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Useful experience for brewers includes:

• working in a factory, laboratory, brewery or winery
• dairy technology, food processing or production work
• working with machinery.

Brewers may do some or all of the following:

• select and check the type of malted barley or grain needed to make a brand of beer
• add hops, yeast, hot or cold water and other ingredients at the correct times
• operate computerised machinery that controls the brewing process
• monitor the temperature, acidity, fermentation and colour of beer throughout the brewing process
• sterilise and maintain brewing equipment
• package beer and deliver it locally
• monitor the costs of production, do stock counts, and order ingredients
• manage a team of brewery workers.

Craft beer industry creating more roles

The number of workers at breweries that produce mainstream beer is continuing to drop due to increased automation. However, the number of independent or craft breweries is growing to meet increasing demand in New Zealand. Increased production of craft beer is creating more brewer, assistant brewer and brewery assistant jobs. 

Brewers may have more of a chance at securing a job if they apply at independent breweries.

Chances best if you have experience

Employers report difficulty finding skilled brewers, so your chances of securing a job are best if you have relevant experience.

According to the Census, 504 brewers and 561 cellar hands worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Two main types of employers

Brewers may work for large or independent breweries. Lion Pty Ltd and DB Breweries Ltd are the largest beer producers in New Zealand. 

As large breweries have automated brewing processes,they have few traditional brewer roles. For example, there are just 13 brewers employed at DB Breweries. 

Independent or craft breweries usually have teams of up to 20 brewers who share a variety of different responsibilities.

Competenz

0800 526 1800 - info@competenz.org.nz - www.competenz.org.nz

Institute of Brewing and Distilling - Asia Pacific

secretary@ibdasiapac.com.au - www.ibdasiapac.com.au

Brewers may progress to set up their own breweries or become managers of breweries.

Brewers in large brewery companies may specialise in one area of the brewing industry such as production or laboratory work.

Brewers need to be:

• able to take the initiative
• practical and efficient
• accurate, with an eye for detail
• patient and reliable
• able to work well in a team
• skilled in communicating with others
• good at solving problems.