Career Definition of Brewmasters
Brewmasters specialize in managing an organization's brewing department, including daily operations, recipe management, and work procedures. They usually work for beer brewing companies, such as microbreweries. Brewmasters may have an office, but spend time in the production and packaging facilities in order to interact with various personnel.
Job duties for brewmasters can include executing and monitoring performance goals, collaborating with quality management to streamline and enhance production, and managing continuous reviews of the product, including microbiological stability and taste. Brewmasters may be responsible for managing the employee selection and training process, including applicant screening, performance appraisals, and complaint investigation and resolution.
Brewmasters may also be responsible the safe operation of equipment like inflow pipes and tanks, as well as creating and maintaining work logs of quality assurance tests and production stage timings. They could manage the department's budget and stock of brewing materials and equipment parts. Brewmasters could also manage the creation and execution of new products. They will then collaborate with quality assurance personnel to determine if a product is ready to be released on the market. Brewmasters can collaborate with bar management to ensure the serving staff has full knowledge of the organization's products.
| Educational Requirements | Bachelor's degree |
| Job Skills | Excellent technical capabilities, strong interpersonal skills, and effective project management abilities |
| Median Salary (2021)* | $45,395 |
| Job Outlook (2020-2030)** | 5% (Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators & tenders) |
Sources: *PayScale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
Individuals will need a bachelor's degree in brewing, microbiology, food science, fermentation, or chemistry to work as a brewmaster. Some positions may also require completion of a brewing course from an approved brewing science institution. A strong background in production or quality assurance in the alcoholic beverage industry will be beneficial. Interested individuals can further develop their skills by becoming certified through the Cicerone Certification Program. The program offers four levels of certification, from beer server to master.
Required Skills
Excellent technical capabilities are an essential asset for brewmasters, as they must have a solid understanding of brewing equipment and proper material and chemical handling. Brewmasters should have strong interpersonal skills in order to collaborate with personnel from production and packaging, as well as vendors and customers. They should also have effective project management abilities to perform duties like creating work schedules and overseeing employees.
Career Outlook and Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not collect statistics on brewmasters; however, they reported 5% growth for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operator, and tenders during 2020-2030. This is average growth for all occupations. In September 2021, PayScale.com reported a median annual salary of $45,395 for brewmasters.
Related Careers
Individuals considering a career as a brewmaster might also be interested in one of the related careers linked below. They offer candidates the opportunity to utilize their skills in other trade positions.
