To quote modern philosopher Homer Jay Simpson: “mmmmm, beer.” There’s nothing better than an ice cold one on a hot summer day. It’s an alcoholic beverage that’s been around for millenia; arguably even longer than wine. In fact, the oldest written recipe on earth is one for beer. But beer doesn’t just brew itself. So, who is responsible for creating the delicious nectar that we all love to sip? That would be the job of the brewmaster.

So, if beer is one of the oldest drinks on earth, dating back to BC times, then making beer has got to be one of the oldest jobs on earth. It’s a hospitality job that’s been around practically forever and will continue to be far into the future. The world is not going to stop drinking beer anytime soon.

While it might seem like a far off dream to make beer for a living, it’s a highly specialized job that is constantly in demand. As the craft beer movement has grown into a significant force over the last two decades, a career as a brewmaster is more attainable than ever.

So, if you’re interested in pursuing a career making delicious beer, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you get started.

What is a brewmaster?

A brewmaster is someone who runs a brewery and is in charge of all beer production for whichever company is employing them.

A brewmaster might work in a smaller and specialized craft brewery or they could work for a larger company that has national or international distribution. Either way, the brewmaster is the person responsible for making sure the beer is constantly flowing out of the brewery.

The brewmaster position is also referred to as head brewer. So, it’s a role that requires you to lead a team and manage people.

Brewmasters are often highly creative people who have an instinct for innovation. Many top brewers have switched career paths from more traditional creative industries like marketing or writing to start making a beer. It’s a hobby that can turn into a career for the right type of person.

What does a head brewer do?

A brewmaster’s main responsibility is to guarantee consistent production of beer that turns a profit. However, that’s a complex mission that requires a lot of work and many duties to make it happen on a daily basis. A good brewmaster oversees every step of the brewing process, from start to finish. 

Depending on the size of the brewery and what type of approach they take, the daily tasks of a brewmaster may vary. However, there are some universal responsibilities you will encounter in most brewing jobs. These duties include:

• Establishing relationships with vendors
• Sourcing high quality ingredients
• Negotiating prices with suppliers
• Keeping an accurate daily record of the breweries activities 
• Ensuring the brewery meets all sanitation and health code requirements
• Cleaning and maintaining brewing equipment
• Attending industry events to network with the local beer scene

Beyond these tasks, a good brewmaster is constantly creating and innovating. You should be coming up with new and inventive beer recipes as often as you can, especially in craft beer. It’s an industry that is constantly evolving and what people were drinking last year is totally different now. This means that head brewers must keep updated on industry trends so they can stay ahead of the curve.

What is the career path of a brewmaster?

Brewmaster is a somewhat niche career, which means that people end up in the job in many different ways.

The most common way in the past is you’d first have an interest in brewing as a hobby. Home brewing equipment is fairly affordable. Making your own beer at home can be a great way to see if you have a passion for it or just a passing interest.

Once you’ve mastered your home brewing kit and have impressed your friends with your self made beers, it might be time to look at jobs in a professional brewery. In the US, there are a number of cities that have vibrant craft brewing scenes where there are breweries always hiring. 

Unless you are an absolute beer genius, you’ll have to start in an entry level position such as assistant brewer. This will give you a chance to learn the ropes on a large brewing system and see what it takes to make good beer at a high volume. You may have your small home set up mastered, but it's a different story when you scale things up.

After gaining a couple years of experience, you’ll be ready to take on the role of brewmaster yourself. Even as an assistant brewer, you should be compiling a notebook full of trick, tips, and recipe ideas that you can draw from later. 

Once you’ve gained a significant amount of experience as a brewmaster, you could start your own brewery or even work as a consultant.