Corn Sugar Available?

Mangy17

I've done a few searches for "옥수수당" but haven't gotten any results. Is corn sugar available here in Korea? I'd like to try some for extract brewing.

Kunkemonster

It is but there isn't much difference between it and table sugar depending on how much you plan on adding.

Mangy17

Ok, I've heard that before but was just curious. Thanks again, Kunk.

Kunkemonster

I wouldn't add more than 10% simple sugar to your total sugar though.

gordsellar

I've gone up to 15% with no bad effects (for drier Belgian-type things)... and I've read you can go as high as 20%, if you're okay with a very dry beer, but 20% is really pushing it. Also, if you go to 15% you want something with a little more oomph to it than just table sugar. (Incompletely refined sugars, for example.)

dadd_55

I was wondering the other day while at Emart. Has anyone ever tested the corn syrup here to see how fermentable it is? It doesn't seem to have vanilla like the US stuff, Caro. I know they have some pretty big jugs of it and it's not expensive. They also have rice syrup and both might work to up the kick or to make a American lager. Or is there something else I'm missing?

Kunkemonster

I don't think any of us has tried it. You could always do a forced fermentation if you have a stir plate and find out how fermentable different solutions are.

dadd_55

I was going to try that the next time I brewed and use the yeast from the primary. Just wondered if anyone else had tried it or knew some reason it wouldn't work.

hiddenfishKim

We've used it for priming sugar, on the recommendation of another, offline homebrewer. Just make sure the label reads 100% maltose.

gordsellar

Interesting. That's not mulyeot, is it? The proprietor of a Korean homebrew shop that shall remain nameless told me the stuff wouldn't ferment. (Which raised the question of why he had it in his brew shop but I figured it was for his coffee or something.) I assumed there were preservatives or something in it...

nujanai

Hey Gord,

A bit off topic, but...
Are you speaking of an actual store that exists or one of the online retailers? If it is a physical store, I would really be interested in checking it out.

Thanks!

hiddenfishKim

yeah, it's 물엿, and it ferments for me! I might actually try making a starter from it and see what happens just to check its fermentability.

gordsellar

Nujanai,

Yes, it was a physical store that was run by one of the online retailers. I only went because I'd put off ordering until so late that to get the stuff for the brewday, I had to cross town. I can't remember which shop it was, but I believe both the Korean retailers have offlline warehousey places, though they're not exactly like your LHBS-type setup.

HFKim,

Cool, I'd love to hear about your results. Was just in the Annam Market in Ho Chi Minh City, eyeing the honey varietals and wishing they had the variety, at least, if not the prices, in Korea. (Will be hunting around in Singapore, where we're headed tomorrow...)

hiddenfishKim

Nice! Let me know what you find. Audrey and I were listening to a Basic Brewing podcast on mead... I think I know what our next experiments will be.

dadd_55

I have the stuff from E-mart, not sure what it is. When I brew next time I'm going to dump a test on the yeast to see how if ferments out, I read you want to WAY over pitch for testing fermentability. The label says 옥수수전분 100% 맥아당 55% 이상 (무수) "100% corn starch maltose greater than 55%" so we will see. I saw they also have rice syrup so that may need a try, just in case someone wants to make a Bud clone.

gordsellar

hiddenfishKim said:
Nice! Let me know what you find. Audrey and I were listening to a Basic Brewing podcast on mead... I think I know what our next experiments will be.

I highly recommend the Ken Schramm book if you do get into meadmaking. (Can loan it to you sometime if you want a look first.) That reminds me, I have to bottle my chestnut honey mead when I get back (have one gallon in the fridge, chill clearing)... and also make a few more quick meads in September, as well as a brochet and a braggot.

HowardMoon

This is a bit after the fact, but iherb.com has it and ships pretty cheap to Korea. My gf and I place a monthly order and every few months they've been offering free shipping to Korea. She has a discount code for $5 off your first order as well. I'll post that later. They also have a big bag of Irish moss (too much for me, so I never ordered it.)

Mangy17

Howard, is there any way to get a heads up on the month of free-shipping? We order from then every so often. I know they just had one in July.

HowardMoon

Just got an email this morning that there is free shipping now. You have to spend $80.

I order a lot of food like Annie's mac and cheese, real sriracha, and all my tea and supplements so it's easy for me to spend $80. But if you just need corn sugar, it might be a stretch.

You also get an extra $10 off your order of $40 or more if use this code: ZUS266

Btw, if anybody needs hops get at me.

Mangy17

Howard, I checked my profile and saw I hadn't signed up for emails, I was worried about spam at the time. It's changed now. I placed an order, included some corn sugar for the hell of it. Thanks a lot.

HowardMoon

Sweet. Hahahahahahahaha.

gordsellar

Is there still free shipping to Korea? Is that for anyone, ie. you don't need to be at an APO? I can't see anyplace on the website that says so. Is it for the whole month?

Also, has anyone ever had to pay customs duty on this stuff?

ghohn

Gord, September's Iherb.com deal is if the order is more than $80 but less than $105 then shipping is free. The package must be less than 15lbs. I'm assuming the $105 cutoff is something to do with skating under the customs limit. Anyways, just placed an order last week Monday and got it on Friday. No issue.

ghohn

No APO needed.

Mangy17

iHerb is solid, got my order today. Strangely, I was called about it this time by WooJung Customs (?). They wanted my passport info, but once I gave it they continued the shipping process immediately. Maybe they were suspicious of the corn sugar or 5lbs of protein powder.

ghohn

Was it your first order with them? We got the call on our first order and it's been smooth sailing ever since.

Mangy17

Also Gord, the website doesn't list the specials. Make an account and start shopping. You'll see the shipping options and costs below your order. Once you break that $80 mark, as noted above, you'll see a nice round number of 0.

gordsellar

Excellent. I'll get right on it... I alerted a Korean friend to it, planning to order together, but I guess not. Skating under the customs limit indeed... I'm having trouble seeing how I can get it under 15lbs and over $80, but hey, I'll give it a shot! (Or two!)

Thanks for answering my questions, guys!

HowardMoon

Don't forget you get an extra $10 off your order if you use code: ZUS266

iherb is the bees knees.

gordsellar

Thanks!

ghohn

Just get some vitamins or protein powder. That'll spike the price in no time!

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