Questions to ask a brewery before you accept a job

Ask what a normal week looks like

Start with the shape of the work. Ask how many brew days there are in a week, what time the first one starts and who is on the floor. Ask what a quiet week looks like and what a festival week looks like. In many Indian breweries the load climbs sharply around holidays and long weekends, so you want to know what extra hours mean in practice. Ask whether they are paid, taken back as time off or simply expected.

Ask whether the role covers the cellar, the brewhouse and packaging or only one of them. A broad role can teach you more. It can also mean you are the person who does everything on the day someone is off. For a view of how the day is arranged at a bigger site, see shift brewer at a large brewery and what the job involves.

Ask about safety first

A brewery is full of hot liquid, caustic cleaners, pressurised vessels and carbon dioxide. Ask to see how the team handles each.

• What personal protective equipment is supplied? You should not have to buy your own boots, gloves, goggles or face shield for caustic work.
• Is there a written procedure for entering a tank? Is a second person always present?
• Is CO2 monitored in the cellar and fermentation areas? Is there a working alarm?
• Who trains new staff on the cleaning chemicals?

A confident answer shows a brewery that takes risk seriously. If the answer is a blank look, that tells you what you need to know.

Ask how beer is released

Ask who decides that a batch is fit to go out. In a good brewery the answer is specific: a named person checks gravity, pH, a sensory panel and a lab result against a written specification. Ask what happens to a batch that fails. Is it dumped, blended or sent anyway?

This tells you about the culture. A brewery that is open about its dumped batches is usually a brewery that learns from them. If you hope to move toward quality work, ask whether you could sit on the tasting panel. Our guide to learning basic microbiology before you apply for brewing jobs explains the base you will want for that route.

Ask about training and who teaches you

The most valuable thing a first brewing job gives you is someone who knows more than you and has time to explain. Ask who you will work beside in your first month. Ask whether there is a written plan for what you will learn, such as cleaning cycles, yeast handling, mashing and packaging. Ask by when you are expected to know each one.

If you are a career changer, ask what they expect you to arrive knowing. A short course in the basics is often enough. Brewing Fundamentals is built for that, so you can start the job able to follow the process.

Ask about the equipment and who maintains it

Ask what the brewhouse is and how old it is. Ask what breaks most often and who fixes it. A cooling system that cannot hold temperature in Indian summer, or a boiler that trips during a brew, will land on your shift. A brewery with a maintenance log and a spare parts shelf is better run than one that waits for failures.

Also ask about the water. If the brewery works from a borewell, ask how it is treated and who tests it. It shapes your daily work more than most people expect.

Ask the plain terms questions

Ask about notice period, probation, leave and how overtime is handled. Ask if the pay is fixed or has a variable part. Ask about the licensing position. Some roles name a particular person on the excise licence and that comes with responsibility. Read any non-compete clause carefully. Take advice if it looks wide. Rules and norms vary, so a lawyer can check what applies to your contract.

Do not be afraid to ask. A good employer is glad to see a candidate who takes the job seriously.

Ask where the role leads

Ask where the last person in this role went. If the answer is "up", ask how. If it is "they left after six months", ask why. A role with a path matters more than a slightly higher starting number. Some brewers use a good first job as a stepping stone to run their own place later, which our guide on leaving a brewer job to start your own brewery covers.

Write your questions down and take the list in. Nobody will mind. You will also remember what they said.

Common questions

Is it normal to ask about safety in a brewery interview?

Yes. It is a sign you are serious. Ask about protective equipment, tank entry rules and CO2 monitoring.

What should I ask about training in a first brewing job?

Ask who you will work beside, what you will learn in the first month and whether the plan is written down.

Should I ask about pay at the interview?

Ask once the offer is on the table. Then ask about the whole package: fixed pay, any variable part, overtime, leave and notice.

How do I know if a brewery is a good place to learn?

Look for a clear release process, written procedures, a maintenance routine and people who are happy to explain why they do things.