How does one get a job in a brewery?!
Answers: I'm interested in getting a job in a beer brewery helping with the brewing process. I live around Boston so both the Harpoon, Redhook, and Sam Adams breweries are close by. Does anybody have any first hand experience getting a job in the brewing process. I don't want to be a sales rep.
The microbrewing industry is pretty close knit. You need to get in the door and get to know some people and the process. If you contact a small to midsized brewery, volunteer to help. The bottling/kegging process is labor intensive and extra hands are frequently needed. I did that a few times. The usual "pay" is a case of beer, often the misaligned label ones that they can't sell.
Also, try home brewing and/or going to a brew-on-premise. Deja-Brew in Shrewsbury is the best one around here but that might be a drive for you. There is one in Natick (Barleycorns?) and there used to be one close to or in Boston but I don't know if they are still open.
For the bigger guys the chances that you'll need proper education or experience is more likely. If you aren't interested in getting a fermentation science degree from somewhere like UC Davis or have no intentions of attending a brewing specific program like the Siebel institute or the American Brewer's Guild program then you're best bet is to get friendly at a small brewery and work up the ranks.
If you don't homebrew already I'd also highly recommend you get started and try to work your way up to all grain homebrewing since programs like the American Brewer's Guild suggest that you have personal experience with all grain brewing before applying.
Anyways, just be persistant and patient and one day you'll find yourself working in a brewery.
Fill out an application or send in your resume is the first step.