Jobs as a brewer

[RevWrona]

I live in the Metro Detroit area and I (like many of here) would think getting paid to brew beer would be an interesting job.
Does anyone know if micro brews hire average brewers or do they only hirer certified brewers?
Since I am asking and the sake of conversation, how about macro beers?

 

[slowbie]

IIRC, a lot of the brewers at some of the local microbreweries I've read about worked their way up from warehouse type jobs.

 

[gicts]

haha x2. I am a month away from being a paramedic and having an associates and bachelors degree and I'd be willing to even relocate to find so much as a grunt job at a brewery

 

[android]

i have a few friends in the brewing industry (micro) and most of them had to get whatever job they could at the brewery and work their way into what they wanted to do. none of them have become brewers, but that's because the brewing isn't the part of the business they're interested in. i'd definitely think having a brewing background, even if 1 year or so, would definitely help your chances. on the other hand, there aren't probably too many people applying there that aren't interested in brewing (or at least have 0 experience).

 

[Refry]

Yeah, that's a dream job for so many. If I could swing it, I'd do if for free (heck, I'm paying to do it right now )

 

[KYB]

I just had an interview at a brewery for a brewers position. I already knew what it entailed, but they reiterated that it's not a glamorous job. Hauling around sacks of grain for a 1200lb grain bill, operating a fork lift, bottling and labeling line. Of course I would be mashing in, monitoring fermentation, harvesting yeast, etc. They just got 3 new big fermenters. I hope I get it. For me it's more than just a "man it would be cool to brew beer as a job". I am supposed to call back in a couple days. They need to figure out scheduling and everything. We'll see...

 

[JetSmooth]

When I was first homebrewing in college, I applied to be the assistant brewer at a local brewpub. I had just turned 21 and I don't think the guy took me seriously. Instead, I became a mug club member some years later and ran into the head brewer at a club function. He said, "Hey, didn't I almost hire you five years ago?" I repled "Yeah, but you didn't, and now I work in the IT field and make probably four times as much as I'd be making now if you had. . . . . still have the position open?"

I have a pretty comfy federal job now. But have always said I wold quit any job I had to be a part of the brewing industry, as long as I could support my family. The salary gap doesn't look like it's going to get any closer, though.

 

[DamianPollard]

Wow, you actually make money in IT? I've been a programmer for 10 years and I would probably make more operating a fork lift.