How to Become a Brewer's Apprentice

Beer drinkers can turn a leisure activity into a career by becoming a brewer's apprentice.

For many people, enjoying a glass of beer is something they do in their spare time. For some, it actually becomes a career. You can become involved in the entire beer-making process by working for a brewer at a brewery. One career option to consider, which is more of an entry-level position in this industry, is a job as a brewer's apprentice. To become a brewer's apprentice, formal education is generally necessary. There are many ways in which people can gain the education and training they need to be successful in this field.

Instructions

1. Get an appropriate education. The American Brewers Guild offers two programs. One is a 28-week CraftBrewers Apprenticeship, which includes classes as well as five weeks of hands-on training at a brewery. The other offering is Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering, a 23-week course that includes gaining brewery and laboratory experience at a microbrewery or brewpub. This course explains the engineering behind the brewing process. You don't need a college degree to enter either program, but you do need to provide proof (in the form of a transcript) that you've completed a college-level mathematics class and a college-level science class.

   The Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy offers several different programs on brewing. One option is a 12-week WBA Diploma program. This includes education in problem-solving and business practice, as well as hands-on brewing and lab work. The WBA Associate program is a 6-week program that teaches students just the basics of professional brewing.

2. Get on-the-job training. With or without formal educational training, another way to become a brewer's apprentice is to gain related on-the-job training. There are many jobs from which to choose that can provide valuable and relevant experience for individuals seeking a career as a brewer.

3. Get experience in a related field. In an article on the ProBrewer.com website, Teri Fahrendorf, a head brewer, suggests finding specific professions that will provide solid experience in the field, such as a brewpub owner or a microbrewery investor. Non-paid jobs that can also yield that experience, according to Fahrendorf, include working as a homebrewer or local beer judge.

References

• American Brewers Guild: CraftBrewersApprenticeship (CBA)
• American Brewers Guild: Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering (IBS&E)
• Siebel Institute of Technology: World Brewing Academy Associate in Brewing Technology & International Diploma in Brewing Technology Programs
• ProBrewer.com: How to Go Pro in the Beer Biz