Working in the Beer Industry

Maybe expand on what you mean by "in the industry". Brewers? Owners? Distributors?

Would you consider a Best Buy employee in the CD section to be "in the music industry", for example?

 

I had a job offer as an intern for a brewery as brewers assistant but never got back to me. It really sucks. A lot. But its irrelevant to your question

 

I'm a delivery driver for a large AB distributor. Not sure if this fits into your category of the Beer Industry. But I've just seen craft beer blow up, taking more shelf space and sales, and having a greater presence in the beer industry. I've done sales as well and I am glad I'm not in that right now. I would hate to deal with the craft beer surge while trying push my Bud Lights.

 

Maybe just let people make their own decision on whether they feel as though they are "entrenched" enough in the industry to speak up here. I don't think the beer flow down is as convoluted as the music industry. I would think that just aboooot anybody from the guy dropping off the grains and hops at the brewery to the people at the beer ringing you up would have a good say in this.

I have no actual stake in the beer game but I enjoy the crap out of all aspects of it. I like brewing, talking, thinking and drinking beer. I would love to some day work in the industry though I'm not sure I could find a way to make it financially worthwhile. Someday maybe!

 

I'm not "in the game", as you say. However, as a teacher who is seriously fatigued, I'm thinking about getting into the industry.

 

I buy beer so I'm in the game

 

Right now I sell the beer in retail. Soon I hope to move the beer in the brewery. Later on I hope to put the beer in the can/bottle/keg. Years away I hope to clean the equipment in which the beer was made. And then one day, shortly before I die, I will make the beer. I'm in the game. My perspective has changed only in that I see how much goes into the industry. A whole lotta love.

"Good people drink good beer."
-Hunter S. Thompson

I would like to think the same of those who make good beer as well.

 

I work as a warehouse guy for a distributor. Do I consider myself in the 'beer industry'? No..not really. I just build pallets and load trucks all day. Do I like my job? Absoloutely. Best job I've ever had. Love the beer and love the people.

I honestly didn't know what craft beer was until I started this job. I have it (the job), and the friends I've made in the industry to thank for the Bell's Two Hearted that's sitting in front of me right now.

(and no, I don't work for a distributor that carries Bell's)

 

Holy crap. You are SO part of the industry - one of the most important parts.

 

I work for a distributor as a merchandiser right now hoping to move up to sales as soon as a position opens up. used to work in a store that catered more to the big 3, hey it was like shooting fish in a barrel. I tried very hard to make craft beer work in that store and no one really seemed to care, but fast forward 5 years its all people want in that area and they have a huge selection now. my current job sends me to many different stores in areas where craft sells well and some where you're very surprised that they even have a craft selection. the questions I get sometimes do get old like "have any lunch?" or "when will you be getting lunch?" i get it thats a great beer, but the shelves over here have some pretty awesome stuff too!

 

I am in charge of the craft and import department for a distributor. The department has only been around for about two and a half years now, but the growth of craft is big enough to dedicate a team to its growth. Also by team I mean myself and one other guy, but it's still a step forward.

 

I work at a software company that tracks sales/inventory for beer distributors and suppliers. I spend a lot of time researching beer, cross referencing descriptions and SKUs, and trouble-shooting data disagreements between industry tiers.

 

I had never thought about doing software for the beer industry. How is the software market in Vermont? My wife and I would love to move to Vermont but I wasn't aware of many software companies there.

 

I'm the 'sign guy' at a distributor. I sit and make shelf strips and case cards and table tents and tabletop graphics and trailer 'wraps' and promotional crap of that sort all day. Currently I am way behind and my main printer just took a sh*t. Most days I like my job. The owner is a very generous businessman so my benefits are outstanding.

Before working here, I always enjoyed trying new beer but I wasn't a nerd. My go-to was Guinness and my 'special occasion beer' was Newcastle. Then I started watching the AB University videos on how beer is made and things of that nature, and decided that I wanted to take it seriously and really learn this stuff. That led me here. Now I'm in, oh, probably year three of legitimate craft geekery - you know - I have a cellar, just started homebrewing, I basically hate money.

Perks include knowing what beer is incoming and where it's going. Downsides include not having an infinite supply of money, which as I stated previously, I detest.

Fortunately it can be converted into beers.

 

I'm a warehouse manager at a large MillerCoors distributor, but we also have a pretty extensive craft portfolio. Obviously being a MillerCoors house our bread and butter is the sales of Miller Lite and Coors Light etc., but the craft scene around the Chicago area has been growing constantly and we are lucky enough to distribute plenty of it.

 

I've worked in and around beer for the last five years. Started the adventure as foh at a brewpub, moved over to the packaging line of another and worked my way into the cellar and then back to the packaging line and now I work as a brewer at a brewpub.
In between all of those, I've assisted numerous other breweries with whatever their day calls extra hands for.

Perspectives? I've acquired plenty of them. Having good owners is a crucial key. If they aren't straight shooters. Aren't willing to handle other viewpoints, and they can't look at you eye to eye. It's a terrible, and toxic environment to be involved in.

 

VIP, eh?

 

All of us here are in the beer industry. For without us, the consumer, there would be no beer industry.