Wanna work in the beer biz?

If you’re one of the many craft beer lovers who dream of a job involving your beloved beer, you’re in luck: several craft breweries are currently hiring for production or sales in Columbus.

I asked Lydia Johnson, Field Sales Representative in Columbus for Great Lakes Brewing Company, how she got started in the industry and what you can expect if you manage to break in.

How did you get your start working in the beer business?
I was a pretty enthusiastic craft beer drinker working in a craft and import bar when I heard about the open sales position at [Great Lakes]. I researched the business and the brewery quite a bit before jumping into the brewery world.

What advice would you give to someone trying to break into the industry?
Ground level experience helps. If you’re working in a bar as the person who brings new product in and develops a menu, you’ll meet a lot of helpful industry folks. Also, if the interest lies in sales, working at the distributor level gives you huge advantages to learning the business. As for brewing, take any job you can in production and express your interest and work your way up: if it means bottling for a while, cleaning kegs, etc. Watch, learn, apprentice. Get your hands dirty.

What’s the biggest misconception about your job?
A lot of people think my only responsibility is to saddle up at bars every night, because that’s all they see. While working festivals I’m often asked “THIS IS A FULL TIME JOB?” There’s a lot of traditional field sales work: meetings, cold calls, reports, projections, selling, programming. I spend a lot of time in grocery stores.

Still interested? Here are a few breweries who are currently hiring in the area.

Actual Brewing Company
Sales Representative
To apply: Email resume to fred@actualbeer.com

Buckeye Lake Brewing
Brewery Assistant
Job Description: You will be involved in various stages of the brewing process as well as packaging and delivering. Duties: Mop floors, bottle beer, fill kegs, deliver kegs and bottles, set up for festivals, clean equipment, mill grain. You get the picture. It is a laborious position that requires lifting 150 lbs. Drug testing required.
To apply: Email resume and salary requirements to rhennosy@buckeyelakebrewery.com

New Holland Brewing Company
Ohio Valley Beer Ambassador
Job Description: The Beer Ambassador is responsible for managing our market presence, attaining sales targets in revenue and distribution and presenting on behalf of the company in their assigned region. This position will cover the states of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky along with the western portion of Pennsylvania. Full job description
To apply: Fill out this form

Revolution Brewing Company
Area Sales Representative – Ohio
Job Description: Develop market profile target lists, build relationships with key people and product lineup of top five local beer companies in market,schedule and work with distributors personnel, conduct samplings, promotions and trainings at bars and restaurants. Full job description
To apply: Email resume and cover letter to donn@revbrew.com

Rocky Fork Brewery
Head Brewer
Job Description: Seeking a Head Brew Master for production and packaging brewery located in Columbus, Ohio. Established professional brewers with 3 years (minimum) commercial experience should apply. Preference will be given to those with formal training although this is not required. The successful candidate will work closely alongside the founder to continuously finalize and develop our beerfolio. This Head Brewer will also have significant input regarding the equipment specifications, standard operating procedures and details to the breweries layout. Full job description
To apply: Send resume, salary requirements and references to rfb501m@gmail.com

Stone Brewing Company
Ohio Regional Brewery Rep
Job Description: Looking for an enthusiastic and experienced sale professional with a minimum of 2 years Outside Sales, and Territory Management, experience to join National Sales Team. Full job description
To apply: Fill out this form