Join the Wise Man Brewing Team
Wise Man Brewing is an award-winning brewery and taproom in downtown Winston-Salem, NC, known for making great beer. Since opening in 2017, we’ve built a strong reputation for quality, variety, innovation & community.
We’re looking for an experienced Brewer to join our production team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has solid commercial brewing experience and wants meaningful hands-on responsibility in an established brewery.
You’ll work closely with our Lead Brewer across the full production process. We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their work, pays attention to the details, communicates well, and wants to continue developing their technical brewing skills.
Core Responsibilities
Brewing Operations
- Execute assigned brewhouse operations, including milling, mashing, lautering, boiling, whirlpooling, chilling, and knockout.
- Follow recipes, production schedules, and standard operating procedures accurately and consistently.
- Independently execute assigned brew days and communicate progress, issues, and deviations to the Lead Brewer or Brewmaster.
- Monitor brewing processes and make appropriate adjustments within established procedures.
- Maintain accurate brewing records and production documentation.
- Assist with recipe development, pilot batches, testing, and process improvement.
- Handle and manage brewing ingredients appropriately, including grain, hops, yeast, and brewing adjuncts.
- Assist with receiving and organizing brewing ingredients and supplies.
- Maintain strong organization and cleanliness throughout the brewhouse.
Cellar Operations
- Perform fermentation and cellar operations including transfers, dry hopping, carbonation, yeast harvesting, yeast management, and tank turnarounds.
- Monitor fermentation progress and communicate observations or potential issues to the Lead Brewer or Brewmaster.
- Properly clean and sanitize tanks, hoses, fittings, pumps, and other cellar equipment.
- Maintain organized cellar spaces and ensure equipment is ready for use.
- Assist with tank preparation, beer transfers, and preparation of beer for packaging.
- Handle yeast according to Wise Man's established procedures.
- Maintain accurate fermentation, cellar, and yeast records.
Packaging
- Operate and assist with kegging, canning, and other packaging equipment.
- Prepare beer and equipment for packaging according to established procedures.
- Monitor packaged product for quality and consistency.
- Assist with packaging-line setup, cleaning, changeovers, and breakdown.
- Properly clean and sanitize packaging equipment and associated brewery equipment.
- Communicate beer-quality or equipment concerns to brewery leadership.
Quality
- Help maintain consistent beer quality from brew day through packaging.
- Participate in routine sensory evaluation and production quality checks.
- Identify and communicate potential quality issues promptly.
- Follow established sanitation, quality-control, and production procedures.
- Maintain accurate production and quality records.
- Take ownership of the quality of assigned work and finished beer.
Barrel-Aged Program(s)
- Cross-train with Lead Brewer on the barrel-aged program(s).
- With the Lead Brewer, monitor barrels and aging vessels and maintain accurate records as assigned.
- Maintain appropriate sanitation and handling procedures for mixed-culture and sour production as assigned.
Sanitation & Organization
- Maintain high standards of brewery cleanliness and sanitation.
- Perform CIP and manual cleaning of brewhouse, cellar, packaging, and other brewery equipment.
- Properly handle and store cleaning chemicals.
- Keep work areas, equipment, tools, and production spaces clean and organized.
- Identify sanitation or organizational issues and address them promptly.
- Follow Wise Man's established cleaning and sanitation procedures consistently.
Equipment & Maintenance
- Operate brewing, cellar, packaging, and material-handling equipment safely and properly.
- Identify equipment issues and communicate them to brewery leadership.
- Assist with basic troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, and equipment repairs as appropriate.
- Demonstrate mechanical aptitude and a willingness to learn brewery equipment and systems.
- Maintain tools and equipment in good working condition.
- Assist with brewery projects, equipment installation, and process improvements as needed.
Cross-Department Coordination
- Work closely with the Lead Brewer and Brewmaster to execute production priorities.
- Communicate tank status, beer readiness, equipment issues, and production concerns.
- Coordinate with the Packaging & Warehouse Manager to ensure beer is prepared for packaging on schedule.
- Communicate effectively with other brewery team members regarding production needs and priorities.
- Support brewery operations wherever needed.
Safety & Compliance
- Follow all brewery safety procedures and established SOPs.
- Properly handle chemicals, CO₂, hot liquids, steam, pressurized vessels, and other brewery hazards.
- Use required personal protective equipment.
- Operate forklifts and other equipment safely and only when properly trained or certified.
- Maintain a clean and organized work environment to reduce safety hazards.
- Immediately communicate safety concerns, equipment failures, spills, injuries, or other hazards to brewery leadership.
- Contribute to a culture of safety throughout the brewery.
Qualifications & SkillsMinimum Qualifications
- Minimum of 2 years of commercial brewery experience.
- Working knowledge of commercial brewing processes.
- Strong understanding of brewery sanitation practices.
- Ability to accurately follow recipes, SOPs, and production schedules.
- Mechanical aptitude and basic problem-solving skills.
- Strong work ethic and positive, team-oriented attitude.
- Ability to work independently while communicating effectively with brewery leadership.
- Ability to lift 55+ pounds repeatedly.
- Ability to work in hot, cold, wet, and physically demanding environments.
- Forklift experience or willingness to become forklift certified.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience independently operating a commercial brewhouse.
- Cellaring and fermentation management experience.
- Packaging-line experience.
- Draft-system knowledge.
- Experience with yeast harvesting and management.
- Basic brewery equipment maintenance and troubleshooting experience.
- Formal brewing education or equivalent professional experience.
- Strong interest in craft beer and continued professional development.
Success in This Role Looks Like
- Assigned brew days and cellar work are executed safely, accurately, and efficiently.
- Recipes and production procedures are followed consistently.
- Beer moves through brewing, fermentation, and packaging on schedule.
- Beer quality and consistency remain high.
- Brewery areas and equipment are clean, organized, and properly maintained.
- Production records are accurate and complete.
- Potential quality, equipment, or production issues are identified and communicated early.
- The Brewer demonstrates increasing technical knowledge and independence.
- The Brewer works effectively with the Lead Brewer, Brewmaster, packaging team, and the broader brewery team.
- The Brewer contributes positively to Wise Man's culture of craftsmanship, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic production environment, contributing to the creation of high-quality products. If you meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply.
Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Employee discount
- Paid time off
Experience:
- Brewing: 2 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
