• JOB DESCRIPTION – Brewery Cellar Operator / Cellarman (Cellar Technician)
Position Details:
- Department: Brewing/Cellar
- Reports to: Brewing Manager
- FLSA Status: Hourly, Non-exempt
- Pay Rate: $18.00-22.00 per hour based on experience
- Schedule: 4-Day Work Week | Sunday to Wednesday, 5:00 AM – 3:00 PM (10-hour shifts, 3 consecutive days off!)
Position Summary:
We are seeking a detail-oriented Brewery Cellar Operator / Cellarman to join our production team in Salt Lake City. This role manages core cellar operations - including beer transfers, dry hopping, centrifuging/clarification, carbonation, yeast handling, and vessel sanitation (CIP/COP) - to prepare craft beer for packaging. Our brewery utilizes a blend of modern automation (ProLeit control systems) and hands-on craft brewing techniques. You will work closely with our brewing and quality control teams to monitor active fermentations, maintain meticulous records in Orchestrated Beer (OBeer ERP) and Excel, and keep our cellar clean, safe, and efficient. No Brewery Experience? We Will Train You! While commercial brewery or beverage manufacturing experience is a plus, we are fully willing to train the right candidate! If you have strong mechanical aptitude, a passion for beer, and a solid work ethic, we will provide full paid on-the-job training for our technical cellar equipment and software tools.
Key Responsibilities:
Cellar Operations & Tank Management
- Execute sanitary beer transfers (fermenter to bright beer tank) and beer clarifications using centrifuge / filtration equipment.
- Carbonate beer to target CO2 levels and prepare Bright Beer Tanks (BBT) for packaging operations.
- Perform yeast pitching, yeast harvesting, and cell counts, as well as dry-hopping and recipe additions (hops, flavorings, adjuncts).
- Operate automated cellar systems (ProLeit) while managing hands-on manual processes, valves, and manifold hookups.
Sanitation, Cleaning & Maintenance (CIP/COP)
- Perform Clean-in-Place (CIP) and Clean-out-of-Place (COP) sanitization cycles on fermenters (Unitanks), bright tanks, hoses, piping, small parts, and heat exchangers.
- Maintain clean and sanitary work environments following 5S brewery cleanliness standards.
- Safely handle brewery chemicals (caustic, acid, sanitizers) in accordance with OSHA safety protocols.
- Conduct basic routine preventive maintenance and mechanical troubleshooting on cellar pumps, fittings, and instruments.
Data Logging & ERP Record Keeping
- Accurately log production data, tank movements, fermentation metrics, and inventory usage into Orchestrated Beer (OBeer / SAP ERP) and Microsoft Excel.
- Complete daily cellar logs, QA/QC sampling records, and process checklists on time.
Quality Control & Safety
- Pull samples for Quality Assurance (QA) testing (Microbiology, Dissolved Oxygen, Sensory evaluation).
- Adhere to all safety guidelines, confined space procedures, chemical handling protocols, and PPE requirements.
- Operate a forklift safely to transport raw materials and supplies.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Age: Must be 21+ years of age
- Experience & Background: Commercial brewery, cellar, or beverage manufacturing experience is preferred, but not required - paid on-the-job training is provided for motivated candidates! Candidates with backgrounds in all-grain homebrewing, culinary/kitchens, food processing, dairy, warehouse operations, mechanical maintenance, or science coursework are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Technical & Software: Familiarity with automated brewing/PLC software (ProLeit) and ERP/inventory management software (Orchestrated Beer / OBeer / SAP / Excel) is a plus, but learnable through on-the-job training.
- Aptitude: Strong mechanical aptitude, basic math/science curiosity, and comfort working with pressurized vessels, pumps, and valves.
- Leadership: Proven ability to coach others, give constructive feedback, ability to operate without direct supervision.
- Equipment: Forklift experience or willingness to be trained is required.
Physical & Environmental Demands
- Physical Work: Ability to lift/move up to 50 lbs frequently and up to 100 lbs occasionally.
- Environment: Comfort working in a wet, fast-paced production environment around steam, hot water, CO2, chemicals, and varying temperatures (2°C to 100°C).
- Safety: Comfort working on elevated walkways and ladders, around pressurized lines, and in confined spaces with proper safety equipment.
Core Competencies
- Mechanical Aptitude: You don't just push buttons; you understand how the process works.
- Sense of Urgency: You thrive in a "minutes matter" production environment.
- Attention to Detail: You notice an issue before it becomes a serious problem.