Lead Brewer – Rhyme X Reason

Brewers Guild of New Zealand; Wānaka; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

RxR in Wanaka, NZ is seeking an experienced Lead Brewer to join our small, creative team and step into a leadership role. You will oversee day-to-day brewing operations, manage production schedules, and uphold high quality across batches.

You will mentor assistants, work with our team on recipe design, and ensure safety, equipment maintenance and CIP procedures are followed on the brewery floor.

Qualifications

• Solid fully commercial production brewing experience.
• Solid communication skills and the ability to train assistant brewers.
• NZ driver’s licence and forklift license.
• Physical stamina.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all day-to-day operations, planning, troubleshooting and maintenance.
• Mentor and train assistants across shifts.
• Ensure quality and cleanliness standards across the brewery.

Skills

Brewing experience

Communication skills

Training brewers

Driver's license

Forklift license

Physical stamina

Tools

Brewing equipment knowledge

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Brewers Guild of New Zealand – Wanaka, South Island

Full time

1d ago , from Brewers Guild of New Zealand

RxR is a small craft brewery located in beautiful Wanaka, NZ.

RxR was established in 2016 with the brewery and taproom opening in May 2017. There are currently 8 staff, including bar staff etc.

After almost 2 decades in the brewing industry, it’s time for our Head brewer to step into other roles, giving a well-deserved opportunity to our Lead Brewer to take it on. This shift opens a position for an experienced Lead Brewer to join our fun and creative team.

What we offer

The chance to learn and advance within your role. We provide in-house training, external training programmes and qualifications. Collaboratively design new recipes for seasonal beers. Brewing collabs and travel. A professional, safe and very fun work environment, PPE, competitive pay, and of course, BEER. Our equipment is well maintained. It’s a dreamy brew floor to be on!

Job requirements

• Solid fully commercial production brewing experience. The role requires someone who is adaptable to our processes, a quick learner. Someone with enough experience and skills to hit the brew floor running.
• We have high quality standards for brewing process, and pride ourselves on being the cleanest brewery in the universe.
• Solid communication skills and the ability to train assistant brewers.
• NZ driver’s licence and forklift license.
• Physical stamina.

Have a deep understanding of the brewing process both hot and cold sides including fluid dynamics, raw materials, SOP’s, milling, mashing, lauter, boil, whirlpool, heat exchanger, yeast pitching and cell counts, quality control, fermentation monitoring, personal and equipment safety, yeast harvesting, storage and re-pitching, dry-hopping, beer transfers, finings, carbonation, O2 monitoring, packaging, CIP, yeast management, inventory and planning, maintain detailed records, and accurate brewing records.

You will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operations, planning, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

RxR operates using Premier Stainless 3-head automated keg washer and 3-head keg filler. MicroBrewTech canning line 1300 x 330mL per/hour. Italian labelling machine. 12HL brewhouse, 5 x 12HL FV’s, 3 x 24HL FV’s, 2 x 36HL FV (including 2 new tanks due end October for summer). Mill with auger. Mash-tun with racks for mashing and unloading spent grain. We produce around 160HL annually, new tanks just ordered and another brewer will allow increased volume.