Head Brewer

Nombase Education; Santa Clarita (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & holidays

Beer allotment

Merchandise discounts

Industry events

Executive leadership impact

Job summary

Lucky Luke Brewing seeks an experienced Head Brewer to lead production, cellaring, packaging, and QA/QC across Santa Clarita and Palmdale facilities. The role balances technical production with entrepreneurial, creative leadership, splitting time between sites to mentor staff and optimize cross-facility logistics.

You will drive recipe development, ensure consistency of flagship brands, and maintain safety, quality, and efficiency.

Qualifications

• 5+ years brewing experience, 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Formal brewing education preferred (Siebel, UC Davis, IBD).
• Experience with mid-sized and pilot brewing systems (30bbl+ and 10bbl).
• Strong brewing chemistry, microbiology, sensory evaluation and recipe development.

Responsibilities

• Oversee production, cellaring, packaging across both facilities.
• Coordinate brewing, cellaring, and packaging schedules to optimize capacity.
• Lead and mentor brewing staff; ensure safety and cleanliness.
• Maintain QA/QC protocols and yeast management; shelf-life testing.

Skills

Leadership

Brewing expertise

Quality control

Logistics coordination

Education

Siebel / UC Davis / IBD

Tools

Ekos

Beer30

Ollie

Job description

We are a family-owned, independent craft brewing company deeply rooted in the Southern California beer community. Operating three distinct facilities—a30bbl production brewery and taproom in Santa Clarita, a dynamic10bbl pilot brewery and taproom in Palmdale, and a full service restaurant in Lancaster—we balance large-scale, high-quality core brand distribution with small-batch, cutting-edge experimentation. Our team values hard work, creativity, absolute quality, and a collaborative, supportive team culture. We are looking for an experienced, passionate leader to guide our brewing operations into the future.

Position Summary

The Head Brewer will oversee all aspects of production, cellaring, packaging, quality control, inventory, and recipe development across both our Santa Clarita and Palmdale facilities. This role requires a unique balance of a highly technical production mindset and an entrepreneurial, creative spirit. The ideal candidate will split their time between both facilities, managing and mentoring team members, streamlining cross-facility logistics, ensuring strict quality control, and maintaining high safety standards.

• Santa Clarita Facility:30bbl production system focused on high-efficiency core brands, our canning line, and wholesale distribution readiness.
• Palmdale Facility:10bbl pilot system focused on taproom exclusives, seasonal rotations, R&D batches, and local community engagement.
• Operations & Scheduling:Coordinate and manage the brewing, cellaring, and packaging schedules for both facilities to optimize capacity, prevent bottlenecks, and fulfill wholesale and taproom demands.
• Recipe Development & Innovation:Maintain strict consistency for established flagships in Santa Clarita while spearheading an inventive R&D pipeline on the 10bbl system in Palmdale.
• Quality Assurance & Control:Establish, implement, and maintain rigorous QA/QC protocols (yeast management, sensory analysis, shelf-life testing, SOP adherence) to ensure every drop of beer meets absolute gold standards.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship:Manage, train, and inspire brewing staff across both locations. Foster a culture of safety, cleanliness, continuous learning, and shared accountability.
• Inventory & Procurement:Oversee raw materials tracking, hop contracts, chemical inventory, and packaging supply management using brewery management software.
• Maintenance & Troubleshooting:Oversee preventative maintenance programs for all brewhouse equipment, cellars, boilers, glycol systems, and packaging line.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional brewing experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or lead brewer role within a production environment.
• Formal brewing education (Siebel, UC Davis, IBD, etc.) is highly preferred but equivalent practical experience will be heavily valued.
• Proven experience operating and troubleshooting both mid-sized semi-automated production systems (30bbl+) and smaller manual/semi-automated pilot systems.
• Deep understanding of brewing chemistry, microbiology, sensory evaluation, and recipe development.
• Proficiency in brewery management software (e.g., Ekos, Beer30, Ollie).
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to seamlessly manage logistics across split geographic locations.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to split time between Santa Clarita and Palmdale as operational needs dictate.
• Ability to lift up to 55 lbs repeatedly and maneuver 165 lb kegs safely.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• Generous beer allotment, merchandise discounts, and industry event opportunities.
• A seat at the executive table with a direct impact on the brand’s creative direction, flavor profiles, and regional growth strategy.

To Apply

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter explaining your experience managing multiple facilities to [e-mail] with the subject line "Head Brewer Application - [Your Name]".