In reply to Benjyjoe :
Prep cook and farm work? Yeah. You are what breweries are looking for. If those are the things you're comparing brewing too, you're going to enjoy it.
The cleaning up yeast is (generally) pretty easy and frequently fun. I seriously love hosing a trub cone out of a whirpool.
Benjyjoe said:The more I read everyone's comments, the more I think this could be a really good path for me. I worked in back of house for awhile before getting into farming, so I'm used to the hot/wet conditions! Farming has its fair share of that too, as well as other things. A part of me thinks I may enjoy cleaning up yeast more so than pig poop. When I was a prep cook, I enjoyed the daily ritual which was basically doing the same thing every day but trying to figure out how to execute it more efficiently.
It's hard work, but there's nothing like it in my humble opinion. All jobs suck sometimes, but when I made the jump from desk jockey engineer to full time brewer, I found that my good days far outpaced the bad... there's something rewarding and cathartic about making beer for a living. The monotony, the grind, the creative avenues... but most of all, the sort of brotherhood that the industry has formed is unlike anything I've ever experienced. We all know the hustle, and we all respect each other, and it's just this great scene where the a holes are so few and far between that it actually catches you off guard when you encounter one, it's so rare...
One of the main reasons I'm wanting to transition into brewing (other than loving beer) is because the farm lifestyle isn't really working out for me. What is the typical day for someone working in a brewery? With farming I've realized that if you're a farmer then there isn't room for much else in your life. It can also be an isolating existence, as the majority of my day is spent working by myself or with the animals. I'd like to settle into something where I get to work around/with other people. The beer culture is also a big draw for me, it seems that everyone is very supportive of each other and focuses on building lasting relationships
Benjyjoe said:One of the main reasons I'm wanting to transition into brewing (other than loving beer) is because the farm lifestyle isn't really working out for me. What is the typical day for someone working in a brewery? With farming I've realized that if you're a farmer then there isn't room for much else in your life. It can also be an isolating existence, as the majority of my day is spent working by myself or with the animals. I'd like to settle into something where I get to work around/with other people. The beer culture is also a big draw for me, it seems that everyone is very supportive of each other and focuses on building lasting relationships
These are (mostly) good reasons to get into brewing.
It will vary a LOT with the brewery you work at, particularly the size. Generally it is shift work, and that varies a lot with the size of brewery and demand. Some places it's really only 1 or 1.5 shifts in a work day. Many places it's 2 shifts, and others 3.
A small place doing 1 brew shift, you'll get a single batch done in a day, and probably be a 10 hour brew day. I'd say 2 shifts is probably most common, with the AM brewer coming in at 4-6am and getting the first batches started. They work 8ish hours, and pass the baton to the PM brewer (probably with a bit of overlap), who finishes up the last batch or two and handles clean up. 3 shifts is 24 hour rotation. Brewing is done round the clock, stopping every 4-6 days to clean all the equipment. Packaging gets done during first shift. Most of the cellar work gets done on 2nd or 3rd shift. No matter what, you're working 40ish hour weeks.
So it depends on the place and how good you are with what shifts that you might get stuck with. I learned that I can not handle graveyard. It's not like farming though.
The brewhouse/cellar are not social spaces, but they're not really isolated either. Actually, I can probably hang out and socialize more as a brewer than I could working in a cubicle office. Since most of my work is watching stuff flow from one vessel to another, and just having to be sure it's all flowing at the right speed. But if you just want to put earbuds in and put your nose down and bang out work without being bothered, you can generally do that too.
One of the issues that I had when brewing, with regards to work life balance was the physical toll that brewing took on me. After I showered I just wanted to be in a vegetative state. I would need to spend the whole evening recuperating and resting to be able to go and do it again the next day. Now farming is not easy work at all and it's a similar toll on the body at least with brewing there is a consistent schedule to it and there's a rhythm. My body is also broken and has far more wear and tear on it than most peoples which added to my needed recovery period.
In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :
I like having a job that keeps me active and requires me to be somewhat in shape. Lugging 50 pounds of grain around at the farm is actually fun... it's especially fun to see how much lighter it feels as you continue to get stronger. I'm sure there's a ton of grain being hauled at a brewery as well.
In reply to Benjyjoe :
Some. As much as possible, we use pallet jacks and forklifts to move things around. Lifting the sacks of grain is usually moving them <10ft to lay out what's going to get ground, and then lifting them up into the mill. Still more physically active than average jobs. I find it's a lot more speedwalking around and going up and down stairs/ladders.
I generally don't feel like brewing takes as much of a toll on me as it does for the Cap'n. It can be tiring. But after 30 minutes drinking a half pint in the tap room, I'm generally good to get in some climbing, lifting, or hit the skate park.
I have not beat my body up as much as some though. I also didn't get into brewing until I was over 30, and I'm not going to beat myself up or wear myself out for someone else to earn a dollar.
To not wear yourself out, make a point of following OSHA guidelines and labor laws. If OSHA says not to lift over 60lbs unassisted, don't. Okay. You will, but make it a conscious choice that *you* are actively choosing in that instance to break guidelines to make your day easier, not because an employer can't be bothered to provide enough staffing or the necessary tools to do a job properly. If labor laws say you need to take breaks and lunch within a certain timeline, take your breaks and lunch. Those rules exist for a reason. If an employer pushes you, point to the laws.
And yeah, I totally will lift a 167lbs 1/2bbl keg by myself on a semi-regular basis.
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:One of the issues that I had when brewing, with regards to work life balance was the physical toll that brewing took on me. After I showered I just wanted to be in a vegetative state. I would need to spend the whole evening recuperating and resting to be able to go and do it again the next day. Now farming is not easy work at all and it's a similar toll on the body at least with brewing there is a consistent schedule to it and there's a rhythm. My body is also broken and has far more wear and tear on it than most peoples which added to my needed recovery period.
Yeah, I learned after a few years of bravado that work smarter, not harder is the key to doing this job with longevity. It's not easy, but it's better if you are smart about it.
I just wanted to update you guys. My nephew now has a job in a microbrewery. I can't thank you guys enough for helping him and guiding him. This is the part of GRM that people don't realize.
nice, congrats to him!
In reply to Stampie :
Nice!
We'll be waiting for a more detailed report.
I know nothing of brewing, but read this thread today and want to add if your nephew communicates in person as clearly and considerately as he did on this forum he has a bright future ahead of him.
I hope his experience is good and he finds a fulfilling career.
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