Let’s go visit one of the most beautiful parts of South Korea and drink some beer! If you love this 3 brewery travel itinerary for Gangwondo, be sure to join Osan Craft Beer Club on Facebook.
About Gangwondo
Gangwon Province (강원도) occupies the most northeastern portion of South Korea. Known for both coastal and mountainous areas, they recently hosted the 2017 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. For this 3 brewery travel itinerary for Gangwondo trip, we were discovering some staples of the Korean craft beer industry, the White Crow Brewing Company near Dunnae-myun, along with Gangneung Brewery and Budnamu Brewery, both in Gangneung-si.
Transportation to the Mountains of Dunnae
Transportation to Dunnae is not simple. If you have a vehicle and can drive this far, that would be the preferred method, but since we had a large group, had multiple destinations, and wanted to drink plenty of beer, we chose to use public transit.
Our trip to White Crow began as many begin when searching for quality beer in Korea… take the subway North. We transferred to the KTX at Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul and the journey continued east. Aboard a pristine new train, introduced in 2017 just before the Winter Olympics, our 1.5-hour ride was smooth and quiet to Dunnae Station, a lovely little mountain town in the Pyeongchang region of Gangwon-do.
White Crow Brewing Company Visit
As you approach White Crow, it is easy to imagine why the brewery was established here. The majestic almost fantasy-like quality about this place cannot be adequately captured with pictures. The mountain farmhouse style brewery and taproom make excellent use of indoor and outdoor space, with options for all seasons – thankfully the picnic tables in the yard were ready and waiting for us, and so were the views. The founders, Les and his wife Sujin, welcomed us to what feels like their home and were so kind, interacting with their patrons like old friends. Families with kids and dogs enjoying the cool mountain air and beers with dinner was a lovely peaceful sight to see.
A split menu of four seasonal beers and their flagship four brews offers an excellent variety to showcase their craft and to highlight ingredients grown in the region (sampler flights are available for both!). The water comes from a well drilled on-site, providing a crisp, clean slate to build on for both their brewing and the fantastic cooking that comes out of the Brewery’s kitchen.
Poutine, pizza, and fish and chips are the big three to name amongst others, that were each prepared in the finest form many of us have had in a long time, or ever in Korea. Spending hours at this place is too easy, some might say…White Crow has been open since 2019 and has grown in popularity and notoriety quite fast, but is clearly just getting started. They often host events and recently concluded a food-collaboration partnership series which I’m sure we will see more events like it soon.
White Crow Brewing
033-333-1201
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
강원 평창군 방림면 고원로 65
A split menu of four seasonal beers and their flagship four brews offers an excellent variety to showcase their craft and to highlight ingredients grown in the region (sampler flights are available for both!). The water comes from a well drilled on site, providing a crisp, clean slate to build on for both their brewing and the fantastic cooking that comes out of the Brewerys kitchen. Poutine, pizza, and fish and chips are the big 3 to name amongst others, that were each prepared in the finest form many of us have had in a long time, or ever in Korea. Spending hours at this place is too easy, some might say... White Crow has been open since 2019 and has grown in popularity and notoriety quite fast, but is clearly just getting started. They often host events and recently concluded a food-collaboration partnership series which Im sure we will see more events like it soon. If you can only spend a day in this region, make it a long one, but we highly recommend you stay in a hotel or pension nearby - Welli Hilli, Dunnae, and some Camping/Pensions offer you a variety of options to spend the night. The closer to White Crow, the better!
How to get to White Crow Brewing
Dunnae station has a taxi stop but did not have any cabs, so we used Kakao T to find a ride. A 10-15 min cab ride up and around the Welli Hilli Ski Resort/Sulibong Peak brings you down to White Crow Brewing Company (right next to Pyeongchang Botanic Garden).
How to Get to Your Hotel After White Crow Brewing
For the ride home, we had to call the taxi company 60 minutes prior to our desired pick-up time. With the secluded location, the company needed time to move cabs throughout the county. From this location, we do not recommend Kakao-T. We used the local company with the phone number 010-9159-5000. If you are uncomfortable calling the taxi, the White Crow staff will gladly assist.
Overnight Stays near White Crow Brewing
If you can only spend a day in this region, make it a long one. We highly recommend you stay in a hotel or pension nearby – Welli Hilli, Dunnae, and some glamping/pensions offer you a variety of options to spend the night. The closer to White Crow, the better!
Activities near White Crow Brewing
Welli Hilli is a nearby ski resort that also offers summer activities including luge riding, hiking, and virtual curling. It also has a full hotel and a small water park. The Pyeongchang Botanic Garden is adjacent to White Crow. It has a small entry fee (5,000 won) which allows you to roam the grounds and take photos. It also has an artsy café on site. You can find these activities (and more) in the South of Seoul app.
