Career in brewing industry

Well then, maybe look at getting a certificate? One of the local community colleges around me has a brewing program, complete with internships.

 

A degree from Siebel can get you pretty far. Either that or start from the packaging line and work your way up like most others do

 

isn't that a 4 year wait to get in?

just get an apprenticeship in plumbing, welding, carpentry. It will take you half the time and you will make 3x the money as a brewer.

 

No clue. Even a certificate of completing some of their online courses looks pretty damn good on a resume to a brewery.

I worked with a couple guys who managed to get some Siebel education under their belt. Needless to say when it came time for them to move onto bigger and better ventures, they were picked up rather quickly. It’s probably worth the wait if one really wants to just go ahead and start at the top at a brewery.

 

Trust me I know. It may be worth the wait but it is a few years to get in. Like I said after that a tradesman will be making as much or more than you with a 6 month course.

 

Homebrewing doesn't really translate well to commercial brewing, which is why employers are looking for experience or certification. Experience is more valuable than certification IMHO. Your best bet for breaking into the industry is to volunteer. Wash kegs, squeegie floors, help on canning day, be the cellar bitch, pour in the taproom. A ton of people try to get into the business only to find they don't like spending the majority of their days cleaning - lots of turnover at the low level. It's not as glamorous as it looks, it takes a certain personality. Be humble, and learn from someone better than you, this is an industry where working your way up from the very bottom is still the way to go so visit every local brewery and ask if they could use a free hand doing whatever. Best of luck!

 

I highly doubt it’s a 4 year wait for any of their programs. When I attended in 2014, I took the Concise Course in Brewing Technology, then at the end of that class I signed up for the Internatiomal Diploma program and was in Chicago 6 months later, which was the next time it was offered.

That said, an education at Siebel (or any other highly regarded brewing school) may help you get your foot in the door, but it is unlikely to be worth your investment without experience in the industry. Your best bet is to find an entry level position on a packaging line, as a keg washer, or even as a bartender to be around the brewery and sign up for the online Siebel Concise Course. It is far less expensive than the diploma program, covers a lot of info, and will help to get you into a brewing position... it also would likely be considered a prerequisite for their higher level courses if your only experience is homebrewing. If you choose to pursue further education, you’ll get more out of the lessons if you have hands on experience commercially and you will be positioned well to take a better position afterwards.

I would anticipate working for little pay for a few years with potential for a bigger pay day 5 years or so down the line. It’s definitely not a lifestyle for everyone.

 

Kinda strange that an industry that just went through a scandal (online, anyway) about a well-known brewery cutting pay to below standard minimum wage and depending on customer tips to supplement their employees' pay would still want to be reliant on the illegal and unethical practice of "volunteer" workers.

What the hell - the Federal minimum ($7.25/hr) is less the retail price of a can or glass of beer at some of these breweries.

 

When I was younger and first started working I took any job I could to get to get my foot into the door. Then as I got more experience I moved into better positions or worked for new companies and continued my growth until I had a great job, etc. I also went to school, took on student loans and spent 10 years paying them off without asking for daddy govt. to forgive my debt. When I read your post it almost feels as if you feel folks today should get high pay right out the door, never earn that pay, and just make a killing from the get go. Seems like this entitlement view is growing more and more, how sad.
Cheers

 

OP your best bet is to listen to folks in the industry and heed their advice. There is no easy road into this and usually you make little cash and work long hours doing crap work. But if your passion is for brewing and you want to make it your life long career then you work through that crap and dig deep and one day it will pay off. One thing I learned a long time ago, hard work does not go unnoticed. You work harder than the other guy trust me folks will see it. Best of luck and I hope to drink some of your beer one day

 

Yeah, you're right. I feel that people working for profit-making business are entitled ---- to at least get paid minimum wage, and not be expect to do unpaid labor/volunteer, which is illegal under the Fair Labor Standards Act [1938]:

Wouldn't consider that "high pay" or "making a killing" but, whatever.

"Folks today" - hmmm? Pretty sure I've felt that way since I got my first job in high school making $1.50/hr (state minimum at the time) in the 1960s working nights at a local furniture factory. I think we got a raises to $2 soon after, thanks to the old Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers contract with the company.

Now where have I heard that before?

 

Well when folks want to get into very select markets then yes they may have to take jobs that underpay, work for free, and yes work long shifts in order to make it. We are not talking about folks who cannot earn a living at all, we are speaking about those wanting to work a dream job? If folks want to make a fair wage I am willing to bet you or anyone they can find those jobs, are they in the beer industry that they desire to be in, probably not but that is "their" decision isn't it?I would love to make $100,000 serving mixed drinks on the beach in Hawaii, is that going to happen um no it is not, because that is a dream job. Can I work for free serving drinks at a bar on the ocean in Hawaii I bet I could. That is the point I am making. At the end of the day, if you want a dream type job "Few" have then yes it will take a lot of crap work to get it and lots of luck. If it was easy we all would be brewing beer for a living and loving our jobs lol.
Hard work and long hours should not be a dirty word. It was not when I grew up, it was part of becoming an adult and we all did it as you indicated. I just see a load of younger folks mad they have to work and then on top of it expect 6 figures out the door.
We are on the same page I believe maybe just different views on it.

 

I am still very interested in the brewing industry, more so for teaching and training breweries.But I would love to also brew too!

 

Definitely it is worth thinking about but it is really a heavy topic if you do not have the passion for those trades. I am thankful to choose between beer and coffee for my career. I do love both!

 

What you're describing is work anyone should be getting paid for.

 

If the company is so screwed up that they're relying on folks to "volunteer for the opportunity", who would want to help? And, if the company is so fucking cheap that they would take free labor, who would want to work for them? And, if you're not on payroll, you're probably not on the insurance. What happens to your "volunteer" when they get hurt "helping out"?

better to get in the door as a host, dishwasher, busser, whatever, and then move over to the brewery side when a spot opens. Meanwhile, take those classes!

Kids, never work for someone who won't/can't pay you. They'll use you up, and when you say something, you'll get replaced by some other starry-eyed kid looking for a chance.

 

I don’t know who you’re arguing with here. Who said anything about 6-figure salaries (besides you)? Why does the idea of people actually getting paid to work hard and learn a trade/skill bother you so much?

 

When did I say I wanted folks to work for free? I believe I said hard work does not go unnoticed? Regarding the six figures its context is in regards to my reply to another post?

 

You said work for free multiple times.