Beer is not the drink of choice for most North Koreans, who prefer cheaper rice-based liquor that packs a big punch.

Regardless, North Korea is proud of its Taedonggang beer. Sadly, North Korea is kind of mess. They lacked the infrastructure, knowledge and perhaps the ability to keep everything as insanely clean and bacteria free to brew great tasting beer. What’d they do? Much like W.R. Hearst did when he wanted something — they bought a brewery in the UK, took it apart and moved it to North Korea.

North Korea’s quest to produce decent beer began in earnest in 2000 when it started talks with Britain’s Ushers brewery about acquiring its Trowbridge, Wiltshire plant that had ceased operations.

The North Koreans took apart the brewery that had been producing country ales for about 180 years, shipped it piece by piece to Pyongyang and reassembled it under the banner of its Taedonggang Beer Factory.

Tthe beer is becoming more available in Asia and maybe someday we’ll be able to try it here in the US. Sadly, the article doesn’t make it sound all that great.

North Korean beer: great taste, low proliferation risk [Reuters]