Have you heard of any North Korean beers?

Would you like to try one? What do you think they would be like?

North Korea, is known more for its angry rhetoric, nuclear missile development and king and queen style regime. But it less known for one of its more harmless products: beer.

That, however, could change soon, if its beer popularity among visitors is any indication.

Those who judge beer agree North Korea's Taedonggang beer gets a high ranking in taste. 

According to a British journalist, Taedonggang gets a higher ranking than the average South Korean beer.

The secret to the beer's success is in its quality control, a pro-Pyongyang magazine that is based in Japan said.

In the magazine it is said that North Korea's Taedonggang beer is made using a quality-control method that begins in the hops cultivation area.

Employees of the beer factory are sent to the field, where they give instructions on how to produce and what to do.

The bitter taste of hops and its brewing process at the early part of production is key to the North Korean beer. The process of turning the hops and barely into beer and the use of circulating pump cleaners were cited as steps in enhancing the taste of the beer.

The popular North Korean brew uses barley in the malting process, and testers use a "five-sense analysis" to achieve agreement on the beer's quality.

Ri, the owner of the factory in the USA said the beer has received a "thumbs up" from American visitors to his factory and that he hopes to sell the beer internationally.

According to Yonhap news, Taedonggang began operating and making beer when North Korea purchased a closed British brewery for $15.7 million in 2000. The factory currently makes seven kinds of beer that mixes white rice with the barley brew.

Not all North Korean beers, however, are of equal quality.

JoongAng Daily news reported a nonprofit specializing in exchanges with North Korea posted a scathing online review of a new North Korean beer.

Samgak, or Triangle Beer, was said to have tasted like peanut peels mixed in with gasoline.

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=7, B=1, C=8, D=4, E=3, F=2, G=6, H=5

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1. The president’s rhetoric is always the same, he never says anything that is truly new.

2. Dictators such as President Asad in Syria are good examples of a regime.

3. Samsung has given an indication that it will release a new model next month.

4. The key to success is hard work.

5. When you do research at university you must cite where you got your information from.

6. The white shirt really enhances your beauty.

7. Our agency was given the thumbs up to start making the advertisement.

scathing

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1. How much do you believe the rhetoric of politicians?

2. What do you think is the worst regime in the world? Why?

3. Are there any indications that North Korea will change soon?

4. If you like beer, then what do you think is key to a good taste?

5. What do you think is key to learning English?

6. Who do you cite as someone who has had a big positive change for your country?

7. What things do you think can really enhance a woman’s beauty, or a man’s attractiveness?

8. Would you give a North Korean beer a thumbs up?

9. Do you think it was fair for the newspaper to give a scathing review to a North Korean beer just because it is North Korean?