Paul Edwards, CEO and co-owner of Busan’s Gorilla Brewing Co. / Courtesy of Gorilla Brewing Co.
BUSAN — Who’s Paul Edwards? He’s a person of many hats, one might argue. He’s maybe greatest identified round Korea because the CEO and co-owner of Busan’s Gorilla Brewing Co. This is able to be his highest-profile position nationwide, however should you had been to ask a Busan native who he’s, he may be carrying an training hat. If one had been to probe the halls of academia in Korea, you would discover him in a tough hat, affixed with a headlamp. We’re getting forward of ourselves, although. Who’s Paul Edwards?
Edwards, born in Wales, moved to Liverpool in England for college, the place he majored in geology. He completed his undergrad and made his strategy to Busan’s Pukyong Nationwide College for his Grasp of Science and eventual Ph.D.
Edwards is aware of about Korean rocks. “It’s fairly diversified for such a small nation. There’s some actually previous rocks right here. There’s coal. Within the northeast, there’s peat. I’m engaged on a whisky challenge now and I’d like to make use of the peat from there.”
Talking of alcohol manufacturing…
Funnily sufficient, Edwards’ profession in beer didn’t begin with co-founding Gorilla. It began with co-founding Galmegi, one other Busan brewery. He wasn’t content material along with his quantity of shares within the firm and wished a bigger say in how issues had been run, so he set off on his personal to begin Gorilla Brewing Co.
Gorilla was born in Busan’s Millak-dong as a small craft bar, however rapidly grew and moved to their (now defunct) location in Gwangalli. Now there’s a Haeundae Gorilla Seaside.
Concerning the ethos of Gorilla, Edwards affords 4 phrases: “Variety, inspiration, creativity and world class.”
Whereas Gorilla could have British roots, it actually doesn’t shrink back from the variety and creativity angles, brewing varied beers from a Thai-inspired spicy mango chili bitter to a Chocopie-inspired imperial stout, after which again once more to a kimchi beer that makes use of an worker’s mom’s kimchi. They extracted and remoted the lactobacillus from the kimchi and used it within the beer as a souring agent.
Gorilla has additionally landed some giant contracts, brewing unique beers for the Korean Hao’Sum and Dim Dim Sum restaurant chains. Additionally they have a contract with CU comfort shops to brew their pineapple bitter and hazy IPA.
Excellent news, however as Edwards lamented, “We sort of maxed out our brewery just a little bit final yr, so we stopped being very numerous.”
He’s being modest, as a result of Gorilla nonetheless has 10 totally different beers on faucet at their Haeundae location. Selection is just not a difficulty.
However Edwards described going again to the U.Okay. and seeing breweries that “received a fridge of their bar, and there’s not less than 30 totally different beers in there, proper? They usually’re banging out two new beers each week. Which is what I feel craft beer needs to be right here.”
He likens his beer recipe formulation to his geology experience. “I nonetheless wish to be concerned in concept creation,” he stated. “That was my robust level in geology, too, to give you novel concepts.”
And what of the way forward for Korean craft and of Gorilla?
“I wish to begin doing beers that we wish to drink that may develop [Korean craft beer drinkers] as a group,” Edwards stated. “What’s a Gorilla beer? What makes a Gorilla beer a Gorilla beer? Ideally, I would like one thing that’s new and progressive. Clearly, we’re a Korean brewery so I wish to do stuff that brings Korean components into it.”
Aside from beer, Edwards hadn’t deliberate on turning into chairman of the Worldwide Faculty of Busan, however typically alternatives current themselves and also you pounce. Edwards’ two youngsters attended the varsity, and sooner or later a instructor requested him to affix the board as a result of him proudly owning a enterprise and subsequently having non-public sector expertise. The board consists of 10 individuals, plus the top of the varsity. Edwards threw himself into his work there, and inside 18 months had been elected as chairman, with nice enthusiasm from dad and mom and college.
Recognition as an excellent chief and serving to run the varsity that your individual youngsters attend could be prize sufficient for some, however Edwards’ long-running presence there as chairman had such an immensely stabilizing impact on the varsity, its college and its college students that it could find yourself altering his personal life in an sudden method.
The college had gotten in contact with the division dealing with the honours system of the U.Okay. Cupboard Workplace, which is liable for the annual Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award. Ranges 1 and a pair of confer knighthood or damehood on a person, together with the title “Sir” or “Dame.” Edwards was being thought of for Degree 5 for “providers for worldwide training, charity and Korea-Britain relations,” the latter as a result of his exercise with the U.Okay. Embassy in Seoul and British Chamber of Commerce in Korea. The British ambassador to Korea was additionally contacted about this endeavor to get Edwards an MBE and seconded the movement.
This put him among the many ranks of different notable Commonwealth figures corresponding to singers Ed Sheeran and Adele, soccer participant Harry Kane and BLACKPINK’s Rosé, who was eligible as a result of her New Zealand citizenship. It’s an amazing honor, one which confers the suitable to place “MBE” after your title on paperwork.
Edwards divulges that he had suspected one thing was happening — he had heard snippets of conversations from colleagues, however nothing particular or concrete — however was genuinely shocked when the embassy phoned him to ask if he would settle for the award. He did, and the following step concerned going to Buckingham Palace and receiving the award from Princess Anne herself.
How does he really feel about all this? “I suppose it was good,” Edwards stated whereas laughing. “I don’t know the way to reply that, it’s so new. However I’ve been getting some emails about enterprise offers.” It’s all hush-hush in the meanwhile.
So, what does the longer term maintain for Edwards? He has large plans for Gorilla, together with both franchising the model or opening extra taphouses throughout the nation himself. The aforementioned whisky distillery is within the works, too. Gorilla is likely one of the first craft breweries in Korea to export, reaching the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. Edwards says he’d like to extend the quantity and attain of his brews. With “MBE” on the finish of his title, I’m certain international markets will remember to discover.
Go to gorillabrewingcompany.com for extra data, or comply with @gorilla_brewing on Instagram.
Kevin Grabb is a Canadian residence brewer and YouTuber. His channel, Korea Brewing Journey, covers Korean alcohol from manufacturing to consumption.
