How to Become a Brewmaster - Professional Brewer

While it may seem like a dream job to many, the work of a professional brewmaster does require extensive training and education before you can get down to the fun part! Brewmasters must understand and oversee the entire brewing process. It can take many years in the field to advance to a brewmaster position.

There are roughly 1,500 microbreweries in the United States today. California, Texas and Colorado are the country''s top beer-producing states.

Training to Become a Brewmaster

Experience is critical to finding work as a brewmaster. A brewer needs to work at least five years in the field before becoming a brewmaster. At larger breweries, it can often take up to 15 years of experience in order to advance to a brewmaster position.

Brewmaster School

There is no universal education requirement for brewmasters. Specific education requirements may vary by brewery. Listed below is a selection of schools where you can take classes to learn how to become a brewmaster.

• American Brewers Guild: Train online to become a brewmaster through the American Brewers Guild.
• Institute and Guild of Brewing (IGB): A certificate from the IGB is universally recognized. Although the institute is in London, you can prepare and take the test at the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago. Approximately 50 to 60 brewmasters graduate from the Siebel Institute every year.
• Institute for Brewing Studies: The Master Brewers Association offers classes at the Institute of Brewing Studies in Boulder, Colorado.
• University of California at Davis: UC Davis offers classes in the science of brewery. Anheuser-Busch often recruits students from UC Davis.
• University of Wisconsin: The Master Brewers Association offers classes at the University of Wisconsin in addition to its courses offered on the Boulder campus.

Responsibilities

Brewmasters supervise the entire brewing process, from start to finish. Depending on the size of the brewery, they can be in charge of everything from raw material selection to recipe formulation. Brewmasters also manage the staff and oversee the brewery''s finances. In the end, the brewmaster is ultimately the one responsible for the quality of the beer.

Required Skills

Not everyone has the skills necessary to become a successful brewmaster. Here are a few of the essential requisites:

• Solid organizational and planning skills: Brewmasters must have the ability to organize and plan ahead in order to manage and oversee the brewery and the brewing process.
• Strong interpersonal skills: Brewmasters generally manage a large staff, ranging from six to 50 brewers, as well as other employees. It is important to be able to effectively communicate with the staff to make sure the brewery runs smoothly.

Home Microbreweries

Even if you don''t have the time to train to become a certified brewmaster, you can learn how to brew your own beer from the comfort of your home. A number of home microbrewery products and kits can help you get started.

The kits generally include everything from a brewer keg to brewing yeast. Home microbrewery kits also come with a set of easy-to-follow directions, making them popular among both beginning and advanced home brewers. A simple online search can help you to find the best kit for you.

Resources

Beverage Factory Staff. (2008) . Retrieved March 20, 2008, from the Beverage Factory Web site.