customer Guide to Alcoholic Beverages

The more you know, the better it tastes. Check out our Guide on Alcoholic Beverages.

The more you know, the better it tastes.

History of Beer

  1. 01 It is known that beer was first brewed by the Sumero
    people at the Tigris and Euphrates River around 4000 BC.
  2. 02 The present brewing method was introduced in a German
    monastery around the 12th century when they started using
    hops.
  3. 04 When non-thermal processing technology was developed in
    the 1980s, people could enjoy fresh beer.
  4. 03 In the 19th century, Pasteur developed the sterilization
    method which allowed the long-term storage of beer. Later,
    Hansen in Denmark invented a brewer’s yeast culture which
    improved the quality of beer.

What’s the perfect beer for me?

  • This is pure lager! Pure lager - TERRA Pure larger TERRA that became a sensation in the beer market of Korea tested almost all malts in the world to secure the purity of malt, the key ingredient of beer, and selected the 100% pure malt from Australia having the best air quality. In line with the trend that refuses artificiality, TERRA uses 100% real carbonation generated in the fermentation process to offer powerful fizz without an artificial sting. For product design, the “GREEN BOTTLE” is used for the first time in Korea for domestic regular beer to give visual cleanness, and a tornado pattern symbolizing 100% pure carbonation is applied on the neck of a bottle, which gives freshness to its taste and visual.
  • A primal refreshment made in a sub-zero environment
    - hite EXTRA COLD
    hite EXTRA COLD, the representative brand of HITEJINRO’s success story, maximized the pure taste of refreshing and cool taste of larger beer through the upgraded EXTRA COLD brewing technique for the overall production of beer, from aging to filtration, below zero before it freezes. Hite EXTRA COLD has been the No. 1 selling beer in Korea for 16 consecutive years (1996–2011; tax base source: Korea Alcohol Liquor Industry Association), and it is the most-sold beer in Korea as a single brand (based on accumulated sales).
  • First in Korea! A unique sparkling liquor - FiLite & FiLite Fresh The new low-malt beer FiLite uses 100% aromatic hop for unique flavor and taste. The refreshing taste of FiLite Fresh larger beer made through HITEJINRO’s FRESH low-temperature aging technique is enjoyable to drink anywhere at any time FiLite achieved the accumulated sales of 1.5 billion cans (based on 355 mL cans) in five years and five months after its launch, proving consumer recognition through sales.
  • Premium dark beer with exceptional flavor - Black Stout Black Stout is the only larger-type stout beer in Korea using premium malt from Germany. A perfect combination of rich flavor, deep color, and thick froth creates a refreshing taste, increasing the preference of stout and satisfying taste buds.

Beer Drinking Tips

If you ever wonder about the best way to drink beer, then you are a true beer connoisseur. Check out our 5 ways to enhance your beer drinking experience.

  1. 01
    Drink beer at the perfect temperature.
    Beer tastes bitter at high temperature, and not enough foam is
    formed when it is too cold. The perfect temperature for beer is 4-6℃
    in summer and 8-12℃ in winter.
  2. 02
    Drink with foam.
    Beer just isn’t the same when it doesn’t have any foam.The foam
    keeps the carbon dioxide in the beer, so its flavor lasts longer. To
    enjoy its coldness, you have to drink it quickly with foam.
  3. 03
    Keep the glass clean.
    If a beer glass has grease on it, then foam won’t formed well.
    Make sure the glass is clean. You can also keep the
    glass cold to enhance the flavor.
  4. 04
    Fresh beer is the best.
    Check the bottling date when buying beer at the store.
    Make sure to buy the ones produced recently to enjoy fresh beer.

Beer Quality Maintenance Period

What is beer quality maintenance period?
The quality maintenance period is the period during which the beer product retains its best flavor.
Keep beer in a cool place away from the sun to enjoy the highest quality during the presented period.

HITEJINRO’s Fresh 365 campaign has an exchange policy for beer products that passed their quality maintenance period.
This is first such policy instituted by a Korean liquor company.
The policy shows the company’s intent to provide products with the best flavors to consumers.

Article 44 of the Food Sanitation Act mentions expiration period. On the other hand,
quality maintenance period is set by the manufacturer to identify the period in which the food product can maintain
the best quality if stored under the correct standards or using appropriate methods.

