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Bound for Busan? The craft beer and brewery bar scene is bustling in Busan, South Korea.
Busan has some brilliant brewery bars, classic craft beer pubs and top taprooms with all manner of beer styles and types. South Korea’s beer scene isn’t just about the bland mass produced beers like Cass or Terra (although yep, they are still widely available).
From the bright lights of Gwangalli’s and Haeundae’s beachside brewery bars to the inner city delights of Seomyeon, there is a bevy of craft beer goodness to enjoy in Busan.
We should say this list of best craft beer bars and breweries in Busan is not just about the quality and types of craft beers but also the taproom and Busan brewery bar set-ups.
And remember, always drink sensibly and within moderation, especially if you are planning to visit more than one of Busan’s best craft beer breweries and taprooms in the same evening – cheers / ‘geonbae’!
This Busan brewery craft beer bar and brewery list was updated as of July 2023:
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Table of Contents
Best craft beer bars and brewery bars in Busan map in 2023
Getting to Busan
Fly to Busan
Ready for some craft beers and brewery bars in Busan? You can fly directly to and from Busan Gimhae International Airport (PUS) from Japan,Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Malaysia.
There are dozens of domestic daily flights to Busan from Jeju (home of Magpie Brewery) and Seoul (home to Artmonster, Euljiro Brewing and Amazing Brewing Company).
Train to Busan
Eek – not the zombie filled one but a fast and economical way to get to Busan from Seoul.
The KTX train Korea is the fastest train to get to Busan in the south of the country, often taking less than 3 hours and running one or two times an hour. So no excuse for not trying these craft beer brewery bars in Busan.
Alternatively, foreign travellers can benefit from discounted rates with a Korea Rail Pass – this is also better value if you are travelling long distances by train in South Korea for two or more days.
Book your Korea Rail Pass (2, 3, 4, or 5 Days) here >
Busan Customised Private Tour
Given how big Busan is, if you are short on time, you can organise your own customised private tour of Busan (including Busan brewery visits if you so wish.
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Busan Best Breweries and Craft Beer Bars 2023
1. Galmegi Brewing (multiple Busan brewery taprooms)
A Busan brewery born and bred, Galmegi Brewing started life almost 10 years ago in 2014 as a small microbrewery pub.
Galmegi Brewing now has several taproom and craft beer bar locations in Busan including Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach, Seomyeon and Nampo.
We visited Galmegi Brewing Gwangan early one Saturday during the Gwangalli Eobang Festival festival and really enjoyed our experience. The staff were very friendly and the bar area at Galmegi Brewing Gwangan almost has a loft feel.
All of the core Galmegi Brewing core range was available to choose from behind the bar. When we visited, Galmegi’s core range included Busan Lager, Amber Lager, Sea Breeze, Galmegi IPA and Hae, plus a seasonal range consisting of Night Sea, Gupo Manse and Hop Goblin.
Prices ranged from 6,500 to 8,000 Won per craft beer, and samplers / flights of various craft beers were also available.
Inside at Galmegi Brewing Gwangalli, there was a small balcony looking out across the road (popular with smokers) and brewing merchandise available like beer glasses for 8,000 Won.
Tasting flights of all the Galmegi Brewing craft beers were available – we opted for the Galmegi Brewing stout and IPA; both were impeccable!
The branch we visited, Galmegi Brewing Haeundae, is open from 4pm to 1am most days (opens at 2pm Friday and Saturdays, closed Sundays). Detroit style pizza is also available to enjoy in most of the Galmegi Brewery bars dotted around Busan.
Address: Galmegi Brewing Gwangan, 58 Gwangnam-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan
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2. Gorilla Brewing Busan
Gorilla Brewing is a Busan based British craft beer brewery (try saying that after a pint!) with two locations – Haeundae Beach and this Gwangalli Beach taproom.
Gorilla Brewing Gwangalli Beach has a huge brewery taproom with around 20 different craft beers on tap – as well regular craft beer styles like dark lager and IPAs.
