Getting Into the Craft Brewing Industry

Kevin Wright – Hangar 24 Craft Brewery

Craft Brewing Industry Defined

• Breweries• Distributors• Suppliers• Retailers• Media• Community Supporters• Consumers• Beer Appreciators

Roles In A Brewery

• Brewer• Cellar Operator• Packager• Maintenance• Engineer• Management• Administrative

• Sales• Logistics• Drivers• Territory Managers• Retail• Restaurant Operations

Brewers Role (Reality Check)

• 50 – 90% of time cleaning/sanitizing• Manual Labor• Challenging Work Environment• Dangerous Work

Wages in a Brewery

Salary Info Full-Time Employees

Small Brewpubs (1 – 1000 bbls Annually)

Position Average Salary

Brewmaster $ 45,829.70

Asst. Brewer $ 21,490.00

Wages in a BrewerySalary Info Full-Time Employees

Med-Large Brewpubs (1001+ bbls Annually)

Position Average Salary

Brewmaster $ 50,985.00

Cellar Manager $ 29,625.10

Packaging Manager $ 24,000.00

Asst. Brewer $ 26,614.30

Accountant $ 50,000.00

Admin Staff $ 31,114.00

Graphic & Web $ 27,967.00

Marketing Manager $ 47,081.00

Wages in a BrewerySalary Info Full-Time Employees

Small-Med Production Breweries (1 – 10,000 bbls Annually)

Position Average Salary

Brewmaster $ 42,411.20

Head Brewer $ 38,172.40

Cellar Manager $ 28,229.50

Packaging Manager $ 28,436.50

Asst. Brewer $ 24,325.50

Packager $ 21,948.60

QC Lab Tech $ 25,000.00

Accountant or CFO $ 30,571.40

Admin Staff $ 33,250.00

Marketing Manager $ 40,824.00

Sales Manager $ 48,352.00

Sales Staff $ 37,958.20 Maintenance $ 36,000.00

Wages in a BrewerySalary Info Full-Time Employees

Med-Large Production Breweries (10,001+ Bbls Annually)

Position Average Salary

Brewmaster $ 74,366.10

Head Brewer $ 47,181.90

Cellar Manager $ 39,938.90

Packaging Manager $ 46,754.80

Asst. Brewer $ 32,842.90

Packager $ 25,000.00

QC Lab Tech $ 39,120.00

Accountant or CFO $ 63,998.80

Engineer $ 63,816.60

Admin Staff $ 40,816.10

Graphic & Web $ 43,257.30

Marketing Manager $ 63,943.00

Sales Manager $ 88,177.80

Sales Staff $ 48,985.60

Maintenance $ 44,812.00

Other Points to Consider

• Time Off Limitations• Many Breweries 24/7• Larger Brewery = Less Creative Input• Repeating Tasks

The Good Stuff!

• Community– Great People – Spirit of Inclusion & Collaboration– Events: Festivals, Beer Dinners, GABF, CBC

• Camaraderie– Like Minded People– Commitment to Shared Focus

• Doing What You Love (Not Working)• Beer!– You get to be around it– People want to be around you

Jobs Available!

• Industry Growth– 2011: 13% Volume Growth, 250 Openings– 103,585 total Jobs 2011 (estimated)– 1200ish New Breweries in Planning

• Regional Brewery (15,000 bbl+ ) Growth– 99% of Regionals Increasing– Increased Opportunity for Specialists

Paths Into the Industry

• “Cold” Application– Walk In– “Do Anything” or Volunteer Mentality

• Job Boards– ProBrewer.com– Trade Publications– Brewery Websites

• Brewing School

Brewing Schools (US)

• UC Davis Extension (Davis, CA)– Short Courses– Mid Level Courses– Master Brewing Program

• 18 Week Program & 8 Week Program• Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering & Sensory• Top Professors• IBD Exam• 2-week Internships• Limited Hands-On (Lab Work)• Full Through 2014 http://extension.ucdavis.edu/unit/brewing/

Brewing Schools (US)

• Siebel Institute (Chicago, IL)– Short Courses– Subject Specific Courses– International Diploma in Brewing Technology• 12 Weeks• Chicago & Doemens Germany Academy• European Brewing Tour• Brewing Only Focus for School• Excellent Faculty – Industry Representation• Available 2013 http://www.siebelinstitute.com/

Brewing Schools (US)

• American Brewers Guild (Salisbury, VT)– Intensive Brewing & Science/Apprentice Program• 28 Weeks

– 22 Weeks Distance Learning– 1 Week on Site– 5 Week Internship at Brewery of Choice

• Great Industry Reputation• Track Record of Training Many Brewers• Full Through 2014

http://www.abgbrew.com/

Pros & Cons of Schools

• Pros– Knowledge Gained– Access to Experienced

Professionals– Access to Industry– Job Placement– Head Start in Industry

• Cons– Time Commitment– Financial Commitment– School Work– Location

Applying & Interviewing

• General Best Interviewing Practices Apply• Be Professional• Believe in the Company/Story/Owner• Don’t Hound Brewers• Be Sober• What Are Breweries Looking For?

– Passion for Craft Beer– Understanding of Industry– Knowledge of Beer & Brewing– Hard Worker– Non “Jumpers”– Serious Commitment– Culture Fit

Applying & InterviewingGetting Selected

• Be Prepared– Do Your Homework– Explain how your Background/Education/Work

Experience Fit the Job• Convey Your Passion– Know Your “Why Craft Brewing” Story– Anecdotes, etc

• Ask Great Questions– Understanding of Position– Understanding of Company Including Culture

Closing & Questions

• Great Industry, Great People, Great Jobs

Questions?

Picture Credits

• 1 – H24• 2 – H24• 3 – Beer Magazine• 4 -

http://www.simplybeer.com/2009/06/16/beer-store-review-oaktree-buy-rite-south-plainfield-nj/

• 5 - http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/history.html• 6 - http://pccustodian.net/images/• 7 -

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2010/04/craft-brewers-conference-winners.html

• 8 – www.ucdavis.edu• 9 - http://www.siebelinstitute.com/• 10 - http://www.abgbrew.com/