Defiant Brewing Company (Pearl River, NY) Looking for Head Brewer for Immediate

[email protected]

SUMMARY
The Defiant Brewing Company is a fully functional production brewery that does both draught and canned beers. We are looking for a Head Brewer who will report to the brewery owner and be responsible for day-to-day operations of the brewery including active roles in recipe development, procurement and management of raw materials, brewing, cellaring, packaging, cleaning, and quality management. Candidates should share the owner’s commitment to safety, experimentation, and the drive to create and maintain a successful and diverse portfolio of high quality beers. Ideal candidates would be a long-term partner seeking to grow along with the company.

ResponsibilitiesRaw materials receipt, storage and retrieval for brewingMilling up to approximately 1,500 pounds in 50-55-pound bag increments, in accordance with a brew sheetWort production and hopping on 15 Bbl brewhouseCompleting and maintaining brew logs for each session and communicating deviations from stated targets for criteria such as mash pH, mash temp, liquor: grist ratio, OG, fermenter volume/tempSafely removing spent grain from mash/lauter tunAdding recipe-specific amount of dry hops to designated fermenters via the top port of the tank and/or via hop-back and cold side doserYeast management, including the harvesting and/or pitching of yeast from fermenter/brink while always following strict sanitary proceduresFollowing established procedures to clean the brewhouse, fermenting and brite tanksAdhering to safe practices when handling cleaning chemicals and adding correct amounts as needed for cleaning tasksTransferring beer from fermenter to brite tank in a sanitary manner while maintaining balanced pressureApplying the correct pressure and volume of compressed CO2 gas to brite tanks for carbonation and displacement of beer as it is being packagedFilling/emptying of kegs, barrels, metal/wooden casks, etcMoving pallets of packaged beer to appropriate storage locationsGeneral cleaning of brewery surfacesLogging gravity checks, cell counts, sensory sampling, yeast dumps and pH checks on productMaintain beer sample libraryPerform quality assurance checks on incoming raw materials and packaging suppliesEnsure lab equipment is well maintainedThorough understanding of all brewhouse operations, vessels, and CIPAbility to troubleshoot brewery equipment and ingredient issues including those affecting but not limited to brewhouse, CLT/HLT, boiler, glycol system, keg washer, twater managementWillingness to represent the brewery at beer festivals, tap takeovers, and other brewery eventsBe a team player and able to interact with all levels within the organizationAdhere to all applicable local, state and federal laws, rules, and regulationsOther tasks may be assigned as needed
Additional qualifications
- Genuine passion and interest for the craft beer industry
- Flexible schedule availability that may include evening/weekend hours
- Strong team player but able to excel independently
- Ability to obtain forklift certification
- Comfortable using a computer/tablet and able to utilize programs such as MS Office (Word, Excel, etc) as well as web-based office tools like Google Docs, Google Sheets, etc
- Attention to detail
- Able to maintain high functionality under pressure
- Ability to multi-task
- Self-starter who’s able to initiate new projects amidst the ebb and flow of brewery production

Ideal candidates will also have the following:
- Formal brewing education
- Mechanical inclination
- 3-4 years professional brewing experience
- 1-2 years managerial experience
Physical requirements
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
- Ability to stoop, crawl, twist, turn, lift, kneel, climb ladders and stairs
- Ability to regularly lift and carry 44 pound boxes
- Ability to regularly lift and carry 55 pound grain bags above waist level
- Ability to lift/move up to 165 pounds with appropriate equipment and/or assistance
- Ability to safely handle and use chemicals related to brewery operations and to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Ability to work in an environment where noise, temperature, and humidity levels may vary
- Strong sensory abilities
We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience. You should have comfort and interest in brewing a wide variety of styles with a focus on quality. If you think you might be a fit, let's talk. Please send an email with your resume to [email protected]
Job Type: Full-time