Moon & Lion Brewing

Brew Preview showcases what is currently in the works at Moon & Lion.  We are currently working on a Hibiscus Makgeolli , which adds hibiscus petals to the primary fermentation. This brew is inspired by Jeff Rubidge's Hibiscus Makgeolli . I was able to try Jeff's brew at a recent makgeolli meetup and it was fantastic. This is our take on it. The goal to infuse a bit of hibiscus flavor and aroma, and to impart some of the lovely purple hibiscus color in our makgeolli. A few notes on this makgeolli: This is a nuruk only makgeolli, which means no additional brewing yeast was used  during the process. A starter (석임) was used to activate the yeast within the nuruk. The starter typically takes 1-2 days to activate to full potency. The hibiscus used is actually a hibiscus tea, which is dried and not fresh. Using fresh hibiscus will likely require a much greater volume of hibiscus. I'm trying a new brand of rice for this brew and future brews: T amanishiki Su...

Currently brewing is a comparison between two brands of nuruk: a "market" nuruk purchased stateside and an artisan nuruk produced in Busan. Initial notes on the nuruk itself: To review, nuruk is the fermentation starter used for makgeolli and other kinds of traditional Korean beverages. It consists of fermented grains or rice and is home to a diverse set of micro-organisms. The "market" nuruk was purchased at H-Mart in the US under the brand Haeoreum. It has a pungent earthy aroma that is somewhat tangy on the nose. I would definitely describe the smell as moldy, but not foul or rank. It does not smell like decomposition. You may even describe the smell as reminiscent of a cellar or attic, but remember: no two smell alike. It definitely has an older scent than the Busan nuruk. The Busan nuruk was acquired from a friend, and I don't think it is available to purchase in the US. The aroma is a combination of earthy and woody, but neutral. There is n...

Claire from YVR has brought to my attention an interesting product from across the northern border. Hwajoodang's Makgeolli Pack ! Claire had posted previously about her makgeolli experience on her blog here . Judging from her post, she had the opportunity to try some unique, high-quality makgeolli. At the end of her post she resolves to make her own batch of home brewed makgeolli, which led her to the package pictured above, and below.  I won't steal her thunder by posting pictures of her brew in the works. Please check out her blog and watch for her makgeolli post in the near future.  On to the pack... The makgeolli pack is a prepackaged kit of all the ingredients needed to make makgeolli. The website doesn't have too much info on the product, such as ingredients or how much of each ingredient is in the pouch, but they do publish a how-to here . Thanks to Claire's contribution, we also have the above picture of the directions from the back of the pac...

 My in-laws were visiting from Korea this month, and I decided to make some fresh makgeolli for them to enjoy. I also wanted to test my makgeolli on the taste buds of Koreans who are more familiar with the run-of-the mill makgeolli. Unfortunately, I was away on business most of the week, so I only have a few pictures this time. My lovely helper was at home keeping an eye on the brew while I was gone. This brew was made with the same ratio as my last post, but with different yeast. The plan was to pick up wine yeast after work, but the brew store is closed on Mondays, a fact that I didn't learn until I walked up to their door. I was in a hurry to brew and pack my things for the business trip, so I had to settle for baker's yeast, which was the only thing available at home. I also used a different nuruk this time. I used about all of the Choripdongi 초립동이 nuruk, so it was time to open the Haeoreum 해오름 and try it out. The first thing I noticed was the ...

Here are pictures of the nuruk I mentioned in the previous post. One brand is Choripdongi 초립동이 and the other is Haeoreum 해오름. Both brands sell a one pound bag, and I recently confirmed that they are sold at both Philadelphia area H-Marts! What I find interesting is the different nutrition facts for the different brands of nuruk. Check it out for yourself below.

It's been a while since I've updated, so let's get back to business with some updates and goals. Updates I haven't been brewing makgeolli yet, but I plan to in the near future. It took some time to get settled back in the USA with my wife, and it is her first time living here as a permanent resident. It's much different than going somewhere for a set amount of time like 1-2 years, so we're taking the time to do things right and not haphazardly. Back to the topic at hand... makgeolli! On my recent trip to H-Mart I found nuruk again. However, this time there were two brands of nuruk. This is a major win for the makgeolli maker(s) in The City of Philadelphia! I'll update with pictures shortly. The H-Mart location I'm talking about is... 7320 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027 More locations can be found at hmart.com , but I know that different locations stock different items. Therefore, just because there is an H-Mart in your area...