USA & South Korea: Northern United Brewing Company forms partnership with Playground Brewery in South Korea

Northern United Brewing Company (NUBC), the Dexter, MI-based makers of Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak brews, have formed a partnership with Playground, a brewery in Seoul, Korea, Traverse City Tracker reported on December 18.

NUBC has been working with and training partners Richard Kim and Soonbong Chun for more than a year.

“We’ve installed a 37BBL system that will allow Playground to brew beers that are currently unavailable in Korea," says Master Brewer and NUBC Partner Mike Hill, who is in Seoul right now to assist with the final phase of the brewery install. "This is an exciting moment for us and for the burgeoning craft beer movement that is occurring in Korea. Playground expects to have their systems in place and brew their inaugural batch this week."

According to NUBC, the craft beer industry is just beginning to take off in Korea and Playground Brewery is looking forward to introducing new varieties to a country used to light lagers.

Adds Chun, “We are sure we will brew great beers that don’t exist in Korea’s market today. Our partnership with NUBC enabled us to get here and we see them as more than just a partner."

Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell – who both grew up on the Old Mission Peninsula – are co-founders and managing partners of NUBC.

18 December, 2015