How to Be Lager Brewer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

May 30, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

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Lager brewing is a process that involves multiple steps in order to create a flavorful, high-quality beer. First, the raw ingredients, such as hops, malt, and yeast, must be sourced and carefully weighed. Then, the grains must be crushed and heated in a process called mashing.

This process helps to release the natural sugars from the grain, which will eventually be converted into alcohol. After mashing, the liquid is boiled and hops are added for flavor. The mixture is then cooled and transferred to a fermentation vessel.

Yeast is added and the beer ferments for several weeks. Finally, the beer is filtered, carbonated, and packaged for distribution. The quality of the beer is largely dependent on how strictly the brewer follows each step of the process.

If done correctly, the result is a delicious lager that can be enjoyed by all beer lovers.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a High School Diploma or GED. Most employers require a high school diploma as a minimum educational requirement for lager brewers.
Earn a Degree in Brewing Science. A degree in brewing science or related field is often required for lager brewers. Degree programs are available at institutions such as the Siebel Institute of Technology and Doemens Academy.
Gain Experience. An apprenticeship or internship at a brewery is an excellent way to gain experience and learn the ins and outs of brewing lagers.
Acquire Certification. The Institute of Brewing and Distilling and the American Society of Brewing Chemists offer certification programs for lager brewers.
Become Licensed. Depending on the state in which you live, you may need to obtain a brewing license before beginning to brew lagers. Check with your local government to determine what licenses you may need.

Brewing beer is a complex process that requires reliable and efficient equipment to ensure the highest quality products. The most important part of the process is the lager brewer, which is used to create the desired flavour, aroma and character of the beer. The lager brewer must be equipped with the right components to ensure a consistent and high-quality brew.

This includes things like a reliable heat source, temperature control, accurate measurement of ingredients, and a proper filtration system. the brewer should have a modern design that is easy to use and maintain. With the right lager brewer, brewers can produce consistent, high-quality beer that will please their customers.

You may want to check Beer Brewer, Brewers Assistant, and Lead Brewer for alternative.

Job Description

Prepare and brew beer according to established recipes, using a variety of brewing equipment and techniques.
Monitor beer production process to ensure quality control.
Clean, maintain and store brewing equipment.
Monitor and adjust beer fermentation process to ensure desired outcome.
Troubleshoot any brewing process issues or inconsistencies.
Conduct laboratory tests of beer samples to ensure quality and safety standards are met.
Monitor, record and report daily production activities and provide progress updates.
Perform periodic maintenance, cleaning and sanitation of brewery equipment and facilities.
Develop new recipes and conduct experiments on different brewing techniques.
Collaborate with other departments such as marketing and sales to develop new products and plan promotional campaigns.
Provide guidance and training to new personnel, as needed.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of beer brewing processes and techniques
Knowledge of various beer styles and their ingredients
Ability to maintain a safe and sanitary work environment
Attention to detail and accuracy in measurements
Ability to follow precise instructions
Good organization and time-management skills
Ability to troubleshoot brewing equipment
Knowledge of beer storage and packaging
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Ability to lift and move heavy bags of grains, kegs, etc.
Knowledge of health and safety regulations

Lagers are a type of beer that require a specific set of skills to produce. The most important skill for a lager brewer to have is an understanding of the fermentation process. This process starts when yeast is mixed with the malted grain and water mixture, and continues until the desired flavour has developed.

Knowing how to control the temperature, and how long to leave the beer in the fermenter is key to producing a quality lager. a good lager brewer needs to be able to adjust the flavor with hop additions and water chemistry adjustments. Proper sanitation is also essential for lager brewers, as it will help prevent off flavors from forming.

By having an understanding of the fermentation process, controlling hop additions and water chemistry, and maintaining proper sanitation, lager brewers can produce high-quality beers that consumers will love.

Craft Brewer, Production Brewer, and Kettle Brewer are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in the brewing industry?
Describe a successful brew you have created.
How do you stay up to date with the latest trends and techniques in the brewing industry?
How do you ensure safety measures are taken when brewing?
What methods do you use to troubleshoot problems with brewing processes?
Describe how you would go about creating a new beer recipe?
What strategies do you use to monitor and measure quality control for lager brewing?
How would you ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and laws?
How do you handle customer complaints or issues related to lager brewing?
Describe your approach to inventory management and tracking of supplies used in lager brewing.

Common Tools in Industry

Fermenter. A vessel used to ferment beer (eg: stainless steel conical fermenter).
Wort Chiller. A device used to cool boiled wort quickly before fermentation (eg: immersion chiller).
Hydrometer. An instrument used to measure the density of a liquid, typically used to measure the sugar content in wort (eg: standard gravity hydrometer).
Airlock. A device that allows gases to escape a container while preventing contamination (eg: three-piece airlock).
Kettle. A vessel used to boil wort and add hops (eg: stainless steel brew kettle).
Bottling Bucket. A large container used for bottling beer (eg: 12 gallon bottling bucket).
Bottle Filler. A device used to fill bottles with beer (eg: manual bottle filler).
Bottle Capper. A device used to seal bottles with caps (eg: oval capper).
Refractometer. An instrument used to measure the sugar content in wort or beer (eg: digital refractometer).
Kegging System. A device used to store and dispense beer from a pressurized keg (eg: Cornelius keg system).

Professional Organizations to Know

Master Brewers Association of the Americas
Brewers Association
American Society of Brewing Chemists
Society of Barley Engineers
Institute of Brewing and Distilling
International Society of Beverage Technologists
European Brewery Convention
American Homebrewers Association
International Brewers and Distillers Association
Brewers Supply Group

We also have Head Brewer, Quality Control Brewer, and Assistant Brewer jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Mashing. The process of combining crushed grains with hot water to convert the starches in the grain into fermentable sugars.
Lautering. The process of separating the wort from the spent grain after mashing.
Boiling. The process of boiling the wort to sterilize it and to allow the hops to be added for flavor and aroma.
Fermentation. The process of converting the sugars in the wort into alcohol and carbon dioxide by yeast.
Conditioning. The process of maturing the beer by allowing it to age at a cool temperature for several weeks or months.
Kegging. The process of transferring the beer from the fermenter into a keg for carbonation and storage.
Bottling. The process of filling bottles with beer, followed by capping and labeling the bottles.
Draft Beer. Beer dispensed from a tap or pressurized keg system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is Lager Beer? A1: Lager beer is a type of bottom-fermented beer brewed using lager yeast, resulting in a light, refreshing, crisp, and clean flavor. Q2: What is the alcohol by volume (ABV) of Lager Beer? A2: The ABV of lager beer typically ranges from 4-6%. Q3: What are the main ingredients used to make Lager Beer? A3: The main ingredients used to make lager beer are malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. Q4: What is the traditional serving temperature for Lager Beer? A4: The traditional serving temperature for lager beer is between 38-45°F. Q5: How long does it take to brew a batch of Lager Beer? A5: It takes about 3-4 weeks to brew a batch of lager beer.