Head Brewer

Head Brewer – Jefferson Beer Supply

Jefferson Beer Supply | Jefferson, South DakotaFull-Time | 48,000–52,000/year, negotiable based on experience

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 500 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 team 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
• Experiance 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.

Pay: $48,000.00 - $52,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• On-the-job training
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Profit sharing
• Relocation assistance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $48,000 - $52,000