Head brewer
Exale is a vibrant, community-focused brewery & taproom based in Walthamstow, East London. We brew fresh, hop-forward beers on site and operate four venues across East London, each with its own unique character and connection to local communities. We’re known for our fun, inclusive, music-and-beer culture — hosting DJs, live events, and food pop-ups — as part of the wider Blackhorse Beer Mile scene. Our goal is to craft exceptional beer while building places people love to drink it. As we scale up, we’re looking for a passionate, technically skilled Head Brewer to lead our brewing operations, help expand our portfolio, and maintain the quality and consistency that define Exale.
Role & Responsibilities
As Head Brewer, you will lead on all brewing, packaging, sales and logistics activities and drive innovation within the brewery. Key duties include:
● Plan, schedule, and oversee all brewery activities (brewing, packaging, keg washing, daily quality checks)
● Leading by example in maintaining high levels of cleanliness / housekeeping on site ● Ordering all raw materials required for production (malt, hops, yeast, chemicals adjuncts etc.) and maintaining appropriate inventory levels.
● Develop and refine recipes; lead R&D and pilot/one off special brews
● Be responsible, and the first point of contact for all compliance related issues pertaining to the brewery on site (Health & Safety, Environmental Health, HACCP, due diligence)
● Liaising the managers of our four bars and with our third party logistics providers to ensure all orders are picked, packed and arrive on time and in good condition.
● Raising invoices, ensuring all sales information is up-to-date stock levels are accurate
● Take the lead on all preventative maintenance in the brewery, ensuring key machinery is serviced as required and unexpected breakdown are kept to a minimum.
● Lead and supervise the brewing/production team; mentor, train, and develop junior brewers
● Own the P&L for the production side of the business, keeping batch and materials costs in line with expectations
● Collaborate with operations, packaging, logistics, and sales teams to align production with demand
● Be an ambassador for Exale at brewing events, tastings, brewery tours, and public engagements Essential Qualifications & Skills
● Proven experience (3–5+ years) in a commercial brewery, ideally in a senior brewer or head brewer role
● Strong technical knowledge and an interest for staying up-to-date with developments in the industry
● Experience in recipe development, sensory training, beer styles and the commercial acumen required to translate this into beers that are well received with our customer base ● Proficiency with QA/QC practices (gravity, pH, sending micro / ABV samples, off-flavour detection)
● The ability to think laterally to solve problems and a hands-on mechanical aptitude.
● Leadership experience with capacity to manage a small team
● Excellent organisational, planning, and forecasting skills
● Strong communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively a range of stakeholders with varying degrees of technical knowledge
● Passion for craft beer, creativity, and willingness to push boundaries Desired / Nice-to-have
● Formal qualification in brewing science or a related field (CID diploma, MSc Brewing etc.)
● Experience with sour, mixed fermentation and barrel ageing
● Familiarity with packaging operations and ability to troubleshoot equipment as required
● Experience in London/local craft beer market
● A track record of developing and brewing amazing beers (any awards that demonstrate this are a bonus!) What We Offer
● Competitive salary (dependent on experience)
● Performance-based incentives / bonuses
● Staff benefits across Exale venues (discounts, free meals on shift) EXALE BREW PUB CO.
● A creative, supportive team culture with opportunity for growth
● The chance to play a key role in a scaling an ambitious independently owned brewery
● Exposure as a public face of Exale (events, tours, media)
How to Apply:
Please send your CV, a cover letter (explaining why you’d be great for this role), and examples of beers you’ve worked on (recipes, photos, sensory notes) to: andy@exalebrewing.com
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £40,000.00-£48,000.00 per year
