Gwangalli beer bar before the drone show, Busan: Ebisu at Ganppa Beer

Saturday drone show in Gwangalli: a rare date night for parents

Gwangalli in Busan is super hot right now because there's a drone show every Saturday. The weather is great, the people-watching is great, there are lots of young people~ Winter will be here in a few days, so we decided to enjoy autumn to the fullest before then. Of course we couldn't skip the drone show.

We're a worn-out parent couple, so a night out together was seriously a long time coming. Gwangalli was packed with tourists, with no room to even put a foot down. Lots of foreigners too, and I got a proper helping of people-watching for the first time in ages. The crowds keep growing as the night goes on, but when we actually went to watch the drone show, the sand didn't feel that crowded. I think everyone was inside the bars ^~^ Still, Gwangalli on a weekend night is full of people!

One hour before the Gwangalli drone show: round two at Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2

With the drone show at 9 pm, we had about an hour to spare, so we headed to Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 (간빠맥주 광안2호점), which had been recommended a lot as a Gwangalli round-two spot. It's right in front of the drone show area, so the location is great!~ We left 10 minutes before the show.

• Name: Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 (간빠맥주 광안2호점)
• Address: 10 Gwangan-ro 62beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan (1st floor, Unit 101)
• Hours: 18:00-02:00

What kind of bar is Ganppa Beer?

Ganppa Beer is a Sapporo collaboration shop, and don't you dare think of it as an ordinary beer pub~ It's a premium draft beer specialist where you can have a glass at a good price. Outside Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 there's a spot where you can't eat food but can drink beer only. Quite a few people were walking past, just having a beer and leaving. If you want to sit down and drink, I'd recommend drinking outside too~?!

They say if you chug a beer successfully, you get a glass for free haha. If you're a big beer drinker, give it a try! Everyone has one or two friends around who are great at chugging, right~ Too bad it wasn't us.

Ebisu draft at 11,900 won a glass: is it too expensive?

All the snacks at Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 are under ₩10,000. We ordered one fried chicken skin, which my husband loves, and two Ebisu drafts. At ₩11,900 per glass of Ebisu I wondered if that was a bit pricey?! But it tastes exactly like drinking it in Japan, so don't doubt it, just order. Premium beer is on another level~~

They also give a short explanation of the beer. They keep pouring while adjusting the foam to the golden ratio, and dip the glass into ice water before handing it over.

They encourage you to take a sip right away... and my husband and I opened our eyes wide. It's really different from any draft beer we've had, and so smooth! The foam layer is light and delicious. We said we'd have just one beer and go, but it was so good that we decided to have a Sapporo too.

Fried chicken skin and other snacks under 10,000 won, served fast

Food comes out quickly at Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2. I'd guess tables turn over fast here! It's nice to be able to have light snacks for under ₩10,000.

Weekend-night queue and the rock-paper-scissors free beer at Ganppa Beer

There was a wait at Ganppa Beer Gwangalli 2 on Saturday night. Maybe because it was a weekend evening, but although we got in as number 1 in line, there was a queue behind us and the shop really filled up. The vibe here is standing and having a beer, and it was lively and fun.

There was also an event going on: win at rock-paper-scissors and you get a free Sapporo draft~!!! We lost right away, though. I love how fun and fresh an event like this is~~~!

Ebisu vs. Sapporo draft: how do they taste different?

The Ebisu draft is a little lighter but the foam layer feels premium, while the Sapporo draft has a slightly deeper malt aroma and a lager-like feel, and it goes down so well. In particular, the Ganppa signature glass is 0.9 mm thin, which seems to lift the beer's flavor a notch. After nothing but Cass and Terra, it feels like I've finally rediscovered a proper beer in a long time~~!!