WHO WE ARE

Wabasha Brewing Company is a family owned and operated brewery which began its story in 2013 and was acquired by current ownership in October 2021. As a company, we are guided by our core values of Love for People, Improvement Thinking, Teamwork, and Experience is Everything. We are looking for someone with the right experience, knowledge, passions, and vibes to join us in our purpose to share our love for life and people through the experience of crafting and enjoying beverages together. In order to strive towards that purpose we use a Lean operating system that focuses on creating value for our consumers, team members, and the community we operate within. Our brewing philosophy is keyed on using high quality ingredients and scientific thinking to craft award winning beverages that create joy and connect us all. We are excited for the future of Wabasha Brewing and look forward to the beverages and stories we can craft together.

OVERALL FUNCTION

Wabasha Brewing is seeking an enthusiastic, ambitious Head Brewer for immediate hire to lead our brewery team in Saint Paul, MN. The Head Brewer will fully manage our brewing operations, optimize the utilization of our 10-barrel brewing equipment, and help lead innovation and new product development. We are looking for someone with uncompromising commitment to quality and continuous improvement with exceptional motivation, work ethic, and professionalism.
The Brewer’s primary role will be to lead all wort production on our 3-vessel 10-barrel brewhouse and work directly with the team to develop new recipes and improve quality and consistency of the existing beers. The candidate will also be expected to lead/assist in various aspects of cellaring, canning/bottling, warehouse management, taproom education, and inventory management on a weekly basis. This position requires flexibility to assist where needed and can provide many opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally.
To apply, please send your resume and references.
This is a full-time, exempt position.

REQUIRED SKILLS, PHYSICAL ABILITIES, & EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

Required Skills:

• Passion for craft beer including a deep understanding of beer chemistry and quality
• Expert practical and theoretical knowledge of brewery equipment, processes, recipe formulation, ingredients, and ability to troubleshoot maintenance and quality issues
• Ability to work independently with excellent time management abilities.
• Ability to work efficiently as a part of a highly collaborative team.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and under strict deadlines.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Detail oriented

Physical Requirements—Ability to:

• Stand for long periods of time (up to 10 hours per day).
• Regularly lift, push, or pull kegs
• Climb ladders and stairs while carrying 10+ lbs of weight
• Work in an environment with high noise levels and slippery conditions

Experience and Education:

• 3-5 years of professional brewing experience – Formal brewery education, certificate, or related science/engineering is a plus. Ties within the craft brewing industry with vendors and other breweries is also a plus.
• Experience in brewing a wide variety of beer styles—with a specific emphasis on IPAs, lagers, and stouts.
• Experience in recipe formulation.
• Experience with brewery maintenance and upkeep—and maintaining a regular preventative maintenance schedule.
• Experience in barrel aging and cask-conditioning of ales.
• Proficiency with modern brewing and office software, including Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets) and Microsoft Office.

Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In perso

• Conduct and oversee all brewing operations at the brewery including: recipe management, purchasing, receiving, brewing and cellar operations, malt handling, wort production, fermentation, yeast handling, liquid transfer, carbonation, keg cleaning/filing.
• Work with sales and taproom needs to design new recipes and create a brew schedule that meet or exceeds customer demands and needs for innovative beer styles
• Ordering and budgeting of ingredients, brewing materials, brewery chemicals, and maintenance replacement parts
• Cleaning and sanitation of equipment and the brewery area to ensure high standards of cleanliness are set and consistently maintained.
• Perform general maintenance and upkeep of brewing, cleaning, and delivery equipment, troubleshooting, and taking corrective action when necessary.
• Enhance and/or develop and enforce brewery department policies and procedures, including creating and documenting comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Ensure lab measurements: yeast counts, DO readings, gravities, pH, diacetyl tests, etc. are performed according to method, documented accurately, and parameters for product release are met prior to release
• Work with staff to resolve quality issues, elevate significant problems to the owner to ensure that no beer is released that does not meet standards
• Hire, lead, and develop the brewery staff supported by routine meetings, standard work, and objectives aligned with the business strategy
• Maximize output through effective leadership and reduction of downtime throughout the brewing, cellaring, and packaging process
• Maintain capital projects list with estimated costs in the brewing department including operating budgets for both the short and long-term plans.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Support training of taproom staff as needed on beer-related functions (e.g., keg changes, beer pump issues, pour training, etc.)
• Ability to lead public tours and tastings. Educate and create excitement around Wabasha Brewing through engagement with staff and guests.
• Promote Wabasha’s core values of Love for People, Improvement Thinking, Teamwork, and Experience is everything to our customers and coworkers.
• Conduct on-going research into industry trends, technical parameters and local market specialties to ensure product offerings stay relevant.
• Represent Wabasha in a manner consistent with our reputation for quality, professionalism, and expertise. This includes in the brewery, in the taproom, and in third-party establishments outside of work hours.
• Represent Wabasha as a brand ambassador at events, festivals, and promotions, as needed.