Some of the more unusual craft beers at Gorilla Brewing Gwangalli include Popsicle IPA, Imperial Gose tomato and Hop Bomb DIPA.
We also really liked the cool can designs available from the chiller / fridge next to the bar. There are regular events at Gorilla Brewing Gwangalli including a weekly running club that includes a free pint – talk about motivation!
We tried the pulled pork burger and pork ribs and both were delicious. Go monkey nuts at Gorilla Brewing’s Gwangalli and Haeundae brewery craft beer bars in Busan.
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3. Wildcat Brewing Co
‘Feline’ like a trip to a cat-themed Busan craft beer brewery?
During our search for the best breweries and craft beer bars in Busan, we struggled to find any Busan brewery taprooms open on a Monday night but thankfully, Wildcat Brewing saw us right.
Located on the outer edges of Busan’s hipster district Seomyeon, Wildcat Brewing is one beautiful Busan brewery and craft beer bar – you get to try their craft beer in a taproom that directly overlooks all the brewing vats at Wildcat Brewing.
We also quite like the fact that all five of the Busan Wildcat Brewing vats onsite were named after the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphel) and their rat master, Splinter – like ‘turtle-ly’ cool man.
And with a name like Wildcat Brewing, we’d hoped for some cat themed beers and merchandise and we were not disappointed.
Some of their core craft beer range includes Chill Cat Cold IPA (6.5%), Perfect Paws IPA and Beer by AI – we also were served our craft beers in Wildcat Brewing Co branded glasses (one cool cat!)
At Wildcat Brewing Co’s Busan beer bar and taproom, you can also try craft beers from other breweries here including Busan based Galmegi and Wildwave breweries.
Craft beer breweries from Seoul included Amazing Brewing from Seongsu-dong and ArtMonster, whose latest branch is now open in Ikseon-Dong Hanok Village. Ranch Brewing craft beer who have an outlet in Euljiro are also represented.
We opted for a tasting tray at Wildcat Brewing which was any three beers (170ml each) from the extensive and ever changing craft beer menu for 10,000 Won – very good value and you also get free prawn crackers. The Wildcat 6.8% Bliss IPA was the standout craft beer here for us. Cheers to that!
Address: Wildcat Brewing, Seomyeon KH Maius, 2 KH마이우스 1층 101호, Sincheon-daero 62beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan
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4. Abnormal Taphouse and Cantina, Haeundae
An ‘Abnormal’ day in Busan – a recent visit to Abnormal Tap House & Cantina is a good way to finish off a day of coastal walks or after some sublime sunset views on the beach.
Located literally just a few yards away from the beach, Busan’s Abnormal Taproom has 12 taps plus free popcorn. We tried the Magpie Brewing Pale Ale and Hand and Malt Mocha Stout – definitely one to return to for their weekly Taco Tuesday deals.
All of the craft beers (plus Terra!) are listed on the red brick wall behind the bar on interchangeable black chalk boards. Galmegi, Oskar Blues, Dancing Cider and even Pilsner Urquell were also available when we visited Abnormal Taphouse bar in Busan.
One of the smallest craft beer bars in Busan, there were a handful of tables inside at Abnormal Taphouse (closer to the free popcorn machine – bonus) or a larger outdoor beer terrace that looks towards the beach.
Address: Abnormal Taphouse and Cantina, 24 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 298beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan
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5. Naked Ape Taproom at Millac The Market, Gwangalli
Overlooking the harbor at Gwangalli Beach with huge bay windows facing towards the ocean and Millak Port, Millac the Market is a popular Gwangan food market and contemporary cultural space, located on the site of a former fish market.
Naked Ape is a newly opened brewery bar at Millac The Market from the Gorilla Brewing Team. Ten taps of craft beer are usually available at Naked Ape Busan – during our visit, there were several craft beers exclusive to Millac the Market including Millac Pilsner, Millac IPA and Millac double IPA.
