Brewing Love Episode 4 Review: Min-ju’s Heart Beats for Yong-ju and He Loves It

In Brewing Love episode 3, Young Ju’s determination to recruit Min Ju to Jisang Liquor brings her closer to the reserved brewmaster, as she spends time observing his thoughtful nature and genuine care for his employees. Her resilience in the face of his initial coldness starts to soften him, and their bond deepens during a heartfelt moment in the mountains, where Min Ju opens up about his challenging past.

Meanwhile, Bang A Reum, an ambitious rival, arrives with her own plan to lure Min Ju, manipulating the villagers into seeing Young Ju as an outsider with harmful intentions. This causes tension, as the villagers turn against Young Ju, accusing her of wanting to take Min Ju away from them. However, Min Ju stands by Young Ju, defending her publicly, which solidifies their growing connection and hints at a future partnership not only in work but perhaps in romance as well.

Brewing Love is a brand new 2024 Korean drama directed by Park Seon-ho, blending comedy, romance, and drama into an engaging storyline. It stars Kim Se-jeong and Lee Jong-won in the lead roles along with Shin Do-hyun, Baek Sung-chul and Baek Hyun-joo in pivotal roles.

– Contains Spoilers –

Brewing Love Episode 4 Recap

The episode resumes with Min-ju standing up for Yong-ju when the villagers misunderstand her intentions. To avoid further conflict, he asks both A-reum and Yong-ju to leave and confirms he will not sign with Jisang. Hearing this, both women depart, though Yong-ju feels especially devastated. On her way back, she scolds herself, but Min-ju finds her and asks her to stop being so hard on herself. She tells him to either “heal or hurt” her, as his actions have been confusing. He invites her to his home before answering her.

Yong-ju takes a shower and finds a note and some food on the table. As she eats, she wonders why Min-ju is so persistent. She then meets him at the brewery, where he explains how important the villagers are to him and shares how he came to the village and earned their trust. Hearing his story, Yong-ju recalls her team back in Busan and begins to understand his reluctance to join a big company, as it could harm his employees.

Determined to make things work, she asks for a chance to make things right with the villagers, though A-reum steps in. Yong-ju asks A-reum for a private chat, and they argue over the importance of capital versus respecting the villagers’ emotions. Yong-ju insists it’s important to respect the people, while A-reum focuses on profit, surprised by Yong-ju’s lack of hostility. When they return, they find Min-ju and his employees stressed over the beer supply.

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The village chief had ordered beer for the next week, but now they worry about today’s festival, which has unlimited beer. Hearing this, Yong-ju quickly makes a plan. A-reum takes the chance to help Min-ju at the brewery with Chan-hwi. Noticing her struggle, Chan-hwi hands her his handkerchief and helps her out. Yong-ju calls her Busan branch for an extra supply of Likey beer and receives approval from her marketing head. She and Beom drive from Seoul with a truck full of beer.

En route, they get delayed by an accident blocking the road. Yong-ju worries about being late but calls the Busan branch chairman, who uses his influence to get the road cleared so the truck can continue. Meanwhile, Min-ju tries to manage with the beer he’s brewed, but it won’t be enough. A-reum uses the opportunity to cast doubt on Yong-ju’s intentions, twisting Yong-ju’s words against her. Min-ju remains polite but ends the conversation.

Yong-ju overhears and feels hurt. Chan-hwi and A-reum step out to clear the air. Yong-ju asks if Min-ju trusted A-reum’s words, but he doesn’t respond. She explains her dedication to the village, expressing her wish to stay and earn his trust. Touched by her sincerity, Min-ju feels moved. Back at the festival, Yong-ju arrives with tins of beer, surprising everyone. Min-ju stands by her and announces he’s signing with her.

A-reum leaves, feeling hurt. Yong-ju is surprised by his decision, and later, Min-ju explains he’s been observing her and knows she’s genuine. Yong-ju notices he wears her hairband on his wrist, while Min-ju notices her sneakers, realizing they look out for each other. Meanwhile, Chan-hwi stops A-reum from leaving and cheers her up, hiding her from the public so she can eat and feel at ease. At the festival, Yong-ju saves Min-ju from the crowd and later from the village chief, who insists on feeding him.

Yong-ju and Min-ju relax by his house with a campfire, sharing their struggles and past memories. Feeling drawn to her, Min-ju tries to distract himself by grabbing another beer. When he returns, Yong-ju places a cloth over a sharp edge to protect him, showing her understanding. Min-ju heads to his room, but first, he meditates while playing music.

From her balcony, Yong-ju begins singing. Min-ju hears her, pauses his music, and listens to her voice as he meditates. The next morning, Min-ju heads to the Jisang meeting but gets nervous. He receives a video from Yong-ju featuring testimonies from people who loved his beer the night before, and her message motivates him to continue to Jisang. There, Yong-ju introduces her team, which now includes Beom, A-reum, and Ra-oh. Together, they sigh, anticipating Chan-hwi’s antics.

Back in Tae-jo’s office, he loudly celebrates Yong-ju’s name, hoping planning head Jang-goon will hear, but stops in surprise upon seeing A-reum and Ra-oh in her team. Later, the four meet for the contract signing, where Yong-ju agrees to all the terms Min-ju proposed. Min-ju feels understood and content. They all plan a team dinner that night.

During dinner, Ra-oh challenges Min-ju to name seven beers out of ten, which he easily does, impressing the group. Beom then initiates a dart challenge with Min-ju, but Chan-hwi steps up on his behalf, winning both the dart game and a diving game, impressing A-reum. As the night wraps up, only Min-ju, Yong-ju, and Beom remain.

Min-ju brings medicine for Beom, while Yong-ju applies cream to his swollen forehead. Min-ju feels sympathy for Beom and realizes he has a crush on Yong-ju. He assures himself that these feelings aren’t his own. When it begins to rain, Beom and Yong-ju run for shelter. Noticing Min-ju standing in the rain, lost in thought, Yong-ju runs to him. His heart races as he gazes into her eyes, beginning to question his feelings.

Brewing Love Episode 4 Review

This episode is packed with emotional depth, allowing each character’s motivations and conflicts to come to the surface in meaningful ways. Min-ju’s protective stance toward Yong-ju as the villagers misjudge her reveals a softer, more loyal side to his character, setting up an evolving trust between them that feels well-earned. The tensions between personal loyalty and corporate interests come to a head in the heated debate between Yong-ju and A-reum, highlighting their opposing views. Yong-ju’s tireless efforts to support Min-ju at the festival, despite the roadblocks, add to the episode’s high stakes and satisfying payoff as Min-ju finally declares his commitment to work with her.

Meanwhile, the episode also brings a new spark to the dynamic between A-reum and Chan-hwi, who continue to get closer in a refreshingly subtle way. Their budding chemistry is endearing, with Chan-hwi’s small acts of care, like sharing his handkerchief and creating a safe space for A-reum when she’s upset, showing his protective nature. A-reum’s admiration for Chan-hwi’s unexpected talents at the team dinner, along with his effortless wins in every game, adds a playful and lighthearted element. Their scenes add warmth to the episode, balancing the more serious conflicts, and hint at the possibility of an evolving relationship that’s built on shared respect and understanding.

Brewing Love is streaming on Viki.

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