How to break into brewing

Volunteer or intern. Many small breweries take on volunteers or interns. “Then you build a familiarity with the brewers, and when something comes available, you will tend to be the first person they think of,” said Garrett Oliver, who started as an apprentice and now is brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery.

Focus on a brewery. You should have your sights on a particular brewery workplace, Oliver said. “If you write to a brewer, write to the person by name,” he said. “If you send it to the front office, it’s going to end up in the trash.”

Learn about beer. Study books or read online, said Kevin Blodger, co-owner and head brewer at Baltimore’s Union Craft Brewing. Check your local colleges and universities for educational opportunities, he said.

Savor the moment. “It’s not a very glamorous job. It’s not a real high-paying job. But it’s a satisfying job to walk out into the tap room and see people drinking your beer,” Blodger said.