Taedonggang
Encyclopedia
Taedonggang is a brand of North
Korean beer
brewed by the state-owned Taedonggang Brewing Company based in Pyongyang
. Technically, it is actually 4 brands, though the brand known simply as "Taedonggang Beer" is that described below.
In 2000, the North Korean Government decided to acquire a brewery. At that point having good relationships with the West, via connections to Germany
the Government of North Korea bought the intact and still in place brewery plant of the closed Ushers of Trowbridge
, Wiltshire
, England for £1.5M via broker Uwe Oehms. Concerned it could be used for chemical weapons production, after assurances Peter Ward, of brewing company Thomas Hardy Brewing and Packaging bought the plant, and arranged for a team from North Korea to travel to Trowbridge
to dismantle it. Reinstalled and operational from 2002, the brewery uses German
-made computerized brewing control technology.
With an alcohol content of 5% and a taste significantly more bitter than most Asian beers, indeed resembling British ale, Taedonggang beer is targeted primarily at domestic consumers, but in 2005 limited export began to South Korea
, where it is imported by Vintage Korea, a company based in Dogok, Gangnam
, Seoul
. In mid-2007, however, availability of Taedonggang beer in South Korea
began to lessen and it is widely believed now that it is no longer being imported into the country, after the brewery increased the price 70% without warning.
Taedonggang beer is named after the Taedong River
, which runs through the center of Pyongyang
.
On July 3, 2009, a commercial for the product was broadcast on state-run Korean Central Television
in a rare move, as there are very few advertisements on North Korean television. It has been broadcast three times in all.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
Korean beer
Korean beer
Beer was introduced to Korea by Europeans in early-20th century. Both of current major breweries date from 1920s. The third participant, Jinro Coors Brewery, was founded in 1990's, but was acquired by OB later....
brewed by the state-owned Taedonggang Brewing Company based in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. Technically, it is actually 4 brands, though the brand known simply as "Taedonggang Beer" is that described below.
In 2000, the North Korean Government decided to acquire a brewery. At that point having good relationships with the West, via connections to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
the Government of North Korea bought the intact and still in place brewery plant of the closed Ushers of Trowbridge
Ushers of Trowbridge
Ushers of Trowbridge was a brewery located in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.In 1824, Thomas Usher and his wife Hannah acquired a small brewery in Back Street, Trowbridge, renaming it Usher's Wiltshire Brewery. In 1844, the couples three sons joined the partnership, allowing the parents to retire in 1869...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England for £1.5M via broker Uwe Oehms. Concerned it could be used for chemical weapons production, after assurances Peter Ward, of brewing company Thomas Hardy Brewing and Packaging bought the plant, and arranged for a team from North Korea to travel to Trowbridge
Trowbridge
Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset....
to dismantle it. Reinstalled and operational from 2002, the brewery uses German
German beer
Beer is a major part of German culture. For many years German beer was brewed in adherence to the Reinheitsgebot order or law which only permitted water, hops and malt as beer ingredients until its repeal in 1988. The order also required that beers not exclusively using barley-malts such as wheat...
-made computerized brewing control technology.
With an alcohol content of 5% and a taste significantly more bitter than most Asian beers, indeed resembling British ale, Taedonggang beer is targeted primarily at domestic consumers, but in 2005 limited export began to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, where it is imported by Vintage Korea, a company based in Dogok, Gangnam
Gangnam-gu
Gangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the most affluent areas of Seoul and is located in the southeast of the city...
, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. In mid-2007, however, availability of Taedonggang beer in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
began to lessen and it is widely believed now that it is no longer being imported into the country, after the brewery increased the price 70% without warning.
Taedonggang beer is named after the Taedong River
Taedong River
The Taedong River is a large river in North Korea. It rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north. It then flows southwest into Korea Bay at Namp'o. In between, it runs through the country's capital, Pyongyang. Along the river are landmarks such as the Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung...
, which runs through the center of Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
.
On July 3, 2009, a commercial for the product was broadcast on state-run Korean Central Television
Korean Central Television
Korean Central Television is a state news broadcaster in North Korea, located in the capital city, Pyongyang. KCTV is the only official source of television news for North Koreans. The reach of the programming is limited, as there are only around 1.2 million television sets in the country of over...
in a rare move, as there are very few advertisements on North Korean television. It has been broadcast three times in all.