Brewery Job

[PapsD]

I was at a Firestone Walkers tasting room a few months ago. The bathroom is located pretty much right on the brewery floor. It was very interesting to stop and watch how a large brewery works. It was interesting but also kind of depressing. It's pretty much just a large, noisy factory. They make beer instead of orange juice. They were bottling that day. It was someone's job to close up the boxes and tape them. Talk about tedious, mind numbing work for hours and hours.

It's still manufacturing. But You're manufacturing beer!

In almost every factory/shop I've seen if you don't have a lot of experience then you're gonna get the crappy jobs until you move up. And they all usually pay 10 to 12 dollars an hour. I'm a mechanic now but I've spent a lot of time cleaning parts and sweeping the floor and doing the crappy jobs.

If it's like a typical factory and you don't like getting dirty or working with your hands you should get into sales or quality control.

 

[shoreman]

Don't work for free #1 - that's as close to slavery as you can get. It also sends a message to your employer to walk all over you.

Get in touch with breweries\brewpubs in your area to see if they have any jobs-I know my local hires people to fill growlers and work the brew shop in the summer - you just need to get in then you can spread your wings over time.

 

[jtkratzer]

I interviewed with Sam Adams a few months ago and effectively ended the interview before the application process started. They were great people and in today's economy, a job is a job, but I can't afford to live on the $13-16/hr they were offering. That was basically a labor job anywhere thy needed you, but I wasn't going to be a brewer. And they practically own you because of brew schedules, and the drive was over an hour.

You have to be happy, but you have to pay the bills and support your family and goals as well.

 

[cayergeau]

Well this is starting to really get me down... I realize that breweries are more or less factories, however I guess that you're right that after all is said and done, it's still a business. That all being said, I still think it's something I need to do. I want the experience so someday down the line I can open up my own brewery and not have it go down in flames. If I own my own place, then we can make different beers and such; also if I own my own place, I'll be running the place and I can make the job as fun as I want.

Aside from all that, I still hold out hope for some breweries that continue to do a lot of different things, such as Dogfish Head. They are by far my favorite brewery, not because all of their beers blow me away (a lot of them do, though), but because they try new things and have such an extensive product line of exotic beers. Not that I expect them to hire me, but that's why I want to make my way into the industry and slowly be able to work my way up.

However if this doesn't work out, anyone have any good suggestions for other jobs to look into that won't require me to be sitting on my ass at a desk?

 

[thatjonguy]

I was at a Firestone Walkers tasting room a few months ago. The bathroom is located pretty much right on the brewery floor. It was very interesting to stop and watch how a large brewery works. It was interesting but also kind of depressing. It's pretty much just a large, noisy factory. They make beer instead of orange juice. They were bottling that day. It was someone's job to close up the boxes and tape them. Talk about tedious, mind numbing work for hours and hours.

It is a factory, the industrial factory or processing plant keeps the beer you love tasting the same. Do it the same every time, going pro is not all about the romantic value (sure it is awesome to make beer and sell it) but it is no doubt boring sometimes in a large brewery setting, I would imagine for keg cleaning and taping boxes.

Not to be a d*ck, but what were you expecting?

Magical goats that squirt beer from their udders while unicorns fart hop aromas and a jolly team of elves bottling beer while getting massaged by a scantily clad team of Swedish girls?

Hope you don't take that the wrong way.

 

[MonkHeDo]

It is a factory, the industrial factory or processing plant keeps the beer you love tasting the same. Do it the same every time, going pro is all about the romantic value (sure it is awesome to make beer and sell it) but it is no doubt boring sometimes in a large brewery setting, I would imagine for keg cleaning and taping boxes.

Not to be a d*ck, but what were you expecting?

Magical goats that squirt beer from their udders while unicorns fart hop aromas and a jolly team of elves bottling beer while getting massaged by a scantily clad team of Swedish girls?

Hope you don't take that the wrong way.

For the record, I would like to apply for the position of "massaged bottling elf".

 

[Denny]

Well this is starting to really get me down... I realize that breweries are more or less factories, however I guess that you're right that after all is said and done, it's still a business. That all being said, I still think it's something I need to do. I want the experience so someday down the line I can open up my own brewery and not have it go down in flames. If I own my own place, then we can make different beers and such; also if I own my own place, I'll be running the place and I can make the job as fun as I want.

