other or are just beginning to. And at the center of it all is the eponymous Brendan Maloney.
also the spirit of Maloneys. One employee suggested using the Charming, fastmotto “Get Fisted,” which would talking, and foulhave been as Maloney’s as one mouthed, Brendan can get. The Legend is a masterBut if the Maloney’s concept Charming, fast-talking, and storyteller and is Boston, what’s with the fists foul-mouthed, Brendan is a masthe core of what and the Irish references? Brenter-storyteller and the core of makes Maloney’s what makes Maloney’s the de the de facto home dan gives a history lesson. “Boston is where a lot of the facto home away from home for away from home Irish immigrants came to. Bamany expats in Seoul. Hailing for many expats sically, in Boston you had the from Boston, Brendan Maloney in Seoul. Hailing downtown area which was facbrings a special attitude that from Boston, tories at the time. You had the not only embodies the bar, but Brendan Maloney North end where the Italians also his brewing company, also brings a special live. And you had the South named Maloneys. attitude that not end—Southie—and that was Maloney’s craft beers— only embodies where the Irish immigrants Southie Irish Red Ale, Combat the bar, but lived. And the two would fight Zone IPA, and the new Whitey’s also his brewing company... for the factories jobs. And they're Black Irish Ale—all harken back both still there. They have great to Boston. “The reason why we pizza in the North end and great chose the concept of Boston,” bars in the South end.” Brendan explains, “Boston's a kind of tough town to grow up in, so our beers are kind of rough. They're high in alcohol. They're high The Beer in hop content. So our idea originally was to Brendan’s beer recipe savant is the homehave nothing less than 6% abv. That's why we brewing legend Bill Miller. “Bill's, he's our also have the fist, you know, the punch in your recipe guy, and he doesn't give a f*&%. He's tastebuds.” The fist he speaks of is the shape just gonna make the beers that he likes and of the tap-handle for all Maloney’s beers, and that's it.” I asked Bill about his newest beer,
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perating since 2011, Maloney’s Pub & Grill is a Seoul expat institution. Located in hip, gentrified Kyungridan—where fads burn bright before flicking out, and the fortunes of businesses revolve like Pat Sajak’s infamous wheel—Maloney’s stays refreshingly unchanged. Walk through the door, take a seat at the bar, and you might notice the new Hall of Fame nameplates honoring Maloney's regulars. Or plaques celebrating those who’ve chugged the fastest pint of Guinness and eaten the most hot wings. Maybe the foosball table or electronic dart board. The setting is pure Irish-American, but the modest version. Not like how Canucks in Itaewon does Canada, all glossy and kitsch, but like one’s favorite working-class pub back home. Perhaps the most noticeable feature is the quiet music and buzz of English conversation at the bar. Nearby, a pair of Koreans, looking to indulge in some hip Yongsan trends, sit in the corner and politely eat their American-style hamburgers and sip their craft beers, silently stealing glances at the strange exhibit at the bar. A row of foreign men—it’s almost certain to be all men, of all ages—flowing in and out of conversation amongst themselves and with everyone else. It’s as if everyone knows each