Oriental Brewery enters soju market with zero-sugar 'Charlang'
Oriental Brewery (OB), an AB InBev-owned brewer best known for its Cass beer brand, is entering Korea’s soju market for the first time with “Charlang,” a zero-sugar soju made with volcanic bedrock water from Jeju Island. The company said Monday that Charlang will hit the market in late September, marking a new chapter for OB as it expands beyond its core beer business. OB’s move into the soju…
Oriental Brewery, a brewer owned by AB InBev and famous for its Cass beer, is now venturing into Korea's soju market with a new product called "Charlang." This zero-sugar soju is made using volcanic bedrock water from Jeju Island. The company announced that Charlang will be available in late September, representing a new phase for OB as it broadens its focus beyond beer.
This entry into the soju market comes after OB acquired Jeju Soju from Shinsegae L&B, giving the company a presence in the soju industry and diversifying its beverage range. Charlang's unique taste comes from the water, which is naturally filtered through volcanic rock on eastern Jeju, resulting in a milder flavor. Additionally, the addition of lava seawater salt provides a subtle savory taste.
The 15% alcohol-by-volume soju aims to minimize the artificial alcohol scent and sweetness often found in other soju products. The name and packaging of Charlang are inspired by Jeju's natural surroundings, reflecting the gentle waves and calm atmosphere the company hopes to convey.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Oriental Brewery enters soju market with zero-sugar 'Charlang' koreatimes.co.kr