I'm sorry to be such a downer, but that's not necessarily the case. IF you get lucky, maybe. But I think you need to do a lot more research and be realistic about things.

 

[Phunhog]

However if this doesn't work out, anyone have any good suggestions for other jobs to look into that won't require me to be sitting on my ass at a desk?[/QUOTE]

Well I can tell you that I already have the BEST JOB in the entire world...firefighter! Everyday is different. Some are exciting, many are not. It also works well for someone who eventually wants to start a brewery, in fact many firefighters already have. You have dependable income/benefits and a great schedule. You can run the brewery as your side business on your days off. Most firefighters I know like to drink beer and many are former tradesman i.e (plumbers, electricians, carpenters). They are usually more than willing to help a brother out. Sometimes I think I could start a brewery, only sell to firefighters and still be profitable!!

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Seems to me if you want to figure out a way to be a brewer but not get sucked into the factory process that it is, you should do contract brewing. Handle the business end, design the recipes, and pay somebody else for all the factory stuff. Otherwise figure out how to survive on a tiny brewpub where you can just brew whatever you want when you want.

 

[Phunhog]

I have a family member in the wine industry. He told me that the vast majority of winery owners/winemakers made their money somewhere else....i.e. bankers, lawyers, business, etc. A lot of breweries are the same way....the owners might have been homebrewers BUT they were successful in other careers that gave them the tools to have successful breweries.

 

[TyTanium]

I have a family member in the wine industry. He told me that the vast majority of winery owners/winemakers made their money somewhere else....i.e. bankers, lawyers, business, etc. A lot of breweries are the same way....the owners might have been homebrewers BUT they were successful in other careers that gave them the tools to have successful breweries.

+1 #dontquityourdayjob

 

[Schemy]

Well this is starting to really get me down... I realize that breweries are more or less factories, however I guess that you're right that after all is said and done, it's still a business. That all being said, I still think it's something I need to do. I want the experience so someday down the line I can open up my own brewery and not have it go down in flames. If I own my own place, then we can make different beers and such; also if I own my own place, I'll be running the place and I can make the job as fun as I want.

Aside from all that, I still hold out hope for some breweries that continue to do a lot of different things, such as Dogfish Head. They are by far my favorite brewery, not because all of their beers blow me away (a lot of them do, though), but because they try new things and have such an extensive product line of exotic beers. Not that I expect them to hire me, but that's why I want to make my way into the industry and slowly be able to work my way up.

However if this doesn't work out, anyone have any good suggestions for other jobs to look into that won't require me to be sitting on my ass at a desk?

Don't get down. If you want it, make it happen...............the rest be damned.

Good luck.

 

[HeavyKettleBrewing]

Well this is starting to really get me down... I realize that breweries are more or less factories, however I guess that you're right that after all is said and done, it's still a business. That all being said, I still think it's something I need to do. I want the experience so someday down the line I can open up my own brewery and not have it go down in flames. If I own my own place, then we can make different beers and such; also if I own my own place, I'll be running the place and I can make the job as fun as I want.

Aside from all that, I still hold out hope for some breweries that continue to do a lot of different things, such as Dogfish Head. They are by far my favorite brewery, not because all of their beers blow me away (a lot of them do, though), but because they try new things and have such an extensive product line of exotic beers. Not that I expect them to hire me, but that's why I want to make my way into the industry and slowly be able to work my way up.

However if this doesn't work out, anyone have any good suggestions for other jobs to look into that won't require me to be sitting on my ass at a desk?

Dude....you are 23 and you have a great deal of time ahead of you. Nobody but yourself can bring you down. I cannot speak with industry knowledge but can say this, if you want it bad enough you will find it. I will not preach my own life story here, but, my career started to take shape at 22 years of age. Hustle now, reap the rewards later. Persistance is key. Let the brewery(s) know that you will not give up after a rejection. I like the idea of printing a short resume on a bottle of your homebrew. I rememebr one past employee who drafted his resume as a blueprint. He got the job and moved on to become a mechanical engineer. Most newer craft breweries do not have dedicated HR so the likelihood of an owner/brewer touching your resume is good. If you decide to change course and find a career you can take with you anywhere, check out any ROP or CC courses for machine shop. I love making things that make things.

 

[HeavyKettleBrewing]

However if this doesn't work out, anyone have any good suggestions for other jobs to look into that won't require me to be sitting on my ass at a desk?

