How to start a career in brewing?

Your question occasionally comes up in this forum, so here is a link to a search that I did using 'employment' as my search word. https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/search/33799079/?q=employment&o=date&c[node]=39 You may be able to find other threads using other search words.

Probably somewhere in the conversations in those threads on this topic will be some comments that there is not much chance to make much money in the brewing end of the industry unless you are the owner or a head brewer of a large brewery. I don't want to discourage you, but you need to know what you are getting into. If you really want to be in the brewery side of the business, try asking the local places if they need a volunteer. Once you get you foot inside the door, maybe there will be an opportunity to advance as an employee. Also consider getting your start in the distribution end of the business as another option.

Also, keep homebrewing and studying that process to further your knowledge. Good luck to you.

 

Not to deter you or anything but think smaller. I get places needing 3 years experience for brewers. But here, I am seeing many places having packaging and delivery driver openings with no experience needed. The pay is generally crap (and some places have you drive your own vehicle to retail locations), but the one caveat is that they tend to preach FREE BEER after every shift, and they'll teach you how to brew. College aged people line up like crazy with the illusion that it'll be like their drunken tap room experiences but only being paid to be there.

But maybe that is more localized to my area.

Overall, what place isnt like the brewers dream job though. Brewing is 75% sanitization. So get used to cleaning stuff very very GOOD, and you may be onto something.

 

Ask your local breweries if they need volunteer work on bottling days to get your foot in the door. Then when Jimmy gets caught smoking dope behind the Brite tank and gets the boot you're first in line for full-time. Getting ahead is the same in all industries, started at the bottom now we here!

 

The idea of volunteering in a brewery while looks good from a potential employee standpoint does not look too appealing from a brewers outlook. Brewing/brewery work is hard wet dirty hot and cold ( yes it can and will happen) and sticky work that no one should do for free and thus unless its under the guise of helping a buddy grain out or scrub some tanks once or twice id look for a different route to employment.

Here are a few ideas if this is a path you really want to follow:

• Find a brewery that is on the verge of opening ( with zero to very few staff) and be willing to start at the very bottom
• Attend brewing school ( this and a science degree will help you move up the ladder faster than your average cog.
• Continue Home brewing ( while not the best route it will get your sanitation practices sound)
• Open your own brewery ( for some people it is their only way into the industry)

 

If it hasn't been mentioned in any of the things you read, make as many friends with brewers and employees of breweries as you can.

Also many brewers start as home brewers so if you join a club there is a high likelihood one or more of the club members will become professional brewers. From my club four members went on to be brewmasters and one went on to work in a busy, growing brewery. Additionally, I got to meet and make friends with other pro brewers through their interactions with the brew club. And I got my own (unsuccessful) shot at opening a brewery through the club.

 

You certainly shouldn't plan to get rich quickly by working in the industry, but there are opportunities available if you are OK with starting at the bottom and working your way up. A foot in the door carries more weight than a brewing degree in a lot of cases, though some formal training is definitely a good look.

 

I've been brewing for close to 30 years now and my Siebel education only helped me get into my second job. I simply volunteered for the first, and if I'd stayed at my first job I'd have been miles ahead of where I am right now but we all make choices that might not turn out right in the end. My point is, a brewing education is important, but the diploma is not. If I had to do it all over again I'd probably have skipped Siebel as I honestly did most of that learning on my own, and then I learned so much more later on just talking with other brewers at MBAA meetings and so forth. Just my 2 cents.

Secondly, the first time I did an all-grain batch of beer it was as a professional, so don't think that you need great home brewing skills to get started.

p.s. - There's no money in brewing.

 

It is a very long road and not a whole lot of reward up front. Expect to probably work for free or for very low wages. Expect to do all the bottom level work, cleaning etc. Working for or owning a brewery is a great dream but consider it a dream, most people don't make it or last long. I guess you need to ask yourself can you go the next 5-10 years making very low amounts of money and working 60-70 hour weeks for that low money? If you say hell no I want a house, cars, trips, a life then I suggest a different idea. Not being a debbie downer but a realist. If it was easy we all would be doing it!
Cheers

 

A lot of guys have already covered what I had to say, but definitely build relationships with brewery staff. It goes a long way.

Be persistent, if you put in an application, always follow up. Send e-mails, whatever. Kinda just like any other job, but it shows you’re serious about it and you want it.

If a brewery you’re interested in has a brewpub, apply for ANY job in the restaurant. I work with two brewers who started off as hosts and bussers at the restaurant.

Working in beer retail first is never a bad option, and it’s a great way to boost your overall knowledge of the logistics and distribution side.

Keep homebrewing. Do it as much as possible. 90% of the guys I work with make their own. And if you get an interview somewhere, it’s not a bad idea to bring a couple bottles of your own brew to share.

It is a labor-intensive, janitorially heavy job, anywhere in a brewery. And even at a medium sized regional brewery, the pay won’t be stellar for the amount of work you put in.

And, like others have said, be prepared to volunteer for a while. Work your ass off, show up early and stay late. They might just start paying you for it!

Best of luck, and stay thirsty for knowledge!

 

All you need is a small loan of $1,000,000......