Episode 8 of "Brewing Love" kicks off with a tender moment between Min-ju and Yong-ju, their lips barely touching before Min-ju abruptly pulls away, torn between her emotions. Yong-ju, understanding her hesitation, gently urges her to take all the time she needs to sort through her feelings.
As they descend the mountain together, a collective sigh of relief ripples through the village, realizing the distress call had originated elsewhere. Yet, eyes are keenly observant of Min-ju's overt attention towards Yong-ju, which irks Yong-ju, prompting her to remind Min-ju that she's now the obstacle, much like how he once stood in her way.
The morning sun finds Min-ju awakening beside Chan-hwi, remnants of a night filled with revelry still lingering in the air. Chan-hwi's mind was troubled by Ah-reum's impending date with a matchmaking agency prospect, while Min-ju pondered over Yong-ju's patience threshold.
Ah-reum embarks on her date but spots Chan-hwi discreetly observing from afar. His presence monopolizes her thoughts, leading her to decline the date proposal abruptly. The rejected suitor, irked, seizes her hand, but Chan-hwi swiftly intervenes, stepping in to protect her. Their escape leads them to a serene beach, where Ah-reum, on a whim, propositions a romantic relationship. Chan-hwi's joy knows no bounds.
Elsewhere, Yong-ju struggles to extricate her thoughts from Min-ju, despite her concerted efforts to do so. At the brewery, the team's arrival is met with astonishment as they discover Ah-reum and Chan-hwi's budding romance. Once work commences, Min-ju maintains a deliberate distance from Yong-ju, her usual warmth now a distant memory. They sample a fresh batch of beer, engaging in a nuanced discussion about the distinct characteristics of their two creations.
Back at Jisang, the planning director is incensed by the marketing director's antics, a rage that fuels a dark decision: he would sooner witness the new product's failure than concede victory to his adversary. Meanwhile, the marketing director tightens the screws on Yong-ju, urging her to expedite their efforts. Exhausted, Yong-ju returns home, where her grandmother notes a change in her demeanor, relishing the sight of her granddaughter's evolving self. That night, Yong-ju inadvertently dials Min-ju's number, only to quickly dissemble and pretend all is well. Almost impulse-driven to ask if he should visit, she checks herself. Alone, Yong-ju ponders her feelings for Min-ju, only to find herself lost in a labyrinth of confusion.
The subsequent meeting unfolds with a palpable sense of defeat as the team laments their indecisiveness. Sook-ja and Young-ja intervene with steaming bowls of coffee, sharing anecdotes of how they discovered their beloved brews. Yong-ju's muse is sparked; she proposes a radical idea—launching a beer series with varying alcohol contents and flavors, catering to individual moods. Dubbing it as respecting the contemporary ethos, where drinking is not solely about intoxication.
Yong-ju's enthusiasm for the novel concept is short-lived upon the arrival of Lim Ju-hee, a marketing manager from Baekmok Liquor, and notably, Min-ju's ex-girlfriend. Through Ju-hee's narration of their high school ballet-infused romance, Yong-ju's jealousy surfaces, and she storms off in a huff. Min-ju bids Ju-hee a casual farewell, unaware of the storm brewing within Yong-ju.
Yong-ju vents her frustration in soliloquy, even indulging in whimsical fantasies about what a high school romance with Min-ju might have been. Min-ju catches her in her reverie and, to her astonishment, invites her out on a colleague's date. Yong-ju seeks Ah-reum's counsel for a dress selection, transforming herself for the occasion. Min-ju is visibly awestruck upon her arrival, presenting her with flowers. Yong-ju, pleasantly surprised by her appreciation for the gesture, finds herself liking it. He vows to unveil all the things she loves, fostering an even deeper connection between them.
They enjoyed a wondrous time together, yet Yong-ju returned to an eerily silent house. A sudden phone call spurred her into a frantic rush to the hospital. Upon reaching the hospital bedside, she collapsed onto her knees, overcome with grief. Her beloved grandmother had departed from this world. Yong-ju, still clad in the same dress, embarked on the solemn task of arranging the funeral rites. Among the belongings, she discovered a voice message from her grandmother.
In the poignant recording, her grandmother revealed she had summoned an ambulance but sensed that her time had come. She urged Yong-ju to freely express her emotions and expressed her profound honor in being her granddaughter. Yong-ju flashed a wan smile throughout the funeral, reassuring everyone that she was alright. However, her composure crumbled upon her father's arrival. A fleeting memory resurfaced, depicting her parents abandoning her with her grandmother. He was merely 21, eager to escape his responsibilities.
In the present moment, Yong-ju conveyed to her father that she had forged a wonderful life with her grandmother. Steeling herself, she walked outdoors, determined to maintain her composure. But Min-ju, unable to bear her pain alone, chased after her and enveloped her in a warm embrace. His tears, flowing freely, finally triggered Yong-ju's long-suppressed sorrow, bringing an emotional close to Episode 8 of Brewing Love.
