Brewing Love (2024)

A Whiff of Beer and Bubblegum

Sometimes a drama lands in the middle ground—not bad enough to rant about, not good enough to rave about. This particular romcom feels like white noise, a pleasant enough background hum that neither surprises nor offends. It’s just there.

The story, ostensibly about beer (and maybe a covert PSA for liver transplant hospitals), checks every box for its genre. It’s bubbly, light, and packed with characters whose childlike antics make you feel like you’re watching a cartoon version of adulthood. While the premise is quirky, the execution doesn’t quite pop.

The second couple, though, steals the spotlight with their adorably sweet interactions. They’re a joy to watch and, honestly, more compelling than the main storyline at times. Thankfully, the drama avoids some of the genre’s most tired tropes—no love triangles, no catastrophic miscommunications, and (hallelujah!) no noble idiocy. Instead, we get two couples who actually talk to each other and work through their issues like emotionally intelligent adults. A rare win for healthy relationship portrayals in romcoms!

However, the narrative feels so light it’s almost forgettable. The pacing meanders, and there are plenty of moments where you might find yourself zoning out. The “special forces” subplot? Let’s just say it’s absurd enough to make you question its inclusion. And while the music is cute and inoffensive, it doesn’t leave much of an impression either.

If you’re looking for depth or a strong emotional arc, this isn’t the drama for you. But if you’re in the mood for something breezy and low-stakes—complete with a classic Kopiko ad cameo—it might scratch that itch.

Ultimately, this drama is like a glass of beer on a lazy afternoon. It’s light, frothy, and gone before you know it. Not every sip is memorable, but at least it doesn’t leave a bad taste.

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It was very challenging to rate and review Brewing Love. The tone and plot of the show varied wildly from one episode to another. There were episodes that I adored and gave five stars and others I could barely finish. What really worked in this drama was the main romance. Min-ju was a dream man. He was so gentle and caring but also very determined and flirtatious once he decided to pursue Yong-ju. He had several lines that made me burst into tears at how beautiful and compassionate they were. The episodes that revolved around the two of them really worked for me.

What didn’t work was the majority of the rest of the plot, as well as the pacing. The beer storyline would have been okay if it had been minor but it took up so much time and was not interesting to watch. A lot of the character development and backstory felt like it was missing, even for the leads. Some of the side plots had potential and then felt like they either fell flat or were completely brushed past, like with Min-ju’s traumatic past and mental health, or the relationship with his dad. The second couple started off okay, although it was hard for me to get on board because the actor just looks so young, but their storyline felt very disappointing at the end. The way they addressed his backstory felt very clumsy, and their relationship felt very rushed and inauthentic. I really like Yong-ju’s grandma and wished the show had gone more into their relationship.

Brewing Love was very odd because the first few episodes were incredibly boring but then there were some great episodes in the middle. It felt like the show had maybe had a rough start and then hit its stride, but then I also felt that it got very boring again at the end. The show felt all over the place. It was disappointing because there were some episodes that were fantastic. The male lead was such a green flag and it was interesting how they flipped a lot of gender stereotypes with their relationship. There was a lot to like in the show, it was just very inconsistent.

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