Head Brewer

Nombase Education; Groton (CT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Paid Holidays

Health Insurance

401(k)

Free beer

Job summary

The Beer’d Brewing Company seeks a Head Brewer to lead brewing, cellaring, and packaging operations across two CT locations. You will implement SOPs, ensure product quality, and drive efficiency in a growing brewery.

Ideal candidates have hands-on multi-site brewing experience, strong leadership, and know-how in QA/QC, budgeting, and staff development. This role requires dedication to safety and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Hands-on brewing experience in a multi-site operation.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Knowledge of SOPs and QA/QC processes.
• Ability to manage production scheduling and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee brewing, cellaring, and packaging across two locations.
• Develop and enforce SOPs to ensure quality and consistency.
• Coordinate with management on production planning and forecasting.
• Maintain safety and regulatory compliance and QA standards.
• Lead hiring, training, and development of production staff.

Skills

Brewing experience

Team leadership

Quality control

Food safety knowledge

Education

Bachelor's in Fermentation Science

Tools

Ekos

Keg ID

Orchestrated Beer

Google Suite

Job description

The Beer’d Brewing Co. –Stonington/Groton, CT

Reports to Ownership

Full-Time (40 hrs)

Salaried Employee (exempt)

Beer’d Brewing was opened in 2012 with a three-barrel brewhouse focusing on hop forward Ales and has capacity to produce 7,000 BBLs annually. With a taproom-forward approach, The Beer’d Brewing Company also maintains a sizeable self-distribution model within Connecticut and partners with wholesalers for distribution in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.

The Beer’d Brewing Company has two facilities, one located in Stonington with a 15 bbl brewhouse and the second located in Groton with a 20 bbl brewhouse. The Head Brewer will be imperative as we continue to brew at both locations. The ideal candidate will have hands‑on operational brewing experience, be passionate, committed, and relentlessly quality‑focused, while also cognizant of the importance of listening, mentorship, teamwork, and the company’s core focus.

This position will oversee production schedules and ensure implementation of all standard operating procedures to maintain consistency, quality, and efficiency throughout the production process. A thorough understanding of all aspects of beer production, including grain handling, yeast management, filtration, packaging, and QA/QC is required.

Primary Function

The Head Brewer reports directly to Ownership and leads all functions and processes related to brewing, cellaring, packaging, operational maintenance, and quality assurance. Responsibilities include coordinating with the other Head Brewer to ensure uniformity across two brewing locations, sourcing of brewing and packaging materials, constantly seeking innovation in the development process, and continually improving methods to impact quality, consistency, and efficiency. As part of The Beer’d Brewing Company management team, the Head Brewer will work with others inside the company to develop and achieve the company’s long‑term and short‑term goals.

Responsibilities

Daily Operations

• Supports The Beer’d Brewing Co.’s Core Values and Focus
• Oversee and monitor daily plant operations, provide assistance when necessary
• Coordinate with management team on production planning and forecasting
• Oversee the entire brewing process from milling to readying liquids for filling and packaging
• Oversee tracking and recording key measurements during the entire brewing process
• Oversee and improve yeast management (harvesting, pitching, storage)
• Develop and maintain management and vendor relationships
• Offer insight on CIP and sanitization improvements and energy and water conservation
• Review and revision of all brewhouse and cellar SOP’s
• Offer insight on troubleshooting, technical maintenance, and adherence to SOP’s

Daily Operations (Cont.)

• Oversee data collection in brewhouse software environment
• Work and communicate well across all levels of a brewery operation (management, packaging, customer, suppliers, etc.)
• Offer suggestions on process improvements to cellaring techniques
• Comply with all safe chemical handling procedures including personal protective equipment such as gloves and goggles
• Oversee brewhouse and cellar sanitation
• Ensure compliance with all Alcohol and Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) standards and required documentation
• Assist in the development of department budget, planning, and forecasting as well as directing production staff as they implement daily operational activities
• Work with Accounting to review appropriate financial statements, sales and activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement. Identify and rectify areas for cost reduction and program improvement.

Management

• Manage the brewhouse and cellar teams
• Ensure all safety protocols are observed in brewing and cellaring; train, reinforce and improve a safety culture and attitude in plant operations
• Guide others to identify brewhouse equipment, facilities, and talent to meet future growth projections
• Hold all crew members accountable to operating within brewery procedures
• Conduct annual performance reviews with all direct reports
• Facilitate vetting, hiring, and training of production staff
• Translate the overall business strategy into operational goals and objectives for the brewery

Other Requirements

• Must be able to bend, squat, kneel, push, pull, and walk on uneven surfaces on an occasional basis
• Must be able to climb stairs both inside and outside and ladders
• Occasionally lift up to 60 lbs
• Proficient with Google SuiteSolid working knowledge of brewery ERP systems (Ekos, Keg ID, Orchestrated Beer, etc)
• Ability to create a strategy to implement continual improvements in brewing and packaging processes, including automation to meet demand and to improve consistency, quality, and efficiency

Education, Experience and Skills

• Prior experience on a minimum 15-barrel brewhouse in a full production brewery
• Experience working in a multi‑facility organization desired
• A minimum of 3 years practical, professional brewing, packaging, maintenance, and quality control experience
• 2+ Years management and leadership experience required
• Experience creating, experimenting, and brewing multiple styles of beer
• Prior knowledge of barrel‑aging and brewing sours is a plus
• In-depth knowledge of yeast strains, hop varieties, grain varieties, grain roasts, etc.
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced and constantly changing work environment
• Writing and math skills are necessary to accurately complete dilution calculations, volume, flow, density, weight, length, pressure, and other unit conversions, calculate beer volumes/losses, and alcohol content
• Strong work ethic and self‑starter
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team collaboration
• High level of attention to detail and strong communication skills

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Some flexibility in hours is allowed; however, employees are expected to be available during the “core” work hours of '8:00 am‑5:00 pm'. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Travel

Must be open and able to travel by all methods. This position requires occasional travel to breweries and other taproom locations. Occasional travel outside the local area and overnight stays may be required.

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• The employee may work with hazardous materials and utilities.
• The employee works on wet floors and with wet equipment.
• The employee may at times work around high voltage, flame, hot water, steam, broken glass, and CO2 sources.
• The employee frequently works in a sanitary environment.
• The employee may sometimes work near moving mechanical parts.

EEO Statement

The Beer’d Brewing Company is an equal opportunity employer, practicing equality of employment and advancement opportunities to all regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or ancestry, sex, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, learning disability, mental disability, physical disability, veteran status, or any other protected group status under federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation based on experience. Benefits include PTO, Paid Holidays, Health Insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, and free beer.