Hum... These 2 episodes didn't really work for me.

I will wait for the next episodes to judge. But please, send the FL at the hospital! The blow in the ribs was pretty strong!

Who closes the branch of the second (third?) biggest city of Korea? For a beer that doesn't exist yet.

The ajummas remind me too much their character in The Law Cafe and Once Upon a Small Town.

I wasn't disapointed by cutie Chan-Hwi who is as excentrique as his role in Once Upon a Small Town.

Episode 2 was a lot better than episode 1.
Hopefully it will keep progressing that way.
The ajummas and other side characters feel a bit forced.
Beautiful setting though.

"Thank you for a lovely recap! I enjoyed reading it with my morning coffee ☕. Sure, there were some quirky, weird parts, but I actually loved the vibrant colours and the quirky characters—it all had a fun summer vibe. Drama gods, please keep it colourful! 🌞🌈" Kim Se-jung is always nice to watch and ML is first time for me.

Mentioning of Mission Impossible and that picture: I see what you did there!

Their meet-cute was more of a first encounter - he was creeped out by her army boots (and the rush of her emotions), she was creeped out by a stranger telling her she's not okay. The only thing that saved him was pretty privilege.
This might be one of the dramas that need more time to breath and to find it's rythm.

I hope Unit’s recaps keeps me going. I still haven’t finished episode 2. I love the leads but the drama is drudging along.
I have been waiting for Jong Won in a modern romcom and hope he can deliver. Will continue for now and hoping the leads bring some chemistry.

I watched the first episode on Monday and it struck me as a bit odd (even for a kdrama). I liked the leads, but I wasn’t sure if I liked anyone else, and I wasn’t sure about the tone it seemed to be going for. So I put it away for a minute and used Tuesday to catch up on some reading and didn’t get to episode 2 until Wednesday. I don’t know if it was the election, that the show settled into itself, that I understood better what they were going for, or just my mood (probably all of the above) but now I’m into it.

The empath thing doesn’t bother me. It’s a bit cringey to say that about yourself (in my culture at least), but I fully believe there are people who are more emotionally attuned to others and the fact that they seem to have taken it to the level of superhero feels fine and very kdrama. I actually really loved how they showed it visually, with Yong-ju smiling up at him, and inside feeling panicked, desperate, and worried.

I’m also warming up to the side characters. Min-ju’s little brother seems great of course, but I didn’t love the hop field workers at first and now I’m coming around to them. When Yong-ju held her stomach and complained of hunger and they caved right away it was so great! I also love how totally unsubtle the show is with A-reum talking about her future husband and immediately cutting to the peach farmer toast truck guy! Makes me chuckle every time! In short, I’m excited for next week, excited to see more of Yong-ju’s smile and Min-ju’s furrowed brow (and looking forward to the day when they switch!), and excited to be back in romcom land!

Cheers 🍻 for the recap. So glad I was not the only one getting uncanny vibes, although Se-jong's character was more of a tsundere there. While not on the level of The Business Proposal, the drama did manage to engage me, quirks and all. 😂👍🏻 How long can it hold my interest especially in view of so many dramas premiering this week is to be seen. Like you I too hope for more of rom-com than melo. A side of healing is always welcome.

Needless to say Baek Sung-chul's Oh Chan-hwi is my favorite character for now. Ah! I spoke too soon - it is Photo, the cat in a hammock. 😻

The yin-yang OTP with Mission Impossible level of fitness versus bumping into all corners possible (table, sofa, bed) and taping them over 😂 should be an interesting watch. So good wishes for the drama to do well. It needn't be perfect (nothing ever is) is entertaining enough for a few laughs and happy memories. I am empathetic like that. 😉

The first two episodes weren't strong but I'll stick around. Also am I the only one who thinks Lee Jong won looks like the male Moon Gayoung ?

The set-up is very cute but dang - Lee Jong-Won definitely looks better in Hanbok haha!

The first two episodes were head tilt, but I liked how slightly off it was. I didn't expect the empath angle and I like it that the man is the more sensitive. I also appreciate that KSJ tries to never play the damsel, I am enjoying her as this tough as nails candy.

I really wanted to like this drama, but I feel like there was something off with the first two episodes. The editing was confused and all these plot details were just thrown at us, rapid fire. My brain struggled to grasp what was happening, and I'm not sure if it's just bc I was tired after work or something.

Should I be rooting for Yong-ju here? I understand that the livelihood of her branch is on the line, but once her company acquires or "partners" with his brewery, I don't think Min-joo will get to decide the direction of his own enterprise. Nor will he be able to be so lax and understanding towards his workers' needs, yeah?

Personally, I didn't feel the chemistry between any of the couples so far, but perhaps that will change. Regardless, I will stick with this drama for now because I like the cast.

