Mushroom beer keeps showing up on more taplists, but Island192 is doing something different with it. Instead of a craft brewery in Portland or London bolting mushrooms onto an existing recipe, this beer was developed by the residents of Eureumsil village on Deokjeokdo, a small island off Incheon, working with local contract brewer Incheon Beer to turn their own shiitake harvest into South Korea’s first commercially sold mushroom craft beer.
Island192 at a glance
| Style | Mushroom-infused craft lager |
| ABV | 5.0% |
| Size | 500ml can |
| Key ingredient | Seomsong-i shiitake mushrooms, grown in temperature-controlled smart farms |
| Brewery | Incheon Beer (contract brewer) for Eureumsil village, Deokjeokdo Island, South Korea |
| Price | KRW5,000 (about $3.60) |
| Release | First production run of 5,000 bottles, launched August 2026 |
| Availability | Deokjeokdo Island, Incheon Beer, and a restaurant in Seoul’s Mok-dong district; wider distribution planned |
How it tastes, by the numbers
Island192 comes in a 500ml can at 5% ABV, brewed with Seomsong-i shiitake mushrooms grown in temperature-controlled smart-farm facilities on Deokjeokdo. The name refers to the 192 inhabited and uninhabited islands that make up Incheon, and the beer was developed as part of a resident-led island specialization program backed by South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The full review
Island192 debuted with a pop-up store at Seoul’s National Assembly Communications Building on August 11-12, 2026, ahead of full commercial sales. The first production run was capped at 5,000 bottles, each priced at KRW5,000 (about $3.60), and it is currently sold on Deokjeokdo itself, through Incheon Beer, and at a restaurant in Seoul’s Mok-dong district, with plans to expand through spirits wholesalers.
We have not had a bottle in hand yet since it has not left South Korea, so our tasting read comes from an early Untappd check-in and international coverage of the launch. The Untappd flavor profile logged for Island192 lists musty, malty, earthy and nutty notes, and Men’s Journal’s write-up of the release independently described it the same way: musty and earthy. That tracks with what you would expect from a beer built around a mushroom known locally for its heavy umami character rather than a beer using mushrooms as a background gimmick.
It is clearly not chasing the clean, neutral profile of a standard Korean lager like Cass or Hite. Island192 is positioned as a premium, tourism-driving specialty product first and a session beer second, closer in spirit to a saison or a farmhouse ale that leans hard into one dominant, unusual ingredient.
Early tasting notes call it musty and earthy – this is a beer built to taste like real shiitake, not a beer with a mushroom sticker on the can.
- Genuinely novel: it is South Korea’s first commercially sold mushroom craft beer, not a one-off homebrew stunt
- Built on a real local ingredient (Seomsong-i shiitake) rather than a generic “mushroom flavoring” add-in
- 5% ABV puts it in normal craft lager territory rather than a gimmick-strength novelty beer
- Backers are already planning wider distribution through spirits wholesalers, so it is not a strictly one-time release
- Production is capped at 5,000 bottles for this first run, so it is genuinely hard to get outside Incheon and Seoul
- No international shipping or import listing exists yet, so trying it means being on the ground in South Korea
- Early tasting notes lean heavily savory (musty, earthy, nutty), which will not suit drinkers who want a clean, neutral lager
- As a village-scale project, batch consistency is an open question until it has been through more production runs
Who it is for
Island192 is for beer travelers and mushroom-beer curious drinkers who are already headed to Incheon or Seoul and want to try a genuinely new style of Korean craft beer while it is still a limited, region-specific release. It is not for anyone expecting a light, neutral lager, and right now it is not an option at all for drinkers outside South Korea.
What is Island192?
Island192 is a 5% ABV mushroom craft beer brewed with Seomsong-i shiitake mushrooms grown on Deokjeokdo island, part of Incheon, South Korea. It was developed by Eureumsil village residents with contract brewer Incheon Beer and is the country’s first commercially sold mushroom craft beer.
What does Island192 taste like?
Based on an early Untappd check-in and international press coverage, Island192 reads as musty, malty, earthy and nutty – flavors driven by the shiitake mushrooms rather than a standard lager profile.
Where can I buy Island192?
Right now it is only sold on Deokjeokdo island, through Incheon Beer, and at a restaurant in Seoul’s Mok-dong district. The first run was capped at 5,000 bottles, with wider distribution through spirits wholesalers planned but not yet live.
Is Island192 available outside South Korea?
No. As of this review, Island192 has no international distribution or import listing, so trying it means visiting Incheon or Seoul directly.
Where to buy Island192
Island192 is sold on Deokjeokdo island itself, through Incheon Beer, and at a restaurant in Seoul’s Mok-dong district. It launched with a pop-up store at the National Assembly Communications Building in Seoul on August 11-12, 2026. There is no online storefront or international shipping option yet, and the 5,000-bottle first run means it could sell out at any of those locations before wider distribution through spirits wholesalers kicks in.
The verdict
Island192 is a genuinely interesting entry in the mushroom beer category: a small island community turning its own specialty crop into a beer instead of just selling the raw mushrooms, with early tasting notes that back up the concept rather than just leaning on the novelty of it. The catch is availability – with only 5,000 bottles in the first run and zero presence outside Incheon and Seoul, this is a beer to watch rather than one most readers can pick up this week. If the planned wholesaler distribution materializes, it is worth seeking out.
Read more mushroom beer coverage in our Curious Zero Lion’s Mane Lager review.
FAQs
Who makes Island192?
Island192 is brewed by Incheon Beer (contract brewer) for Eureumsil village (an independent contract brewer).
What kind of beer is Island192?
Island192 is a Mushroom-infused craft lager, at 5.0% ABV.
How much alcohol is in Island192?
Island192 has an ABV of 5.0%.
How can I make Island192 taste better?
Serve it at the right temperature and in the right glass (see below), or use it as the base for a beer cocktail. Our beer cocktails guide has recipes worth trying.
Where is Island192 made?
Island192 is brewed by Incheon Beer (contract brewer) for Eureumsil village in Deokjeokdo Island, South Korea.
How much does Island192 cost?
Island192 typically runs KRW5,000 (about $3.60). Check current pricing and availability through the buy link above.
How do I open Island192 without a bottle opener?
A lighter, a sturdy key, a spoon, or the edge of a table all work in a pinch. See our full guide on opening a beer without a bottle opener for 8 methods that actually work.
What glass should I use for Island192?
A standard pint or tulip glass works well for a Mushroom-infused craft lager like Island192. See our beer glassware guide for style-by-style recommendations.
