| Job Description |
Jefferson Beer Supply is looking for a Head Brewer to join our small, hands-on production team in Jefferson, South Dakota.
We’re a small independent brewery producing roughly 700 barrels per year, with a taproom, kitchen, growing distribution footprint, and 16 oz can production. We’re looking for someone who cares about making great beer, enjoys working across a variety of styles, and wants the opportunity to have a meaningful hand in what we make and where the brewery goes next.
This is a hands-on role covering multiple parts of brewery production: brewing, cellaring, fermentation management, packaging, inventory, production planning, and process improvement. You’ll work closely with our Director of Brewing and the rest of the production team while also helping keep production aligned with taproom demand, events, sales, and upcoming releases.
What You’ll Do
Prepare for and execute brew days.
Manage fermentation, yeast health, transfers, carbonation, and cold-side additions
Monitor fermentation progress and make adjustments as needed
Help develop, refine, and scale recipes
Maintain accurate brew logs, cellar records, and production documentation
Participate in canning, kegging, and other packaging operations
Manage inventory of grain, hops, yeast, chemicals, gases, salts, and other brewing supplies. Order ingredients and production supplies as needed.
Help monitor ingredient costs, margins, and production efficiency
Maintain high standards for cleaning, sanitation, organization, and brewery safety
Clean and maintain tanks, hoses, draft lines, and kegging equipment
Perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting on brewing equipment, chillers, water systems, and other production equipment
Work with our maintenance staff on larger equipment projects
Help standardize and improve brewing procedures, SOPs, and record keeping
Train and mentor other production staff on brewing and cellaring processes
Help manage production scheduling, tank usage, and raw-material needs
Coordinate with marketing on upcoming beer releases
Stay aware of taproom events, sales trends, and beer demand so production supports the needs of the business
Collaborate on experimental beers, seasonal releases, collaborations, and non-beer beverage projects
Occasionally interact with customers and the taproom team to better understand what our customers are enjoying
Who We’re Looking For
Professional brewery experience is preferred, but we’re also open to candidates with relevant formal brewing education and a strong technical foundation.
We’re looking for someone who is:
Has a minimum of 2 years professional beer or beverage experience at a brewery or other beverage manufacturing employment
Serious about beer quality and consistency
Knowledgeable about brewing science, fermentation, and yeast management
Comfortable working independently while also collaborating with a small team
Curious, creative, and interested in continuing to learn. Thinks beer is fun and engaging.
Organized and capable of managing multiple beers, tanks, and production priorities
Able to follow established procedures while also identifying ways to improve them
Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and dependable
Comfortable troubleshooting equipment and solving day-to-day production problems
Willing to do the physical and sometimes unglamorous work that comes with operating a small brewery
Comfortable working in a growing company where everyone occasionally pitches in outside their exact job description
Interested in building something, not simply maintaining it
Experience in mead or cider, a plus
Experience with recipe development, a plus
Physical Requirements
This is an active production position. Candidates must be able to:
Lift and move 55+ lbs
Stand and work on their feet for extended periods
Work safely around hot liquids, chemicals, pressurized equipment, and wet surfaces
Work in varying temperatures and brewery conditions
Perform repetitive lifting, bending, carrying, cleaning, and equipment operation
Compensation & Benefits
48,000–52,000 annual salary, negotiable depending on experience
Paid vacation
Healthcare stipend
Employee beer and brewery perks
Creative input, recipe-development opportunities and opportunity to play a meaningful role in the continued growth of an independent brewery.
About Jefferson Beer Supply
Jefferson Beer Supply opened in 2022 in Jefferson, South Dakota. We’re a small brewery with a regional customer base, a busy taproom, an in-house kitchen, and growing distribution in South Dakota and Iowa.
We make everything from traditional lagers and approachable taproom beers to hazy and West Coast IPAs, dark beers, fruited sours, and some decidedly weird stuff. We believe creativity and craftsmanship can coexist, and we care much more about making something good than chasing whatever happens to be trendy that week.
We are looking for someone that really wants to work collaboratively. You’ll have room to bring ideas to the table, develop new products, improve our processes, mentor other brewers, and help shape the future of the brewery. This is not a “please run my entire brewery while I’m gone” type of job. The owners, other production team members, and other employees all work together to accomplish our goals and keep the company healthy- from bigger projects to day-to-day tasks- we all work together.
Jefferson is a small rural community within the greater Siouxland area. It offers affordable living, an easy commute, and quick access to Sioux City and the surrounding region.
To apply: Please submit a resume along with a short introduction telling us about your brewing background, what you enjoy making, and what you’re looking for in your next brewery. Email jeffersonbeersupply@gmail.com, subject “head brewer job”.
We’re less interested in finding someone who checks every box than we are in finding the right person for our team. If the position sounds like a good fit but your experience looks a little different from what we’ve described, we still encourage you to apply.
Benefits:
Employee discount
Flexible schedule
Health insurance
On-the-job training
Paid time off
Professional development assistance
Profit sharing
Relocation assistance
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