Craft Brewers

Career summary

#checked 3/10/15 lh, 4/4/16 cj.

The people who make craft beer are called craft brewers or just brewers. They create different kinds of beer using established recipes or new recipes. Depending on the recipe and the process, the aroma, color, mouth feel, foam, and flavor of the beer will vary.

Craft brewers blend sugars from malted grains (such as barley or wheat) with hop flowers, yeast, and water. These ingredients are aged so that the sugars ferment into alcohol, carbon dioxide gas, and other chemicals that determine the characteristics of the beer.

After careful aging at the right temperatures, the beer is ready to be packaged and delivered to the consumer. Brewers help with the packaging process. The size and type of operation determines how much packaging is required. Some beers are sold in kegs while others are bottled.

Craft brewers are responsible for keeping their work area clean. They clean the tanks that the beer is made in as well as the kegs that the beer is stored in. They also clean the floors in their work area. Brewers must also be able to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the equipment they work with.

Brewers inventory and order necessary ingredients, such as grains and hops. Depending on the size of the brewery, craft brewers may also keep budgets and financial records. They communicate with staff and suppliers.

Brewers who work at brew pubs or microbreweries talk to their customers and describe the different types of beers to them. The brewers often give the tours of their facilities and show the public what they do.

Craft brewers at brewpubs may also train servers on the different types of beer available. Depending on the size of the brewery, craft brewers may also help with the marketing of the beers they create.

Related careers

This career is part of the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Bartenders
• Food Processing Workers
• Wine Makers

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Food Services

Other programs of study to consider

• Agricultural Engineering
• Bartending
• Food Science
• Hospitality Management
• Viticulture and Enology
• Wine Steward/Sommelier

Training

To work as a craft brewer, you typically need to:

• have a keen sense of taste; and
• know how to brew beer.

Education after high school

There are no formal education requirements beyond a high school diploma. However as craft brewing grows more popular, training opportunities are expanding. A handful of schools in the US are now offering certificate programs in Brewing Science and Technology. Some of these schools also offer a Master Brewers diploma program.

It is helpful to have a background in science, whether it is chemistry, engineering, or biosciences. Many craft brewers have an undergraduate or graduate degree in chemistry, biotechnology, or the biological sciences. However, some craft brewers have an undergraduate degree in English or history and gain their skills through on-the-job training.

You should continuously look for ways to improve your knowledge and experience. There are many web-based and "live" tools available. Visit local craft breweries and talk to the brewers. Check out the many websites and blogs devoted to craft brewing. Read books about brewing.

Work experience

Some craft brewers begin by brewing from home, just to get the feel of the process. Electrical and mechanical experience is also useful for trouble-shooting and maintaining brewery equipment.

On-the-job training

Many craft brewers gain their skills through on-the-job training. You can volunteer or get an internship with a local brewer. One way to volunteer is to help a brewery at festivals or on packaging days. Part-time jobs cleaning kegs or doing odd jobs at a local brewery are also a great way to get your foot in the door. You may then be able to work your way up.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements . You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Chemistry
• Food Service
• Hospitality
• Principles of Sales
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

• Craft brewers spend a lot of time cleaning their work area. They scrub and sterilize the tanks that the beer is made in as well as the kegs that the beer is stored in. They also clean the floors in their work area.
• Brewing is a combination of art and science so it helps to have creative or artistic skills.
• Craft brewers usually are detail-oriented, organized, and eager to learn and experiment.
• There are over 2,500 craft breweries in the US.
• The craft brewing industry produces more than 6 million barrels of craft beer a year in the US.
• A brewery must produce fewer than two million barrels of beer a year to qualify as a craft producer.
• Like growing food locally, brewing beer near where it's consumed is an old idea that's new again.
• Beer is going upscale with beer pairing dinners and ways to use it in cooking that go far beyond just adding it to barbeque sauce.
• A brewer is a jack-of-all-trades. They usually work alone or with just a few people so versatility is essential.

Other resources

American Brewers Guild 
1001 Maple Street
Salisbury, VT 05769
800.636.1331

American Society of Brewing Chemists 
3340 Pilot Knob Road
St. Paul, MN 55121
651.454.7250

Brewers Association 
PO Box 1679
Boulder, CO 80306
888.822.6273
303.447.0816

Craft Beer Radio 

Master Brewers Association of the Americas 
3340 Pilot Knob Road
St. Paul, MN 55121
651.454.7250

National Restaurant Association 
2055 L Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
800.424.5156
202.331.5900

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation 
2055 L Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
800.424.5156

Pink Boots Society 

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

• Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

DOT occupation

• Brewing Director (183.167-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Realistic/Artistic