Pyeongchang's White Crow brews beer in nature

By Bereket Alemayehu

White Crow Brewing, located in the serene mountains of Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, offers more than just beer — it delivers an experience crafted from passion, nature and a dedication to quality.

Founded by Canadian brewer Les Timmermans and his partner and wife Kim Su-jin, the brewery stands as a testament to the fusion of cultures, personal ambition and the fresh air of the mountainous region.

Timmermans didn’t originally plan to stay in Korea. “I came in 2006 to teach, thinking it’d be just for a year,” he said. But one year turned into several as he embraced the vibrant culture of Seoul, met his wife and began planting roots. After five years in Seoul, they moved to Pyeongchang in 2012 in search of a quieter life more connected with nature.

Six years ago, it was here that his love for beer-making transitioned from a hobby to a vision for creating a space where people could enjoy great food and craft beer surrounded by the beauty of nature.

The dream began at home, where Timmermans brewed beer as a personal hobby. “We wished there was a place, not our home, where we could enjoy good beer and food — somewhere with a natural, relaxed atmosphere, a little bit more maybe Western-style, but more important than Western-style is just kind of nice and natural feeling. And in this area, there was nowhere like that,” he said.

Seeing a gap in the market, the couple decided to take a risk and open the brewery. But first, they returned to Canada where Timmermans pursued a two-year brewmaster program, gaining the engineering and technical expertise needed to run a brewery.

“I was extremely motivated to study hard because my dream was to come back and open a business," he said.

In 2019, they returned to Korea and officially opened White Crow, realizing their vision of a welcoming space for visitors to relax, enjoy beer and reconnect with nature.

What makes White Crow’s beer stand out is its unique connection to nature. “Every drop of our beer starts as mountain water,” he explained.

Pyeongchang is renowned for its pristine water, which forms the foundation of White Crow’s clean and clear-tasting beers, elevating the brewery’s offerings to something truly special.

"If you're making beer in your home or making beer in a factory, there are the same basic ingredients. Of course, there's malted barley or wheat, hops and yeast. So those are the basic ingredients. But a very fundamental ingredient is water. To make nice beer, you need great water.”

The brewery’s slogan, “Brewed in Nature,” summarizes its philosophy. Surrounded by mountains, White Crow embodies a harmonious relationship between the natural environment and the craft of brewing.

“For me, there’s almost a spiritual connection,” Timmermans said. “We’re starting at the source, and that’s so important for both the quality of the beer and the quality of life.”

White Crow offers a dynamic menu of around eight beers, including year-round staples and seasonal specialties.

“We love experimenting with ingredients to create unique flavor combinations," Timmermans said.

From coffee-infused dark beers to fruity sour ales, the variety reflects creativity and commitment to pushing boundaries. Seasonal beers, such as autumn-inspired brews and winter warmers, keep the menu updated and exciting. For adventurous drinkers, the brewery’s sour beers provide a distinctive flavor experience, while the coffee-infused dark beers bridge the gap between beer lovers and coffee lovers.

In addition to importing ingredients from countries like Australia, England, Denmark, Germany and the United States, they use local ingredients found in Pyeongchang to give their beer some more unique and local characteristics. For example, they use buckwheat to make a very interesting-tasting lager.

White Crow attracts visitors from the capital region who often make the place a key part of their trip. “Some come here as their main destination and stay in nearby resorts or guesthouses, while others stop by on their way to the east coast,” Timmermans said.

The brewery’s idyllic location perfectly complements Gangwon Province’s reputation for natural tourism. “For people interested in going to the beach, climbing mountains, or just relaxing in nature, Gangwon-do is the best,” Timmermans said.

White Crow provides a refreshing escape for those looking to unwind from city life, offering not just great beer but a serene, camping-like atmosphere where visitors can truly relax.

Laying community-based foundations, the future looks more interesting in attracting various visitors for many reasons.

Timmermans said that they have already begun to make partnerships with Korean cycling companies and brands. "It's really important to enjoy a beer with friends and families outside," he said. "And, for me as a business owner, it's also been really important and interesting to make collaborations with different companies and organizations. So, by doing that, we kind of increase our networking, of course, but we also increase our capability to have larger and larger events, inviting more people to come.”

American teacher Danielle Tom and her Irish friend Elaine Flannery, regular visitors to the brewery, believe the beer and great food is well worth the 8-kilometer walk from Dunnae Station on the Gangneung Line, the nearest train station.

“We came to have a good time with the beer, poutine and pizza,” Tom said. “As an American, finding good pizza — like actually good pizza — in Korea isn’t the easiest. There’s a lot of passable pizza, but finding one that hits the spot is harder. These guys, though, know what they’re doing. And the poutine? It’s amazing.”

White Crow Brewing also has a location in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Follow @whitecrowbrewing on Instagram for more information.

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative. He is also a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.