Brewmaster

Abita Brewing Company, is hiring for an exciting leadership opportunity as Brewmaster, reporting to the VP of Operations, based at our corporate headquarters in Covington, Louisiana. 

If you are someone who enjoys leading and mentoring employees, has a strong technical aptitude in all-things-brewing, and is passionate about working for a company deeply rooted in Louisiana culture, this could be the right opportunity for you.

Louisiana’s Original Craft Brewery since 1986, Abita is both a pioneer and innovator in the industry. As Brewmaster, you’ll drive a culture of excellence and be instrumental in identifying and improving all aspects of brewing operations. You’ll oversee brewing processes, recipe development, quality control, and contract manufacturing while fostering a collaborative team culture and a culture of safety and efficiency. 

 Key Responsibilities

·       Brewing Operations: Lead all brewing operations, including recipe development for beers, sodas, flavored malt beverages, and other products for distribution and Tap Room sales. Program recipes into brewhouse automation systems, oversee procurement of raw materials, and implement Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma Principles to improve efficiency and reduce waste. 

·       Contract Manufacturing: Collaborate with contract clients to develop custom recipes that meet their specifications, including managing cost estimates, coordinating quality control analysis, and managing the transition from pilot-scale to large-scale production

·       Quality Control: Establish and monitor quality parameters and ensure all products meet or exceed Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and comply with food safety and labeling regulations (e.g. TTB, FDA)

·       Production Management: Oversee daily brewing operations to meet production goals and optimize brewhouse efficiencies tracking KPIs for yield, production rates, and resource utilization.  Collaborate with internal teams to align production schedules with demand

·       Staff Leadership and Development: Mentor, train, and develop brewing staff; promote a positive, inclusive culture, support succession planning, and focus on ongoing training initiatives and developing written materials as needed

·       Innovation: Drive new product development through pilot brewing and collaboration with R&D and marketing.

·       Equipment & Facility: Ensure all brewery equipment is properly maintained, oversee sanitation and cleaning processes, and manage CO2 and chemical inventories. Collaborate with maintenance teams to identify, develop, and plan ahead for preventative maintenance work.

·       Sustainability: Implement initiatives to reduce water, energy, and waste; enhance efficiency through automation and software.

·       Compliance & Brand Representation: Ensure regulatory compliance (TTB, OSHA, EPA); represent the brewery at events and build industry relationships.

Working Conditions

·       Requires standing for up to 12 hours, bending, stooping, twisting, and lifting/moving up to 50 pounds regularly and 170 pounds occasionally. Exposure to high noise levels and temperature changes.

Qualifications

·        Bachelor’s degree in Brewing Science, Food Science, or related field, or equivalent certification (e.g., Certified Master Brewer).

·        Minimum of 7 years of hands-on brewing experience in a production brewery, with at 3 years in a leadership role managing a team of five or more.

·        Proven expertise in recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and scaling recipes from pilot to large-scale production (100bbl systems), including contract manufacturing.

·        Strong knowledge of brewing science, including malting, mashing, fermentation, and packaging processes.

·        Experience with quality control, lab testing, and sensory evaluation for both in-house and contract products.

·        Proficiency in brewery management software (Vicinity), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), and MRP/ERP (Vicinity and Great Plains) systems.

·        Budget management experience, with a focus on cost control and process optimization, including contract production cost estimates.

·        Deep understanding of OSHA regulations, food safety standards, and environmental compliance.

·        Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a passion for mentoring and team development.

·        Analytical and problem-solving skills to troubleshoot brewing and equipment issues.

·        Must be at least 21 years of age and eligible to work in the United States.

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The Abita Brewing Company reserves the right to revise and alter this job description as needed.