Production Brewer
Job Summary
The Brewing/Cellar Operator position is a fully trained brewer and cellar operator who can independently execute shift work across both the brewhouse and cellar at Half Acre Beer Company’s production facility. This role is responsible for all aspects of wort production on our 30 bbl Braukon brewhouse and all cellar operations including yeast and fermentation management, beer transfers, and tank cleaning and sanitization. This individual will operate with a critical focus on safety, cleanliness, organization, consistency, and quality.
Shifts will consist of five consecutive 8 hour days and can be Monday – Friday, Tuesday – Saturday, or Sunday – Thursday. Shift timing will rotate on a schedule, with first shift starting at 5:00am and last shift ending as late as 11:00pm. Exact shift times may fluctuate slightly based on day-to-day demand. Personnel may be assigned to brewhouse or cellar duties on any given day based on production needs.
The anticipated pay rate for this position is $26.50 – $30.00/hourly (actual compensation will be determined based on knowledge, experience, skills, and other factors permitted by law).
Duties/Responsibilities
- Brewhouse
- Grain loading and milling
- Mashing
- Lautering
- Graining out
- Boiling
- Hop additions
- Wort cooling
- Wort aeration
- Hot side gravity and pH measurements
- Calculations and recipe adjustment
- Brewhouse equipment CIP
- Facilitate dry grain silo fills
- Facilitate spent grain silo emptying
- Fermentation vessel CIP, passivation, and sanitization
- BBT CIP, passivation, sanitization, and purging
- Yeast handling, including operation of yeast brink and Aber Perfect Pitch
- Dry hopping, including operation of scissor lift and Handtmann Hop to the Top
- Diacetyl testing, including sample prep with bench-top centrifuge
- Sidestreaming of hops and yeast, including offloading sidestream tanks
- Beer transfer, including operation of GEA HB1 centrifuge
- Beer carbonation, including operation of Anton Paar CBOX and Zahm
- DO measurement with CBOX
- Operation of infusion tank for adding specialty ingredients
- Spirit barrel work, including prepping, filling, and emptying barrels
- Commitment to company safety program
- Gravity, pH, and temperature readings on tanks
- Boiler and hot water management
- Tracking of all production stages with Crafted ERP
- General equipment autonomous maintenance and regular cleaning of work areas
- Sensory evaluation of beer at various stages of production
- Communicating well with other brewing, cellaring, and packaging staff
Required Skills
- Constant commitment to safety and quality
- Ability to work early morning or late evening shifts, as well as weekend work
- Proficiency in wort production and fermentation management
- Strong understanding of proper sanitary technique
- Tuned-in to the critical factors that dictate beer quality
- Mechanically-minded with the ability to troubleshoot equipment issues
- Detail oriented and thorough in all tasks
- Strong critical thinking with the ability to assess and solve problems independently
- Ability to multi-task and effectively manage time across brewhouse and cellar duties
- Reliable, punctual, and efficient
- Work independently and cooperatively as part of a team
- Hold oneself accountable for maintaining a clean and organized work environment
- Conscientious, keeping in mind the needs of others as well as your own
- Passion and pride for creating beer consistent with the culture of Half Acre
- Working understanding of total process flow from grain to package, including how upstream decisions affect downstream quality
- Ability to recognize deviation from standard operating procedures and accepted practice
- Willingness to share knowledge and skills with less experienced team members
- Effectively gives and receives feedback; participates in continuous improvement efforts
Beneficial Experience
- A minimum of one year of experience with brewing and cellaring in a fast-paced brewery environment
- Demonstrated competency in brewing theory and brewhouse/cellar operations
- Experience working with brewhouse automation a plus
- Experience working with Crafted ERP a plus
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to lift 55 lbs. overhead
- Must be able to maneuver equipment in tight spaces
- Must be able to maneuver 165 lb kegs on the floor
- Must be able to work on your feet for 8+ hours at a time
- Must be able to work in tight spaces where twisting, reaching, and climbing is required
Our Commitment
Half Acre is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Full-Time/Part-Time Benefits
All full-time (30+ hrs/week) positions at Half Acre enjoy the following benefits:
• 401k plan with up to 3% company match dollar-for-dollar, as well as an additional match of $0.50-per-dollar between 3% and 5%.
