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Job position dilemma

wheebz

wheebz

Alright heres a question for you beer drinkers.

Since I have started my school in Chicago and Munich, I have had multiple job offers for brewing jobs.

Now I have 3 jobs that are really standing out right now out of all the ones I have gotten, problem is I have no idea which one I should choose. Now remember, I have no idea what pay would be for either of the 3 jobs, and frankly i am not really that concerned with it as of right now, but each job offers things the other doesnt.

Job 1: Hinterland Brewing Company in Green Bay Wisconsin. Most established out of the 3, is a brewpub and is tripling their size and moving into distribution this summer. Job offered is brewing/packaging/production/cellaring job, basically every single aspect of brewery operations. Their beer is awesome from what people tell me that are in my class that have had it, and they are on the right track to become a great wisconsin brewery. Another upside is cost of living in Green Bay is so insanely cheap, I can easily find a 2,000 sqft house for around 100 grand. Downside is its Green Bay, its cold as shit all the time, and there is really nothing to do.

Job 2. Brewery is called Lager Heads. Located in Abbeyville, Ohio. They have a BBQ restaurant that has been open for 7 years, and opened up their brewery last year and have just moved into packaging. Their beer sucks from what I have read, and I guess they are looking to get me in there to fix that problem. Bonus, it is a brewpub, and I want to work in a brewpub setting, downside is its cold there year round too, and well its in the middle of nowhere, but not as secluded as the wisconsin place, and they make shitty beer.

Job 3. Start up production only brewery in Willington, CT. Guy is looking for a head brewer to basically formulate recipes, brew beer, and run the entire brewery. I have free range to do what I want, its located on a lake, with a beach, in a building that used to be an old mill, is located 5 miles from UConn, and would be a salary job and even some commission and equity in the company, not hourly. Downside is its a start up brewery, which means if I screw it up, the guy goes out of business and so does my reputation. Other downside is cost of living, which is stupidly expensive up there. AND its not a brewpub, no food, which is not what I really see myself owning in the future. Bonus is I get free reign to do what I want, I get the actual position of head brewer, and well come on, its on a lake.

What would you do
 
I'm going to give you my input in pieces, since I'm in the middle of some stuff.

Abbeyville - This is stinkin' close to Brunswick, and I have a cousin who lives in Brunswick. Brunswick is Southwest of Cleveland, while I live East of Cleveland. I can get to my cousin's house in 45 minutes (less if the traffic is good.) So it's not really "the middle of nowhere" like you think - more an outer burb of Cleveland. It's an EASY drive if you want to go downtown to a ballgame, theatres, etc. Additionally, the weather isn't really all that different from where you are at now. I live on the East side so get Lake Effect snow every winter, but the west side doesn't usually get any.

Cons - Ohio unemployment is cheesy compared to PA unemployment, should you find yourself unemployed. Also, the Ohio economy sucks. But I don't think it sucks any worse than the PA economy does.

Pros - Well, duh, I'm here! lol

The question I would ask very intently - are they truly willing to hand over the brewing reigns to you to fix their beer, or is this a "we know we need to change, but don't really want to" situation? ie - are you going to have a fight on your hands to fix things, or are they truly open to change? Ask if they're willing to throw away every bottle they've got in their storerooms and start over. The answer to this might be very telling. I wouldn't actually expect the answer to be a non-qualified "yes", but if they come back with something reasonable, I'd consider it - it would look excellent on your resume to have turned around a loser.
 
Based on the info you've given here's how I see it.

Job 1- This is an established operation with awesome beer and is expanding to keep up with demand. Ok that's the pro. The con is its an established operation with awesome beer and is expanding to keep up with demand. Sounds like you would be going into a position where you'd just be maintaining the status quo and no body ever made it big doing that

Job 2 - Ok pro it's a brewpub which is what you want. Insert everything geeme said here. But the big pro here is that the beer SUCKS they'd be giving you the reigns to fix that and that is your opportunity to shine. If you fix it then you can write your own ticket out of there. Con it's cold but hey it's cold in Deleware where Dogfish Heads located too.

Job 3 - Handed the reigns to a new brewery. Damn man you'd get to design all of their beers right out the door and you know good beer so I don't see the worry that you'd sink them. Plus it's located in a beautiful setting and not far from UConn so there'd be plenty to do.

As for my personal feelings here it sounds like Job 2 would be the one for you. It doesn't have to be a forever position and if you do pull them up and making great beer then like I said above you write your own ticket leaving. It's a brewpub which is your preference and like geeme said "Well duh it's close to" her. Just my 2 cents man heck I'd be honored just to be considered for a brewmaster position. We'll be praying for you in making your decision.
 
Green Bay - Agreed that Green Bay doesn't have a lot to do and gets ridiculously cold. My experience with GB is limited to flying in and out - had a client up in Marinett, and BG was the closest airport. The airport is TINY, with the ticket agents often also working other roles - the ticket agent for the airline I flew the most on to and from there was also responsible for loading bags onto the planes. If the airport size means anything...

My older brother somehow became a HUGE GB Packer fan (how did that happen, since he never lived or even went to school there???), and he frequently flies up for games. When I asked him about things to see or do while I was working that way, his answer: go to a game. I said yes, but I wasn't really interested in the games, but wanted to experience the culture. He replied: go to a game. I said I wasn't interested in going to a game, wasn't there something else to do or see. He said: go to a game, because that's all there is to do. He travels quite a bit to other cities, and likes to experience the culture, so it's not like all he ever does is go to games. So it really depends upon your definition of seeing and doing - what do YOU want to see or do while you're there? Someone else may live in the area and have more input, but that's what I've got.

