Beer Barkets (or “beer changgo” or “beer...

Beer Barkets (or “beer changgo” or “beer warehouse”) is a do-it-yourself beer pub trend that has become super popular in Korea. I love it.

You go in, you grab a table, and then you go get your own bottle of beer from a row of refrigerators. Prices are easily visible; it’s often arranged low to high. You open your own beer, have it at the table, and put the empty bottle in the basket at your table. Then, when you’re ready to leave, the cashier will ring up your empty bottles.

I love that no one is pressuring me to buy more drinks, and that I’m not forced to purchase 안주 (anju, a meal accompanying alcohol), which is usually required in Korean culture. This is an emerging trend in the last two years, and I’d like to see it expand.

Also, while it sucks to pay two or three times more for a Portland Rogue beer, I still like being able to drink beers from home.