I only watched episode 1. This starts off like a dozen car pile-up on a foggy road. There are too many conflicting genres and way too many secondary characters introduced in the first hour. There were too many apparent show mash-ups. Our spunky, petite FL is a beer company sales rep who is a former special forces soldier who collects payments like a gangster. In the real world, that makes no sense but this is action-fantasy like THE AUDITORS. Our ML is the introverted zen master genius with no social skills which gives me the vibe of BEST CHICKEN but with beer. But then we get a a bunch of overly quirky farm villagers trying their best to be a community theater version of PEGASUS MARKET. Then we learn the ML has a bad relationship with his former soldier father, who does understand his “sensitive son.” But the ML’s empathic ability is shown more supernatural than instinctual. It seems the set up will include a factory (office) crisis, a love triangle with the rich marketing woman who is looking for the “perfect” man, illogical corporate fighting between beverage companies and multiple family melo moments.

These first two episodes were so laden down with way too much exposition, which made them a boring watch for me. I don't think we needed to know so much so fast. Now, there are parts I like. The two leads already have great chemistry and I really like Min ju's brewery and everyone who works there. I also like the more mellow, thoughtful vibe, especially in Min ju's scenes. But did we need a confrontation with his dad in the very first episode? And did we need so much time devoted to the office politics of Yong ju's job when she got moved to the Seoul office in the next episode? Hopefully now that the table is set, it'll settle into a an enjoyable groove from now on.

I enjoyed episode one of BREWING LOVE more than episode two which I thought dragged. Early days so we are still learning about our characters. Not guaranteeing I will make it to the finish line but I will move in to episodes 3 & 4.
I am glad the early drinking scenes were subdued for kdrama standards. In other words I think everyone walked away without being helped, carried or stinking drunk. Credit to the writer if that was intentional.
Probably odd but a couple head scratchers for me in the first two episodes were:
1. The business side of the story is kind of absurd. From what I observed there is no way the small number of people around Min-joo could run even a small micro-brewery never mind one that also includes a farm. The few locals around seem appropriately annoying. Will they grow on me? (O/T. In FAMILY BY CHOICE, after 10 episodes, the locals and that includes Madame continue to be super annoying.)
2. I believe at almost every drinking scene beer was never drunk solo. There was also soju chasers. Do folks there ever drink ‘just’ beer?

I always appreciate @unit 's recaps, funny, balanced, but still lively about both the good and bad parts of the show. But I liked this recap n particular because I knew in general DB commentators would be very negative on these first two episodes, probably rightfully so! Still, I tell you, I watched the bulk of these two episodes on Tuesday night, as the extraordinarily depressing U.S. election results were coming in (young American women--flee this country, right now!) and they made for a great escape.

First of all, I'm not defending the witty writing--there were only two times I laughed when the show intended, and both in the second episode--first when the FL won her way to the older women workers' hearts by saying she was hungry (that was actually pretty funny) and then when the FL absurdly rappelled down to his balcony--though I was really hoping that she would accidentally swing into his arms as he opened the sliding glass door, that would have been even funnier).

The staring at each other as the carnival world stops was kind of amusing send up of that cliche, and was the male lead’s empathy causing two or three FL characters to appear in his vision. That will get pretty old pretty fast, though.

But again, to me the premise is no more ridiculous than a lot of kdrama rom-coms, and I'd much rather have a ML who keeps himself aloof and prickly because he is too sensitive, rather than one who is so traumatized by a car accident killing his parents (that they play over and over.). They already hinted at some trauma in his background, but along with Unit, I’m hoping that won’t overwhelm the show.

As for the FL, special forces--sure, I'll go with that. It allows Kim Sejeong to showcase her athletic presence. She remains the only kdrama actress I've ever seen who runs decently--all others are so awkward it hurts to watch them. (That’s true of a lot of Kdrama men, by the way. Running does not seem to be Korea’s fictional athletic forte, despite the inspirational marathon victory starring Im Is-wan.)

All the four leads are very attractive, so there’s that. The real life hop-farm and house make for a nice setting. And the cat looking skeptical from his hammock could provide some good commentary if they made more use of it. I’m always a fan of animal characters when they don’t talk.

In the end, I’m really hoping that this just provides some fluffy escapist fare—that no serial killer appears, that no trauma causes a lead to develop a split personality, that the ML doesn’t act like a 10 year old when he falls in love, and that our special forces FL doesn’t have to plunge her knife repeatedly into a bad guy and get splattered with fake blood.

I really tried, but my attention kept wandering off during ep 1. That, combined with the "empath" thing, just made me decide that this is not for me. If it was 30 min, sure, but I can't do 60+ min.