Just read RocketMan's response and he pointed out what I would - it's a stable but expanding company, which has both pros and cons as he listed. An additional pro I would point out is that because of these factors, there is a good chance you'll learn some tips on the "right" way of doing things - they have gone through the learning curve of what is most efficient and effective, what works, and what doesn't work. These are things you can then take into your own operation later. I'll contrast that with Willington - everything will be new, so that means you'll be figuring things out on your own from scratch. You won't have the benefit of prior experience (either yours or theirs) but will learn some things the hard way.

Willington - I know nothing about this area, other than the Autumn is supposed to have spectacular color. Looked it up on a map, and it does seem to be the most remote of the three, though it is relatively close to Hartford and Springfield. Your comments about being in the middle of nowhere come to play here. I personally love being in the great outdoors for a time, but I'm really used to big cities and the amenities they offer, so prefer to visit places like that, rather than live there. That's something you really need to take a hard look at for yourself.

This is, of course, your riskiest option. But that also means it could be your most rewarding option, in terms of financial gain (assuming everything works out well, since you do seem to know your beers and are very conscientious about the work you do.) But like you said, it doesn't seem to fit entirely with your long-term goal of owning your own place.

So question: what is your desired timeline for owning your own place - 3 years? 5 years? 10 years? If 3 years, it seems one of the positions at Job 1 or Job 2 would better prepare you for that in the short run. If 10 years, then you have time to do both, if you desire - take the riskier job and see what you can make of it, then go to another job to learn more about what you really want to do. Only here's a catch: If you DO make it big with the start-up, it might be more difficult for you to kind of take a step back to go to a place to learn more about what you want to do. You might want to skip this step if you landed a sweet pile of dough while at the start-up, but then you might end up learning some other things the hard way, those related to the food side.

So I think what you really need to ask yourself is where you really want to end up and when, and in turn, which of the 3 will get you the experience (and cash!) you need to get where you really want to go in the time you want to do it in.

Book written - closing it now.... ;o)
 
UCONN ;) - airport isnt that far the state is small enough to get away to the beach, College Championship Basketball teams - near pro markets in every sport - about an hour from moi -
Short growing season but thats why we start indoors nearly the same weather as PA but a bit warmer I think?
In either way you go they are great opportunities - do it while you are young :beer:
 
My suggestion is do whatever makes you happy. Have you been to all the places? How are the people? What the pay like? Whenever I am confused to do I go back to the good old brain storming. Make a list with pros and cons. Find out which one would be more beneficial. Yes the midwest weather sucks. Where you looking in CT is expensive. Sure it would be nice to know how each one of the positions would pan out in the future but it all comes down to what you want. Luckily your in a situation where you have multiple opportunities. I wish the best of luck to you.
 
If you are an outdoorsman there is plenty to do around Green Bay, there is a mountain of brewpubs around the state especially in Milwaukee and Madison, with a few in Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh. Establishing yourself at Hinterland and then moving on to one of the brewpubs to learn that side of the business is one way you could go, you could also check with Hinterland about future plans for one.

The crapy beer one scares me a little, do they have enough patrons to support an additional salary? Is their reputation to the point where people just wont come back? You may also face animosity from the current workers.

The start up sounds the best, as just a home brewer I have a ton of favorite recipes that I know are good, I can only imagine what you have stored away. This gives you the opportunity to test market the very recipes you might use in your own place. If it takes off you can save a good chunk of the capitol you will need for your place

My 2 bottle caps
Chad
 
#1 or keep looking, seems like the offers are coming in.
 
Dumb question wheebz. Finish school first. If you have that many offers now, you'll have more when you're done
Click to expand...

you are not done school yet? what are you thinking, finish school then take the job that offers the best pay with the best pension.

i did the loyalty thing and now i am almost 50 and even though i have sold millions of dollars worth of products and have written hundreds of custom software solutions, like pauly, i sit here unemployed(actually not employeed, unemployeed would mean i was collecting some form of unemployment issurance) as my world as gone completely internet. i had an interview with a company that mirrored what i did for 25 years, they went with the younger version, even though the younger version had no where near my expertise and this was a major billion dollar player looking for a local expert.

i had a chance to work for the ministry of transportation and didn't take the position because i was too loyal, today i would be able to retire on a fully indexed pension but instead am living off my savings.

sounds like you are young enough, take whatever position is going to give you the biggest pay with big pension payout. unless you think the brewery industry is very loyal, want to meet half a dozen professional brewers, they are now sending their beers to local competetions because that is all their industry has to offer. many live 10 minutes from me an work at homedepot and such waiting for their industry to turn around and their next big break.
 
I'm pretty sure he means these offers are for when he graduates. Not sure how long school lasts for brewers.
 
Yea you guys missed the point

I finish school in 3 and a half weeks

I am not taking any single job until I am done school

But i want to take a job as soon as I get out of school, which is why I am looking now

I did just get an email this morning about a job offer at another start up brewery in Houston Texas, dude has 8 years in the brewing industry, and an MBA in business from Harvard University, plus already has 500k of his own money to dump into it, without loans...

Sounds like this might be the best one yet
 
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