About Gangnueng City in Gangwondo
Gangneung City is located on the east coast of South Korea in the northern province of Gangwon-do. Known for its beaches, sunrises, and the 2018 Winter Olympics, it has the feel of a small city since it has only 213,000 residents.
Transportation to Gangneung
Gangneung is quite a distance from Seoul or Pyeongtaek, there are several options to find your way to the east coast. We took the subway to Cheongryangri Station in Seoul and then jumped on the KTX to Gangneung, and reversed this route for the trip home.
Another option is the bus. Buses run from East Seoul Bus Terminal (20,200 won) every 30 minutes or so. From Suwon Bus Terminal, buses run every hour (20,600 won). From Songtan Bus Terminal, there are three morning buses (21,800 won), while Pyeongtaek Station also sends three buses in the morning (24,100). Return buses are similarly timed and priced.
Once we got to Gangneung, we took many taxi rides, either hailing on the street, at a taxi stand, or via Kakao T. We never waited more than 10 minutes and never rode for more than 15 minutes. Gangneung is small and most destinations can be reached in 15-20 minutes for less than 10,000 won.
Gangneung Brewing Company Visit
Gangneung Brewery has only been in business since 2017. Their operation in Gangneung-si is small, modern, and clean. The staff seemed to struggle with our order, either because we had a large group or because we spoke English. The menu had some tasty selections, and the beer was better than average.
Gangneung Brewing
0507-1329-1357
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Budnamu Brewing Company Visit
A budnamu is a willow tree. Budnamu Brewery was founded in Gangneung-si in 2015. The brewery is situated in Gangneung’s oldest makgeolli distillery which creates a comfy atmosphere for those who visit. The dining room has a mixture of high and low ceilings, with wood and brick accents throughout. It is very interesting to observe the architecture and craftsmanship from 70+ years ago. An outdoor seating area is out the side door and provides the opportunity to eat and drink alongside flowers, trees, and a few kittens.
Many of Budnamu’s beers have signature local ingredients such as chrysanthemum, pine, and rice. These ingredients blend nicely with the barley and hops and highlight what the local market can add to the beer. Budnamu also has a great food selection. The burgers are big and filled with plenty of toppings. The pizzas are also large, with thin crusts and fresh toppings.In addition to the brewery and dining room in Gangneung, Budnamu also has a pub at the Lake Como mall in Dongtan New City.
Budnamu Brewing
033-920-9380
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
강원 강릉시 경강로 1961
A budnamu is a willow tree. Budnamu Brewery was founded in Gangneung-si in 2015. The brewery is situated in Gangneung’s oldest makgeolli distillery which creates a comfy atmosphere for those who visit. The dining room has a mixture of high and low ceilings, with wood and brick accents throughout. It is very interesting to observe the architecture and craftsmanship from 70+ years ago. An outdoor seating area is out the side door and provides the opportunity to eat and drink alongside flowers, trees, and a few kittens. Many of Budnamu’s beers have signature local ingredients such as chrysanthemum, pine, and rice. These ingredients blend nicely with the barley and hops and highlight what the local market can add to the beer. Budnamu also has a great food selection. The burgers are big and filled with plenty of toppings. The pizzas are also large, with thin crusts and fresh toppings. In addition to the brewery and dining room in Gangneung, Budnamu also has a pub at the Lake Como mall in Dongtan New City.
Nearby Attractions in Gangneung
There are many things to do and see in Gangneung. We focused on the beer, but also found a few beaches and a charming coffee street along the seaside. You can find these activities (and more) in the South of Seoul app.
Gangmun Beach
This beach is just south of the Kyungpo Beach Hyundai Hotel. There is a small bridge that lights up at night, the Rainbow Bridge, between the Hyundai Hotel and Gangmun Beach. We visited Gangmun Beach at night and saw many couples, young and old, chilling on the beach. Some were wading in the waves, others were shooting fireworks. Since we visited at night, no one was swimming and the shops along the street were not open. We did find a couple of convenience stores with the infamous four for 10,000 Won beers.
Amnok Beach and Coffee Street
This beach is further south in Gangneung and situated just north of the Gangneung Port Passenger Terminal. The beach is steep in places but the sand is softer than Gangmun Beach. I am sure you can swim at this beach. A boat rental vendor is on the beach, giving powerboat rides for 15,000 per person (not sure for how long). The most famous attraction at this beach is the line of coffee shops and restaurants along the beachfront road. They all have beautiful views of the beach and many have rooftop seating areas which serve as peaceful vistas over the street, beach, and harbor.
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Mike Brown retired from the Air Force, holds a Master’s in Business Administration, and is a co-founder of the Osan Craft Beer Club. Mr. Brown worked as a Korean language analyst and translator and currently lives with his family in South Korea.
As a leader of the Osan Craft Beer Club, Mike Brown brings together casual beer lovers and advanced craft connoisseurs to share knowledge of the craft beer industry in South Korea.
Additionally, he works with breweries, distributors, and the community to support and promote the growing craft beer scene across South Korea.