• 60% Half Acre-paid health, dental and vision insurance for new employees (dependent coverage available for an additional cost)
• 100% Half Acre-paid life, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Pet insurance options
• Tax-free transit program
• Eligibility to enroll in insurance begins the first day of the month following hire date
• Beer-related perks of brewery life
• Paid sick and vacation time (as outlined below)
• 11 Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Time:
• Begins accruing monthly on day 1 of employment.
• Full-time employees receive up to 60 hours of paid sick leave each year (prorated).
• Rollover up to 80 hrs paid sick leave per year
Paid Leave for Any Reason (Vacation Time):
• Year 1 – 2: 10 days (.833 days accrued per month based on 40-hour work week)
• Year 3 – 6: 15 days (1.25 days accrued per month based on 40-hour work week)
• Year 7 – 9: 18 days (1.5. days accrued per month based on 40-hour work week)
• Year 10+: 20 days (1.66 days accrued per month based on 40-hour work week)
• Additional 20-day sabbatical in year 10
• Up to 16 hours of year-end Paid Leave rollover
All part-time (less than 30 hrs/week) positions at Half Acre enjoy the following benefits:
• 401k plan with up to 3% company match dollar-for-dollar, as well as an additional match of $0.50-per-dollar between 3% and 5% (minimum hours worked eligibility threshold must be met in order to participate)
• Pet insurance options
• Tax-free transit program
• Beer-related perks of brewery life
Paid sick and vacation time:
• 1 hour Paid Leave for 35 hours worked, up to 40 hours total/year
• Up to 16 hours year-end Paid Leave rollover
• 1 hour Paid Sick Leave for every 35 hours worked up to 60 hours/year
• Rollover up to 80 hours paid sick leave per year
• Paid holidays when brewery is closed on a day when you are normally scheduled to work
• 401k plan with up to 3% company match dollar-for-dollar, as well as an additional match of $0.50-per-dollar between 3% and 5%.
• 60% Half Acre-paid health, dental and vision insurance for new employees (dependent coverage available for an additional cost)
• 100% Half Acre-paid life, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Pet insurance options
• Tax-free transit program
• Eligibility to enroll in insurance begins the first day of the month following hire date
• Beer-related perks of brewery life
• Paid sick and vacation time (as outlined below)
• 11 Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Time:
• Begins accruing monthly on day 1 of employment.
• Full-time employees receive up to 60 hours of paid sick leave each year (prorated).
• Rollover up to 80 hrs paid sick leave per year
Paid Leave for Any Reason (Vacation Time):
• Year 1 – 2: 10 days (.833 days accrued per month based on 40-hour work week)
• Year 3 – 6: 15 days (1.25 days accrued per month based on 40-hour work week)
• Year 7 – 9: 18 days (1.5. days accrued per month based on 40-hour work week)
• Year 10+: 20 days (1.66 days accrued per month based on 40-hour work week)
• Additional 20-day sabbatical in year 10
• Up to 16 hours of year-end Paid Leave rollover
All part-time (less than 30 hrs/week) positions at Half Acre enjoy the following benefits:
• 401k plan with up to 3% company match dollar-for-dollar, as well as an additional match of $0.50-per-dollar between 3% and 5% (minimum hours worked eligibility threshold must be met in order to participate)
• Pet insurance options
• Tax-free transit program
• Beer-related perks of brewery life
Paid sick and vacation time:
• 1 hour Paid Leave for 35 hours worked, up to 40 hours total/year
• Up to 16 hours year-end Paid Leave rollover
• 1 hour Paid Sick Leave for every 35 hours worked up to 60 hours/year
• Rollover up to 80 hours paid sick leave per year
• Paid holidays when brewery is closed on a day when you are normally scheduled to work