Did anyone else here read Gundam Wing fanfiction back in the day? People always wrote Quatre like he was an empath (which is really hilarious looking back, that his comparative lack of psychopathy compared to the other four pilots was viewed as him being an empath) and he had these special powers. I hated it then and I hate it now, haha. I probably even hate it more now because I work in mental health and know that empaths are just not a thing.

this actually sounds really nice. i want to check it out.

I liked this! The leads look so cute together already. Their encounter was a bit fast, but I didn't mind knowing this drama only has 12 episodes and they are in the same business area.

Kim Se Jung plays bubbly, vibrant characters so well. <3 Episode 2 helped endear her character to me even more. Seeing her constant smiles and quick action looked a bit off, but then came the reveal that she was hiding her negative emotions.

Lee Jong Won did well playing this gentle, clumsy role. Seeing familiar side characters was great too.

The people around sensitive Min Joo are quite different from him - expressive, talkative, quirky. Sometimes loud. Min Joo's empathic scenes are sooo extra. ^^" I'm letting the show be a typical kdrama with their extra emphasis on a character's particular trait. I would have appreciated a subtle portrayal. Maybe there will be thoughtful scenes that better depict this quality. I did like how he spoke to his father and stood his ground.

I gotta look up Baek Sung Chul. His character is real cute and sweet here.

I was really looking forward to BREWING LOVE but after the first two episodes I was not sure what I am watching. The good news: No one is getting drunk. I am not surprised: We are talking beer here, not soju.

The bad news- there were attempts at slapstick comedy that did not really connect. It seems like the writer and PD are trying to achieve effects similar to a webtoon- if the show was based upon a webtoon I could understand this- but there would also be more logic in the adaptation to live action as well. Oddly, the best parts of the show are when our ML is interacting with his very much younger brother. Yet the show does have moments when things really do connect.

Perhaps the most jarring character was the portrayal of the ML's father. There is a weird stereotype that some ignorant people have of what a general would be like- and that cardboard cutout of a 'Major General' is what we have been served up here. It doesn't work and is unconvincing here. It is also unneeded.

Even though the first two episodes were uneven they did get better as the story moved along. For now, I am sticking with it.

After two episodes, my current reaction is "Mostly Harmless'. I will watch it, but I won't be holding my breath. I found the whirlwind of genres distracting as well, and spent a lot of the first episode wondering what audience they were aiming at. I had thought it was going to be a bright sparky sultry drama with lots of drinking,drunk confessions, and double entendres, aimed at getting young,hip viewers. But I think it is actually aimed at young hip viewers mums', which is why they have the exposition about beer at the start. And now we are into a k-drama fantasy where the guys are allowed to be sensitive while the women kick butt. I doubt we are going to see much about beer from now on. (Even the drinking scene, we had the Soju bottles heavily featured- ppl I guess- and the beer was hardly there)
From the way they are talking about chipping the glass neck, it sounds like they still have a reuse system for their bottles, rather than a recycle one. Good on them.

I was disappointed to find the first week's eps so lacking in charm, chemistry, and even a steady camera. The pace is frantic, the direction odd/clunky, and the storyline difficult to follow. The representation of an empath's experience is not working for me at all. And perhaps most jarring was the ML and FL crossing each other's boundaries in ways that are inexplicable, uncomfortable, and decidedly NOT romantic. Sigh. Everything about this production feels forced. I'll try for one more week because I love the cast and want this to be better.

I enjoyed both episode as It fit my mood. I guess I am easy to entertain.
Noticed when Min ju saw Yong ju emotions it was different emotions she had compared to Chan hwi and A reum. I guess this represent how closed off Yong ju is from her emotions that she those not even notice them herself. It like she is so mission oriented that she those not take time to listen to her own body. I hope and think we gonna dive more into humans emotions and feelings as our man is emphatic and there is allot to talk about that.

PS: I love we gonna get two love lines from the four leads and not any love triangle!

I managed to watch both episodes without having to turn off the show because it was too annoying. I cannot say that I will be able to stick with it though. I'm just disappointed that Kim Se-jung can't catch a break. Yes, OK, she's very athletic and peppy, but does she have to play a swashbuckling role in every show? She caught my eye in Business Proposal, where even as a non-athletic food scientist she got to do some great physical comedy. This role as a beer distributor is already looking totally thankless.

On the bright side I learned a lot from your comments here!

I don't care about logic in this drama... I just love the connection between the leads. Slowly but surely, they're trusting themselves (maybe even faster than that).

Melodramatic plots will always come but I have the skip buttons for that. I actually feel a blend of cute and maturity when it comes to these two. Moreover, the way her investigative background helps her to understand him and his sensitivity helps him to understand her is one huge common ground that supersedes their differences.

Besides, I need a light and bright drama especially after binge watching/crying over one 'Mr. Sea creature.'