Brewing Love – K-drama Episode 1 Recap & Review

Episode 1

Episode 1 of Brewing Love begins with a badass woman dressed in a black special ops uniform busting up a shady beer sale organised by a cheating wholesaler. This is Chae Yong-ju of Jisang Liquor. The wholesaler bought beer on credit from Jisang and was about to sell it for cash without paying Jisang back. But Yong-ju and her team put a stop to it.

Afterwards, Yong-ju and her team celebrate. As her team members talk, we learn how Yong-ju made the brand Likey a massive success in Busan over the last six years. But when wholesalers began to cheat them, Yong-ju started to go after them while dressed in her black special ops suit.

Meanwhile, a senior member tells Yong-ju that the chairman is visiting. Another scene shows the chairman giving a new beer, Naro Beer, to his board members. As everybody fawns over the taste, the chairman demands that Jisang acquire the beer or have the owner, Yoon Min-ju, join the company as soon as possible.

Two senior managers rush from this meeting with the chairman to confer with their respective teams — they don’t seem to like each other. The head of the planning team asks for a woman named Bang Ah-reum, who is the team’s ace section chief. However, she’s currently meeting a matchmaker and is looking for a perfect husband.

We then shift to Chungcheong province, where a young man named Chan-hwi drives a truck selling toast. He goes to Uillhan Brewery and speaks to Yoon Min-ju, admitting that he’s in love with his beer. So much so that he offers to be a part-timer whenever needed in return for that delicious beer.

Chan-hwi also asks for an advance on the beer for his noona (an older, female friend). His noona turns out to be none other than Yong-ju. Chan-hwi shares the beer with Yong-ju, who loves it immediately.

Back in Chungcheong, we are introduced to the people working with Min-ju. They include two fussy middle-aged women and a young woman named Jjuan as well as her husband. When they break for lunch, Min-ju gets a message from Ah-reum who says she has an offer for him. He isn’t interested. Later the village chief joins the team as well and they all discuss how Min-ju doesn’t talk much.

After everyone else leaves, Jjuan and her husband tell Min-ju that they are going to her hometown. Min-ju, hypersensitive to other people’s emotions, says he already gleaned this from Jjuan’s good mood the whole day. Jjuan’s husband apologises to Min-ju for leaving him short-staffed during a busy time but Min-ju is as gracious as ever.

Back in Busan, Yong-ju goes out drinking with her colleagues and then returns home to her grandmother. She tucks her sleeping grandma in bed and then does a whole string of chores around the house.

The next morning, Min-ju gets a call from a small boy named Min-ho. He demands Min-ju visit for his birthday. Min-ju ends up asking Chan-hwi to babysit his cat in the meantime. As it happens, Ah-reum and her colleague visit the brewery that same day. They assume Chan-hwi is the owner but the misunderstanding soon clears up.

Meanwhile, a restaurant owner calls Yong-ju for help because some Jisang employees have gotten into a fight with Baekmok (the reining beer brand in the area) employees. Yong-ju manages to settle the issue with the other brand’s manager although he comments that Jisang is in trouble.

Min-ju arrives at Min-ho’s birthday to find his father, an ex-army general, has turned it into a gathering of his own colleagues. Min-ho seems to be Min-ju’s younger brother. Min-ju and his father argue and his father calls him weak. Min-ju stands up for himself and says he’s hypersensitive, an empath, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

A flashback shows his mother’s funeral, making it clear that the woman at present is the father’s second wife. Min-ju then storms out with Min-ho in his arms.

Yong-ju isn’t having the best time either as her supervisor informs her that the Busan branch is being closed down because of the chairman going after Naro. Yong-ju is determined not to give up.

Min-ju takes Min-ho to an amusement park when Min-ho sets his eyes on a huge teddy bear. Unfortunately, they need to score 700 points in the shooting game to do so. Who overhears this conversation? Yong-ju herself! Min-ju sees her army shoes and hesitates but Min-ho gels with her quite well.

She takes on the challenge and begins shooting, muttering Naro and Yoon Min-ju’s names while taking out her frustration. At the end of Brewing Love Episode 1, Min-ju takes hold of her hand and can vividly feel her distress. He asks if she’s okay and she says she is. He responds that he knows she’s not fine.

The Episode Review

Episode 1 starts Brewing Love on a light, enjoyable note that isn’t immediately attention-grabbing but does show a lot of promise. The K-drama seems to be on the more dramatic side of things, with the acting, humour, and action leaning towards being over-the-top.

However, the series leans into this approach and complements the exaggeration with fun graphics and quirky sound effects. Kim Se-jeong and Lee Jong-won bring out this balance as well with Kim’s passion and overblown expressions countering Lee’s muted, more introverted character. This should make their eventual romance a fun ride.

While the show’s plot did mention Min-ju’s hypersensitivity, it is a bit of a surprise to see his empathy portrayed with a bit of magical realism. The way he physically sees Yong-ju’s inner turmoil is a good way to show us his abilities and is an interesting twist. It also shows the need for the exaggerated dramatics as it helps suspend your disbelief that much more. All in all, a positive start!