first Korean and to be active globally. Recently, I participated as the organizing chairman in the ‘Korea International Beer Competition 2023’ held at COEX in Seoul, marking Korea’s first international beer tasting event.

Q. Were there any particular aspects you focused on when judging?

The number of beer categories varies slightly among international beer competitions worldwide, but based on the most detailed classification, the WBC, there are 103 types. Since I have to judge almost all beer types alternately, I do not focus on specific beer categories but rather consider whether the beer reflects the characteristics of its country well.

Q. Recently, OB Beer’s Hanmac was upgraded and relaunched. What characteristics of Hanmac’s taste stand out?

As the advertising copy says, “Once with foam, once with smooth swallowing, Hanmac is twice as smooth,” we focused heavily on the smoothness that enhances drinkability. In the domestic beer market, many products are made considering strong carbonation rather than diversity. Hanmac especially starts with the rich smoothness of foam perceived visually and tactilely and aims to make the swallowing experience smooth as well. We improved foam retention to the highest level so that smoothness can be seen and tasted visually and on the palate, and when held in the mouth, the swallowing is upgraded to be smooth.

Q. I think the inclusion of domestic rice is Hanmac’s strength. How do you manage it?

We use 100% high-quality domestic rice from Sunchang, which has won awards at national brand rice competitions. With advice from rice experts, we developed strict management standards unique to Hanmac, controlling the appropriate rice storage temperature and milling ratio suitable for the product. At OB Beer’s Innovation Center in Icheon, famous for rice, we also developed the perfect rice content ratio that best realizes balanced flavor.

Q. I heard foam retention was also improved to the highest level. Why did you focus on foam?

Preferred beer styles and tastes vary by country. This means that when brewing beer, the consumer preferences and market characteristics of that country must be thoroughly researched and considered. OB Beer aimed to create a representative K-lager for Korea, which led to the birth of Hanmac. One of the main factors Korean consumers prefer is rich foam and smooth swallowing.

Q. I know many people don’t like foam.

Many people think that minimizing foam makes beer taste better, but that’s not true. Foam in beer not only provides visual satisfaction but also makes swallowing smoother. Especially, foam helps maintain carbonation inside the beer. Therefore, we deeply considered this aspect when manufacturing Hanmac. Through OB Beer’s 90 years of brewing technology and a four-step microfiltration process, we filtered out elements that interfere with smoothness, such as microorganisms, to achieve the best beer quality. Foam retention was also significantly increased to 20 seconds, the highest level currently, allowing consumers to enjoy smooth foam for a long time. The smooth carbonation makes swallowing smooth, letting you experience smoothness twice in total.

Q. Please tell us how to enjoy Hanmac more deliciously.

We created a special drinking method called the “Smooth Head Ritual” to enjoy Hanmac more deliciously. First, pour the beer with a drop height up to two-thirds of the dedicated glass, then stand the glass vertically and pour to the rim. During this process, the Hanmac emblem engraved at the bottom of the glass helps create richer foam. Wait 10 seconds until the foam becomes dense, then pour the remaining beer vertically with a drop height, causing the foam to rise beautifully.

Q. Are there any foods that pair well with Hanmac?

It pairs best with all Korean dishes. Especially good with raw fish, samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), and spicy tteokbokki. Hanmac goes very well with strongly flavored foods like tteokbokki or stir-fried dishes because it boasts smooth foam and smooth swallowing. Hanmac is a beer with a very harmonious balance of aroma and carbonation, so when consumed with strongly seasoned foods, it cleanses the palate and controls greasy flavors.

Q. Then, what is your usual favorite alcoholic beverage and side dish?

(Of course) beer. I like to pair beer with spicy and chewy golbaengi muchim (spicy sea snail salad) and fresh seasonal sashimi.

Q. If there are any unexpected side dishes that go well with beer, please recommend them too.

Recommended side dishes vary depending on the beer’s taste and aroma. India Pale Ale (IPA) pairs well with strong and spicy foods, such as stir-fried webfoot octopus or spicy chicken feet. Brown Ale, a type of British ale produced by top fermentation, is recommended to be paired with coffee buns, which have a nice coffee aroma. Also, Kriek, a Belgian cherry fruit beer with a dry fruit flavor and deep color based on grains and cherry aroma, pairs well with chocolate that balances its dryness. Among commonly available lagers, golden-colored lagers contain a lot of carbonation that controls greasy flavors, making them a good match with oily foods like pajeon (Korean green onion pancake).

Q. There are many types of alcoholic beverages such as soju and traditional liquors, but what do you think is the unbeatable charm of beer?

Beer has a lower alcohol content compared to soju or traditional liquors, making it easier to drink and more popular among the general public. Especially, there are about 103 officially classified types of beer. Therefore, when choosing beer, there are many options, and I think it’s fun to select and drink according to one’s own style.

Q. Lastly, if you have a message for the public enjoying OB Beer Hanmac, what would it be?

OB Beer Hanmac has been developed to be the representative K-lager of Korea that perfectly suits Korean tastes. We aimed to implement the best ingredients and quality befitting the status of K-lager. Considering Korean culture and sentiment, we upgraded it to be smoother so that people can savor and enjoy the beer’s flavor more deeply. Although life is busy, I hope you feel utmost relaxation when enjoying Hanmac.

Photo courtesy of OB Beer

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.