Brewing Graduate Trainee Job Description

Having a career in the brewing industry can be very rewarding and exciting! One of the most common ways that people enter the industry is via a graduate traineeship. If you are specifically interested in becoming a brewer, a brewing graduate traineeship is the perfect entry point.

A brewing graduate trainee must have already completed a degree in Food Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology or Chemical Engineering. They must also be interested in completing an additional qualification that specialises in brewing.

Typically, they will work in the brewery while completing a certificate or diploma in brewing. They will be gaining practical, hands-on experience while simultaneously learning the technical side of brewing beer. After 1 to 3 years, a brewing graduate trainee is considered a fully qualified brewer. After gaining more experience, they can become a technical brewer, brewing team leader, manager, or master brewer.

Many large beer companies have graduate programs looking for talented candidates who are passionate about brewing. It is an excellent pathway for graduates who are interested in brewing and there is very high demand for brewing graduate trainees.

Brewing Graduate Trainee Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a brewing graduate trainee include:

To continue studying brewing techniques and eventually obtain a brewing qualification from an institution like the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD).
To develop strong working relationships within the brewery by collaborating with other brewers, managers, and technical staff
To develop a strong working knowledge of the essential safety procedures within the brewery
To learn about all aspects of the brewing process, from working with raw materials to packaging and testing the final product
To gain an understanding of the techniques that can be used to improve brewery productivity and efficiency
To check the quality of samples, temperate of water, and to make adjustments to the brewing process
To learn brewing recipes and new techniques for brewing
To work closely with the laboratory team and understand the processes that are performed to test beer and ingredient quality
To accurately record data relating to the production processes
To work in conjunction with the brew master and technical brewers on new beer recipes
To assist the technical brewer in a variety of tasks including checking stock levels and identifying problems with the brewing process
To develop and monitor production plans and schedules

Brewing Graduate Trainee Education Requirements

A brewing graduate trainee must have completed a degree before applying for a position. Typically, this degree should relate to a field that is related to brewing. Most often that will be a BSc degree in Food Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology or Chemical Engineering.

The brewing graduate trainee must also be pursuing a brewing qualification from an institution like the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) or Heriot Watt University.

Brewing Graduate Trainee Experience

Ideally, a candidate should have:

Some brewing experience (even home brewing experience is valuable)
Experience working in laboratories
Experience working in a production facility (ideal)
Experience working as part of a team (ideal)

Brewing Graduate Trainee Key Skills

Key skills for a brewing graduate trainee include:

A passion for beer-making
The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines
A strong understanding of the science relating to the brewing industry (chemistry, physics)
The ability to apply scientific principles to the beer-making process
Strong communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well within a team
Leadership skills and the ability to lead by example
A good working knowledge of technological developments within the brewing industry
Strong attention to detail and record keeping ability
Analytical and decision making skills
Flexible and able to deal with unexpected problems
High levels of energy and a positive outlook

Start your career in the beer industry, view our latest positions.

BACK TO INSIGHTS

THOUGHT PIECE the carling team

Does It Matter Where Your Beer Is Brewed? Part 1

Well, yes it does but then again perhaps it doesn’t! It matters to some folk seeking local and others want the heritage and the authenticity, is Manchester in 2023 quite the same as Udine in 1859? The brewers can make a good match so perhaps it is entirely up to you…. Remember the joke circulating […]

THOUGHT PIECE the carling team

Climbing Up That Ladder – How Times Have Changed Since Your Blogger Started His Career!

Is career advancement all about belonging to organisations, taking examinations, working for a host of different companies with some of them abroad or showing you can get along with people through developing an effective network? The answer is probably somewhere between how your blogger made the ascent and how generation Z are approaching the climb. […]

THOUGHT PIECE the carling team

Does It Matter What You Drink Your Beer Out Of?

A piece of Weights and Measures legislation dating back to William III’s time in 1700 says that containers be they made of wood, earthenware, glass, horn, leather, pewter or of some other good and wholesome metal should be stamped with the monarch’s cipher. Only quarts and pints were mentioned at the time but down the […]