Days of the Beer, February 16

The beer for today is Taedonggang.

On February 16, 1941, Kim Jong-il was born. Dear Leader is the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and he's very lonely.

To help him get over his loneliness, he did what all good beer commercials tell you to do: Drink beer to become more popular with the chicks. Even though he's got his own cult of personality surrounding him, and he's adored by the bagillions of North Korean's... he's so lonely.

So, around the year 2000, he sent a group of people over to the English town of Trowbridge in Wiltshire, to purchase the brewing equipment that previously belonged to Ushers (apparently, there were concerns that the brewery could be used to create chemical weapons).

After 18 months, the North Koreans had the brewery operational and producing a beverage with a refreshing taste... even though only the wealthy could afford it. A bottle cost about a third of the average worker's daily pay.





sure looks tasty...

As to the beer:

Taedonggang Beer is affectionately known as Kim Jong Ale (it's a lager). It's 5% ABV. So it's not too heavy, just like Kim.

About the only place you'll be able to get this beer is at the duty free shop in the DMZ. Unless you manage to go across the border.

So, for Kim Jung il's birthday, have a Taedonggang.