The Busan craft beers at Naked Ape taproom can be enjoyed with fries or popcorn whilst sitting amongst the brewery vats and listening to the musicians and buskers who perform in the auditorium just in front of the bar.
Spend an afternoon at Millac The Market combining South Korean street food delights with other international eats and draft craft beer goodness at Naked Ape.
Address: Naked Ape Busan, Millac The Market, 2층, 56 Millaksubyeon-ro 17beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan
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6. Beer Shop Seomyeon, Busan
One of the best craft beer bars in Busan and from one of the brains behind Gorilla Brewing, this British style craft beer shop has one of the biggest selection of craft beers in Busan.
From Craft Bros to Samuel Smiths, Omnipollo to Toppling Brews, dozens of international breweries are featured at Busan’s Beer Shop. South Korea breweries (particularly Busan craft beer breweries) feature heavily including Wildcat Brewing, Gorilla Brewing, Seoul Brewery and ArtMonster.
All can be enjoyed inside or in the concrete terrace area outside plus beer snacks include pastrami / Reuben sandwiches and burgers plus chicken tenders – nom!
Address: Beer Shop Busan, 24-7 Jeonpo-daero 210beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Seomyeon, Busan
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7. Wild Wave Brew Sour Yeongdo
Busan craft beer bars don’t come with a much better view than Wild Wave Brew’s Sour Yeongdo taproom, Busan’s newest craft beer bar and taproom which officially opened in May 2023. With views of the Busan Port harbour area (cranes and all), this is one top taproom spot.
Specialising in sour beers and founded in 2015, Wild Wave Brew’s flagship beers include their Surleim Dry Hopped Sour (5.3% ABV), Sunset Pale Ale, Yuzu Surleim and Passionade Berliner Weisse.
They also do more traditional non sour drinks like Railroad Stout and Blackhole Porter. Wild Wave Brew in Busan also pride themselves on their seasonal collab craft beers like the recent Godfather Coffee Beer, which is a brown ale flavoured with coffee from Caffe Themselves.
As well as cracking craft beers, Wild Wave Brew Sour Yeongdo serves up super food including Fried Calamari with French Fries, Seaweed Creme Fraiche Beef Tartare and Burrata Cheese with Seaweed and Cured Salmon Salad.
As of July 2023, this newly opened Wild Wave Brew craft beer bar in Busan is open Wednesday to Sunday only, 17:00 – 22:30.
Note the Wild Wave Brewery itself is located in Haeundae but isn’t currently open to the public so visit the new Sour Yeongdo instead.
Address: Wild Wave Brew Busan, SOUR YEONGDO, 8F, Ketti Bongnae, 115 Bongnae-dong 2-ga, Yeongdo-gu, Busan
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Other craft beer bars in Busan, South Korea include:
8. Rainbow Beer
A British style craft beer pub chain with several branches across Busan including Seomyeon and Gwangalli Beach.
Rainbow Beer craft beer bars are easy to find in Busan as they all have terraces with big bright rainbow umbrellas as decoration.
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9. Craft Hans Seomyeon
Focusing more on craft beer bottles than craft draft, Craft Hans is a handy and hoppy hang-out in Seomyeon that also has an extensive bar snack and food menu.
Located on the second floor, there is a soju bar and BBQ place on the ground floor meaning you could have a big night out in Busan here.
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10. Slice of Life (SOL) Taphouse
Part craft beer pub, part pizza place, the Slice of Life Taphouse is located along Gwangalli Beach, with waterside views to accompany your pizza wedges.
There are around 15 different craft beers on tap including local Busan favourites like Gorilla and Galmegi. There is a second SOL in Seomyeon.
For brews with views and American style pizza, enjoy a ‘Slice of Life’ in Busan.
Akitu Brewing Taproom (closed)
2023 update – please note Akitu Brewing Taproom in Busan is permanently closed.
Levee Brewing Company Busan
2023 update – please note Levee Brewing Company in Busan is permanently closed.
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