As such, our company identifies the manufacturing date on each peer product, and we set the quality maintenance
date 12 months out for canned and bottled products (Max: 10 months) and 6 months out for plastic bottled products.
The company will exchange products whose quality maintenance period has expired. Soju products, however,
do not have quality maintenance period because they have high alcohol contents.

Category Expiration Period Quality Maintenance Period
Definition Period from the manufacturing date in which the sale
of the product is allowed
Period during which the highest quality of the food product
is maintained if stored under correct standards or using
appropriate methods
Regulations Products with passed expiration date cannot be distributed or sold Products with passed quality maintenance period may be
distributed or sold
Distributing the best quality

HITEJINRO has been maintaining a quality management program since 2006.
The Fresh Campaign exchanges products with passed quality maintenance period to protect the consumers’ right to enjoy the true flavors of fresh beer.

Types of Containers

  1. 01Bottled Beer

    Bottles are heavy and can be broken, but they have been used for a long time because they
    have many benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should keep in mind when
    using bottles.

    Sometimes, the opening breaks after I open a beer bottle. What should I keep in mind?
    There are two types of caps on a beer bottle. One is a twist cap, which
    you can open with your hand. This will be indicated on the cap.

    The other type should be opened with a cap opener. If you open a twist cap using an opener
    or a normal cap with something that is not an opener, such as a spoon or lighter, then the
    bottle may get damaged or broken. You have to use a standard opener when opening
    bottles.
    I put beer bottles in my freezer to cool them quickly, but they exploded. How long can I keep it beer a freezer?
    Never put beer bottles in a freezer.
    When beer is frozen, it may explode or damage the bottles as its volume expands. If you place a
    slightly frozen beer on the floor, the bottom may break.
    When I was putting beer bottles in the fridge, the bottles broke. What happened?
    The inside the beer bottle has 2.5 times more pressure than normal air pressure. When the bottle
    is shaken or is subjected to a certain level of impact, the pressure may increase. In addition, beer
    bottles can break if they suffer various types of impact or damage. Therefore, you should take
    extra care when handling beer bottles.
  2. 02Canned Beer

    Canned beer is cooled quickly and is more convenient to use. Since cans are very thin and fragile, you have to be careful when handling them.

    When I pulled the tab, it got detached from the can. What happened?
    The top of beer can has a tab that makes it easy to open the can. However, it can be detached o
    dislocated when impacted. Make sure to position it correctly before opening the can.
    The beer is discolored, there’s sediment in it, and it tastes like water. Why is that?
    When the beer is frozen in the fridge, it looks blurry. Sediment can also form in beer if it’s stored
    for a very long time.
    The can has a hole in it after placing next to some soy sauce or vinegar. What happened?
    Cans are made with aluminum and can be damaged by acid or salinity. You should keep it separate
    from any items that have acid or salinity.
    I’ve picked a beer can and came home but the volume of beer seems to have decreased. Why is that?
    Beer cans are as thick as a piece of paper, about 0.1mm. When placed in a cart with other grocery
    items, they can get damaged. Damaging the top part can cause the can to leak. Cans get even get
    damaged in the trunk of a car while driving if they are not placed there safely enough.

    If the beer can surface is scratched or punctured, the carbonated gas and other contents escape from
    the inside before the sugar in the beer blocks the hole and obscures the damage from the outside.
    Products under such a state will have a “flat” taste.
  3. 03PET Bottled Beer

    PET bottled beer enjoys increasing popularity with its convenience.
    However, it has a fairly short shelf life due to its characteristics.

    What is the difference between PET beer bottles and other PET bottles?
    PET beer bottles are designed to keep the carbonation inside the bottle and
    maintain its flavor and taste while preventing air from getting inside. Therefore, 3-layered
    PET bottles are used with PET material both inside and outside the bottle
    while a special material (barrier) is used to minimize the movement of air.
    In addition, a scavenger bottle cap is used to remove a small amount of oxygen and
    maintain the beer’s flavor.
    There is a small amount of PET material (unwanted material) in the bottle (triple-layered film separation).
    Why is that?
    When PET bottles are exposed to heat and direct sunlight, the triple-layered film is
    detached, so it may look like there is unwanted material inside the bottle. The triple-layered
    film is in a pressed structure and not harmful to body.
    Why is the content volume incorrect? What is the cause behind this?
    Products in plastic bottles may be less than full either because the beer leaked out of the
    seal during distribution due to external shock or falling or because the plastic expanded,
    making it appear that the product is less than full. In particular, plastic bottles can
    expand sideways if the product is stored outdoors or in higher temperatures during distribution.
    TIP! What is the tolerated capacity error for liquor products (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety notification)
    Capacity Tolerance Range
    More than 100 mL and less than 200 mL 4.5%
    More than 200 mL and less than 300 mL 9 mL
    More than 300 mL and less than 500 mL 3%
    More than 500 mL and less than 1 L 15 mL
    More than 1 L and less than 10 L 1.5%

    ※Our tolerated capacity error for liquor products is stricter than this.

