How to Become a Beer Brew Master
An estimated 750,000 Americans brew their own beer as of 2009. Homebrewing requires some special equipment and strict sanitation, but almost anyone can learn the basic techniques and produce quality products. The head brewer of a microbrewery or craft brewery is often called a brewmaster, though not all have an official college degree accorded with this title. A beer brewmaster typically has extensive knowledge, experience and technical training, as well as love of his or her craft. Brewmasters continually refine their technique, experiment with new recipes and just get better at what they do. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Start Brewing
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Visit your local homebrew supply store. Purchase a good-quality kit to brew your first batch of beer. Purchase required equipment such as primary fermenter, carboy, siphon, thermometer, bottle caps and capper. Follow the directions carefully.
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Talk to your homebrew supply store about what you will need to brew beer from scratch. Ask other homebrewers for recipes, tips and help. Purchase all the required ingredients and follow the recipe you have chosen. Once you have made several batches of beer, you will become more confident and can experiment by adding various flavors, fruits or spices; trying different types of yeast and hops; and making several different types of beer.
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Join a homebrew club. Members typically meet regularly to share a mug of beer and swap stories and recipes. Participate in events like National Homebrew Day. Enter your beer in competitions such as the Great American Beer Festival, National Homebrewers Conference or your county or state fair to get feedback on your product. Read books and magazines about homebrewing. Continue to brew your own beer as often as possible.
Education
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Work at local microbrewery or brewpub to broaden your knowledge and gain more experience. Visit craft breweries or microbreweries in the U.S., Europe or elsewhere to learn as much as you can about brewing great beer.
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Take college courses or enroll in an apprenticeship program to learn more about the science and engineering aspects of brewing. Various training programs are available across the U.S. and around the world, through the American Brewers Guild and several colleges across the country.
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If you wish to obtain an internationally recognized professional qualification in brewing, enroll in a college course that will prepare you for the London, England-based Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) Diploma Examination. Once you have obtained the diploma, you are eligible to prepare for IBD's Master Brewer examination. The exam consists of five modules and is for candidates with at least five years technical experience. IBD examination centers are located all over the world, including several locations in the U.S.
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Tips & Warnings
Some people seek college courses or apprenticeship programs in order to gain the skills and experience required to open their own microbrewery or brewpub. If this is your dream, you might skip the first three steps and start directly by apprenticing at a microbrewery or enrolling in a college program.
If you simply want more experience and training to produce beer for your own consumption, the best thing is to keep making beer and trying different recipes, beer styles and techniques.
If you do decide to become a commercial brewer, be sure to check all federal, state and local ordinances. Beer sales and distribution are strictly regulated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
References
Resources
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