At the end of the day, enjoy DOK Makgeolli—as comforting as a close friend.

The reason Friday evenings are so exciting is probably because we get to enjoy a relaxing time with our loved ones and kick off the weekend.

There’s one thing you can’t miss during such precious moments: delicious drinks. While there are all kinds of drinks—soju, beer, wine, and more—lately I’ve been completely hooked on makgeolli, a traditional Korean drink that pairs perfectly with “our” food.

Korean food—which “we” know and enjoy best—and Korean makgeolli are sweetly and gently melting away the tension of the workweek. Just seeing the white makgeolli gently fill my glass gives me a strange sense of comfort. Let me introduce wadiz Maker, Dok Brewery, which brings joy to our everyday lives.

#OLD_NEW
Dok Brewery’s Unique Identity.

Hello.We are Dok Brewery, a makgeolli brand that pours our heart and soul into every bottle.

“DOK” refers to a traditional earthenware jar—a vessel capable of holding everything—just as the word and its shape suggest. It’s also a pure Korean word. We value the intuitiveness of our brand , so we chose the name “DOK” with the hope that anyone hearing it would instantly recognize it. DOK is a platform that uses methods of storage, aging, and fermentation to preserve various ingredients in a fresh or innovative way. 

Dok Brewery is crafting a culture where people can enjoy makgeolli poured into a “dok” alongside the drink itself. Through DOK makgeolli, we want to offer experiences with diverse varieties of makgeolli unlike anything seen before. Dok Brewery’s hope is that, as these experiences accumulate, our makgeolli will become a natural part of everyday life—just like the traditional “dok” that was once a common sight in every household’s courtyard.

#PICK_DOK
Why I came to love makgeolli.

I’ve been asked this question so many times. With so many drinks out there, why makgeolli?

Lately, the MZ generation has been seeking out makgeolli, and as I’ve tried brewing it myself, I’ve heard the phrase “makgeolli has become hip” countless times. While it’s receiving a lot of attention, I’ve also heard concerns that it might just be a passing trend.

So, to learn more about makgeolli and experience it firsthand, I drank a lot of it—so much so that I even learned the names of regions I’d never heard of through makgeolli. As these experiences piled up, I began to see the essential charm of makgeolli. 

Makgeolliis a drinkthat’senjoyablesimply because it’s something you can drink casually anytime, and one that takes on even more charm when paired with high-quality ingredients. It’s a drink with so many appealing qualities—the unique character of each region, the power of its ingredients, and the flavor of fermentation. That’s why, true to the spirit of Dok Brewery, we want to capture and share the diverse charms of makgeolli in our jars.

#MAKE_The Power of Local
A specialty product born and raised in Gimpo.

Even before opening our Gimpo brewery, I traveled all over the country, visiting farms on a whim in search of the best ingredients for our makgeolli. Among them, I chose the highest-quality Gimpo Geum rice to convey the fresh taste and charm of makgeolli. 

In fact, I discovered that while Gimpo is famous for its rice, it’s also a city specialized in local specialties like strawberries and grapes. Not only that, but it’s an attractive city with a high influx of people in their 20s and 30s, as well as well-developed infrastructure and strong purchasing power.

I felt that Gimpo—a vibrant city—bears a strong resemblance to DOK Brewery’s “Live Makgeolli.” If I may brag a little, we were selected as “2021 Regional Value Entrepreneurs” and “Local Creators”by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. (Laughs) I’m truly proud that DOK Makgeolli, made with Gimpo’s local specialties, can become a brand that grows alongside the community.

#LIVE_Makgeolli
Truly “Live” DOK Makgeolli.

First of all, since it’s brewed with the highest-quality Gimpo gold rice, it’s bound to taste great, right? In the spirit of “delivering fresh taste and style while expanding joyful communication through makgeolli,” we call this raw makgeolli—which contains live yeast—truly “Live” Makgeolli. 

DOK Makgeolli maintains its freshness as “FARM FRESH” makgeolli by using Gimpo gold rice that was milled within three days prior to brewing, sourced through direct contracts with local farmers and grain merchants. 

The pure white color of the makgeolli, achieved by finely grinding the rice, and the light, smooth texture that spreads gently across the palate create the perfect balance in DOK Makgeolli. Furthermore, through low-temperature fermentation and aging, we’ve preserved the makgeolli’s full flavor and aroma without letting them fade. 

DOK Makgeolli is best enjoyed chilled to 3–5 degrees Celsius in a narrow-mouthed, jar-shaped glass, which allows you to experience its sweet and refreshing flavors even more vividly. Especially when paired with spicy Korean dishes like spicy fish cakes, tteokbokki, and spicy chicken stew, you’ll discover a whole new dimension to the classic “spicy-sweet” flavor combination. 

#WHY_Wadiz
Why we partnered with wadiz.

We felt their genuine commitment to makers.

When we first started our business, we met a wadiz representative through an acquaintance. At that time, they explained the concept of crowdfunding and the potential for growth through funding. We were able to sense not only their expertise in online distribution but also the competitive edge of the wadiz platform. 

Thanks to that sincere conversation, we gained confidence in wadiz and decided to launch a funding campaign for DOK Makgeolli. Wadiz has a solid and dedicated fan base. 

By communicating with supporters through News and the Community, we were able to identify needs that aligned with our brand, and through this two-way exchange—rather than a one-way street—a bond gradually began to form. 

The supporters who felt our sincerity were sure to participate in our next funding campaign as well, and I’m truly grateful that more and more people are seeking out DOK Makgeolli.

#TIP_From a Senior Maker
Tips for wadiz funding!

When you launch funding, the word “success” can put a lot of pressure on you. However, you need to know how to set your own “criteria for success”—to decide whereyou ’ll drop anchor and feel satisfied. 

For us, “success” meant the entire process of introducing our makgeolli to supporters, communicating with them, and collaborating with other partners to create great makgeolli. 

If you start funding with numbers as your sole benchmark, it can become a daunting stage for anyone. But we trusted Dok Brewery’s unique “criteria for success” and boldly jumped into the funding.

 While preparing for the funding campaign, we also learned a lot more about rewards details, promotion, and marketing.We hope that for all of you taking ona funding challenge, your standard for success will be focused on building a meaningful process and gaining valuable experience rather than just the numbers. 

▶ This content was first featured on the wadiz blog. If you’re curious about more stories from the blog, check itout here!