  4. 04Draft Beer

    After work, you crave a cool draft beer. Draft beer tastes
    different, depending on how it is handled or stored.

    How long does draft beer remain fresh?
    Draft beer remains fresh up to 3 months after the date of manufacturing, but the taste may be
    compromised when it’s stored at improper temperature. You have to store draft beer in a proper place while
    managing inventory based on the time of stocking to keep it fresh.
    Is it better to use frozen glasses?
    You can enjoy cold beer in frozen glasses, but it may taste weird when the ice melts while you’re drinking.
    Why does the foam go away more quickly than other times?
    If there is grease in your glasses, the foam goes away more quickly.
    How do store draft beer glass
    Remove all grease from the glass, dry completely, and store refrigerated.
    Why does only the foam come out when pouring draft beer?
    The carbohydrate control may be set incorrectly or the cooler may not be working properly, so the beer is
    stored in a higher temperature than normal. In addition, there may be some unwanted materials in the
    cooler pipe and hose, or the container may be damaged by strong impact.
    Why is there no foam when pouring draft beer?
    Because draft beer reuses the container, if carbonated gas is leaked due to the rubber at the emitter at the top, the beer loses foam, causing the blend taste or oxidation of the beer.
    What is the difference between bottled beer and draft beer?
    In the past, draft beer was produced without sterilization through heat treatment. However, there is no
    difference now as non-thermal processed beer is produced by using advanced brewing technology.

The truth about beer sediments

  1. 01
    Reasons for beer sediments
    Various nutritional materials are included in beer. Although proteins and
    polyphenols included in barley are not visible to the eye, nutrition in beer
    can combine to create settlement depending on the storage condition
    (sunlight exposure, temperature) and period, unlike distilled liquor.
    The sediments may look like foreign objects, but they occur naturally in
    beer products. While they are harmless to the human body, the appearance of
    sediments means that the beer has lost its original flavor. Do not drink the
    product and exchange it at the retailer or contact our customer service center
    (080-210-0150).
  2. 02
    Environments contributing to beer sedimentation
    1. 1. Around 20℃ is the appropriate storage temperature for beer.
      Freezing is deadly for beer products.
    2. 2. If storing near the windows or in the porch, beer products may
      lose their flavor and fragrance due to exposure to sunlight,
      in addition to expediting the sedimentation process.
    3. 3. Even when refrigerated, beer products will produce sediments
      if stored for a long time.
    4. 4. Hotter and more humid boiler rooms, heaters, and other
      such environments can easily contribute to sedimentation.
  3. 03
    Can I ingest beer sediments?
    Beer products may appear cloudy due to sediments created by the combination
    of proteins and polyphenols. While they are not harmful to the human body,
    sediments may affect the flavor and quality.
    <Source: Press release by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (December 5, 2018)>
  • Sediments created before the expiration date
  • Residue of beer after expiration date

Production process

  1. 01 Collected bottles (bottle washing device)
    Once we receive the collected bottles, we pick bottles that
    are suitable for use, wash them, and use them as new bottles.
  2. 02 Bottle washing device
    The empty bottles enter the bottle washing device
    to be washed for 45 minutes (3 cycles).
  3. 03 EBI
    The integrity of the cleaned bottles are confirmed
    again using a high-precision device.
  4. 04 Bottler
    This process bottles products into the bottles
    in a clean room.
  5. 05 Crown tester
    This process tests damages to the bottle
    neck and the seal on the product.
  6. 06 FBI
    The sealed products are tested again for foreign
    objects using a high-precision device.
  7. 07 Re-check with human eyes
    Each bottle is checked again with human eyes
  8. 08 Labeler
    All products that passed the tests are labeled.
  9. 09 Delivery
    The products can be delivered after the weight
    check and other final tests.
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