Head Brewer - Maplewood Brewing

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We are seeking an experienced, enthusiastic, and passionate Head Brewer with a positive attitude to join and lead our production team. This is a vital role where you will be entrusted to maintain Maplewood's high standards and design the exceptional beer and spirits for which we are known. The ideal candidate will also be eager to learn and contribute to our distillery operations.

You will report directly to our Founding Brewer and will serve as a guide for our close-knit production team. We are looking for a leader who is positive, kind, accepting, and energetic—someone who will uphold and grow our enthusiastic culture. You will ensure the entire production process is completed properly, and the team will rely on you. We thrive in a collaborative environment and encourage creativity, experimentation, and innovation.

This position will be based in our Chicago Logan Square facility. However, a vehicle is required for occasional travel to our Glen Ellyn location. We anticipate this will be 2-3 days a month to check in on operations at that location. The brewer at the Glen Ellyn location will report directly to the Head Brewer.

If you possess this skill set and have a creative spirit, we invite you to join our dedicated crew.

• Oversee all brewing operations at the brewery, including day-to-day process issues, recipe management, operating policies, procedures, release parameters, and safety policies.
• Work with Department Heads to create a brew schedule that accommodates customer market demands.
• Work with and manage contract partnership production.
• Collaboratively design new recipes for seasonal and specialty beers, continuing our commitment to innovating unique, creative beers of the highest quality.
• Prepare weekly staff/monthly schedules for brewing, beer transfer, and related tasks needed to meet production needs.
• Work with production team on all batches.
• Assist in all production tasks, including mashing, wort production, boiling, etc.
• Perform cleaning/CIP operations.
• Prepare, inventory, and organize raw materials.
• Run the still: desire to learn the fundamentals of distillation, including mashing, fermentation, distillation, and spirit finishing.
• Produce THC/CBD and RTD products.
• Assist in cellaring tasks such as transferring products, monitoring fermentations, conditioning, carbonation, yeast harvesting, cleaning, etc.
• Maintain accurate records of cellar activities.
• Proof and filter distillery products.
• Assist in packaging tasks such as kegging, canning, bottling, barrel harvesting.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment.
• Communicate well across departments.
• Be able to multitask in a fast paced, physically demanding work environment.
• Develop, publish, and adhere to our production schedule.
• Develop and refine new recipes.
• Handle ordering of raw materials, brewery chemicals, and related ingredients.
• Represent Maplewood and participate in events, festivals, and promotions, as needed.

• Enhance, develop, and enforce policies and procedures of the organization, including creating SOPs for brewing and cellar operations, equipment operations, cleaning and sanitization, safety protocols, and QC/QA programs.
• Manage and supervise brewing staff: lead brew‑team meetings, communicate current objectives, performance data, troubleshoot, and take corrective actions.
• Oversee and develop brewhouse staff through technical, supervisory, and line assignments with performance objectives and evaluations.
• Conduct performance evaluations and utilize training materials and programs.

• Ensure proper sampling and analysis of raw materials, in‑process, and finished beer to guarantee quality.
• Approve beer for release based on quantitative and qualitative parameters within operating limits.
• Work with staff to resolve quality issues and elevate significant problems to management.
• Maintain cleanliness and sterilization of tanks, screens, pipes, production areas, and equipment.
• Oversee functionality and maintenance of brewing, CIP, water delivery, and sewer systems.
• Troubles…