Moon & Lion Brewing

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...

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.