Beer has seen an increase in popularity in recent years in Korea, especially with a falling tax rate for beer. In the early 1990s, there were three major players in the Korean beer market: Hite Breweries, Oriental Brewery, and Jinro Coors Brewing Co., the maker of Cass.
Oriental Brewery once owned the largest market share in Korea, sometimes nearing 70%, but by 1994, Hite had risen to become the most popular beer. Facing financial hardship in 1999, Jinro Coors was purchased by Oriental Breweries, which soon rose to a 51% market share above Hite. More beer tax cuts are expected in the future, and many market experts anticipate good fortunes for the Korean beer market.
The other popular drink in Korea is a traditional drink called soju, which is a tasteless liquor similar to vodka or gin. There are also other types of wines made from rice, plums, herbs, and even chrysanthemum or ginseng that are also very popular.
Cass
Cass Brewery was taken over by Oriental Breweries in 1999, which also produces OB Lager and Cafri Premium Lager. Cass is a 5.0% lager, one of the three most popular beers in Korea. Sold bottled or on tap in Korea, it’s a fairly pale lager reminiscent of many Asian pale lagers.
Hite
Hite Brewery is the largest of the South Korean brewers, brewing nine different beers including Hite, Hite Prime, Hite Stout, Hite Exfeel (low-calorie beer), as well as being the local maker of Fosters and Carlsberg. The popular 4.5% Hite is a micro-filtered lager that has a fresh taste and is the first beer to include a thermometer mark on its label.
OB Lager
This 4.7% lager has a light golden color and a flavor reminiscent of many Asian beers that use rice in the grain. Owned by Oriental Breweries, there are three other types of OB including a 4.4% new larger and light (low-calorie), as well as a non-alcoholic OB variety. Oriental also makes the 4.0% Cafri Premium Lager.