Well I can tell you that I already have the BEST JOB in the entire world...firefighter! Everyday is different. Some are exciting, many are not. It also works well for someone who eventually wants to start a brewery, in fact many firefighters already have. You have dependable income/benefits and a great schedule. You can run the brewery as your side business on your days off. Most firefighters I know like to drink beer and many are former tradesman i.e (plumbers, electricians, carpenters). They are usually more than willing to help a brother out. Sometimes I think I could start a brewery, only sell to firefighters and still be profitable!![/QUOTE]

Haha! You said it! The brewery up the street from my shop was started by a Firefighter and School teacher. A local HBS was started by two firefighters who also hold EMT classes next door to their brew shop. I also heard you guys make some damn good chili!

 

[cayergeau]

Not to be a d*ck, but what were you expecting?

Magical goats that squirt beer from their udders while unicorns fart hop aromas and a jolly team of elves bottling beer while getting massaged by a scantily clad team of Swedish girls?

Hope you don't take that the wrong way.

Kind of hard not to take that the wrong way, however I like the imagery.

I guess I romanticized the industry to myself, but I don't necessarily think that's such a bad thing. Keeps me optimistic. But not about my job chances. I'm just going to hang in there, see if I can get a job doing something I'd like to be doing, and if not then sell my soul to the corporate machine. Too bad souls don't sell for **** these days.

 

[Phunhog]

Well I can tell you that I already have the BEST JOB in the entire world...firefighter! Everyday is different. Some are exciting, many are not. It also works well for someone who eventually wants to start a brewery, in fact many firefighters already have. You have dependable income/benefits and a great schedule. You can run the brewery as your side business on your days off. Most firefighters I know like to drink beer and many are former tradesman i.e (plumbers, electricians, carpenters). They are usually more than willing to help a brother out. Sometimes I think I could start a brewery, only sell to firefighters and still be profitable!!

Haha! You said it! The brewery up the street from my shop was started by a Firefighter and School teacher. A local HBS was started by two firefighters who also hold EMT classes next door to their brew shop. I also heard you guys make some damn good chili![/QUOTE]

That's cool! Which brewery is it?

 

[geneb]

(Didn't read the entire thread, so if this is a repeat, please ignore.)

If you really want to get your foot in the door look for small town breweries. They don't pay much but it's hard to find people who want to work there.

Another option would be volunteering at a small brewery to get your foot in the door. There's always more work to do than there is money to pay employees. You won't start as the head brewer, but you can learn a lot. Sometimes I volunteer on holidays and after work at the local brewery and the experience has been priceless. I have been able to assist in the brewing of a couple of 7 barrel batches, fill kegs, work the taproom filling growlers, and do a number of other tasks that, while not glamorous, gave me a great idea of how a real brewery works (i.e. cleaning fermenters and the mash tun, unloading the grain shipments, etc.). Further, in my experience, breweries really appreciate the people who are willing to donate their time to help.

 

[chip82]

cayergeau, i too am 23, for a few more weeks at least. I got in the brewing industry, but you have to start at the bottom. I am a packaging tech. I want to move to brewing some day but it takes time to work into brewing. If you have to clean toilets to get into the brewery, do it. Go for it while you are young enough and not tied down to get in.

 

[HeavyKettleBrewing]

Haha! You said it! The brewery up the street from my shop was started by a Firefighter and School teacher. A local HBS was started by two firefighters who also hold EMT classes next door to their brew shop. I also heard you guys make some damn good chili!

That's cool! Which brewery is it?[/QUOTE]

Oceanside Ale Works. They just started bottling. Cant wait to see what they are going to release.

 

[cayergeau]

cayergeau, i too am 23, for a few more weeks at least. I got in the brewing industry, but you have to start at the bottom. I am a packaging tech. I want to move to brewing some day but it takes time to work into brewing. If you have to clean toilets to get into the brewery, do it. Go for it while you are young enough and not tied down to get in.

that's what im hoping to do. how exactly did you get your job?

 

[chip82]

It was just good timing for me. Having a master in Engineering was a big part too, but we have hired a couple new people at the same time I started. It is all timing.

 

[RosewaterFoundation]

It was just good timing for me. Having a master in Engineering was a big part too, but we have hired a couple new people at the same time I started. It is all timing.

I can attest to the timing aspect. Just keep trying, position yourself to be in the right place at the right time...hit up breweries that are just starting out, and don't give up. Make it happen.