Cider Maker

At Duluth Cider we work as a team to create and share a product that is undeniably Superior to the Core, and as a quickly growing company each member of that team plays a vital role. We are a small but rapidly growing company of dedicated, close-knit, creative and hard-working people.

Duluth Cider is searching for an enthusiastic candidate who is eager to learn. We believe in crafting cider using different approaches both traditional and modern, drawing on the experiences and techniques from cider, wine, and brewing industries. At Duluth Cider, we want to make the best cider possible and discover new possibilities for where cider can go. As an employee at Duluth Cider you can expect to be a part of making everything from a traditional Dry English style cider to experimenting with various botanicals, barrel aging and more.

The Cider Maker will provide cidery support to the production team. The Cider Maker will receive training and provide assistance in all aspects of the production process, including but not limited to; off loading juice, cleaning, monitoring fermentation, transferring product using pumps, and packaging. The Cider Maker will learn and adhere to all cider making specific standard operating procedures. Shift hours can be early in the morning to late nights depending on the needs of the production schedule.

The right person will be able to improve day-to-day efficiency and think critically about the cider making process. The Cider Maker is a full-time position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performing all cider making processes in a safe and efficient manner.

• Pitching yeast and nutrients as required. Racking, filtering, and carbonating. Monitoring gravities temperatures, and carbonations

• Monitoring and feeding new ferments

• Ensuring quality control throughout all aspects of the cider making process

• Scheduling rackings, fermentations, and fining of cider

• Working with the Head Cider Maker to taste and blend ciders

• Performing and recording all callar additions to cider

• Working with the Head Cider Maker on cider release schedules and planning

• Packaging duties such as kegging, bottling, and canning

• Maintaining and cleaning all areas in the cidery and warehouse

• Cleaning equipment such as kegs, mixing buckets, pumps, etc.

• Assisting in the cleaning, sanitation, and maintenance of packaging equipment

• Quality control of CLean in Place (CIP) and Clean out of Place (COP) practices

• Ensuring all equipment and tanks are cleaned and sanitized according to the production schedule

• Communicate regularly and efficiently and arriving to each shift on time with a positive attitude

• Ensuring quality control throughout all aspects of the cider making process

• Lifting, moving, and palletizing kegs, cans, and bottles

• Assisting in inventory management with all cellar supplies

• Performing similar job-related functions as assigned

Qualifications: The ideal candidate is someone with a strong work ethic, who show’s up to work with a positive attitude and is enthusiastic about the craft cider industry. The Cider Maker must have:

• Problem solving and critical thinking skills

• Strong attention to detail

• Ability to work well under pressure in a fast paced environment.

• Able to multitask and adjust to changing priorities

• Receptive to direction and constructive feedback

• High School Diploma, GED, or college degree required in the applicable fields of Brewing Science, Food Science, Chemistry and Biology considered a plus.

• Minimum 3 years of brewing/cidermaking experience in a production brewery/cidery (prefered)

• Able to move pallets of supplies using a fork lift/pallet jack (will train)

• Must hold a valid driver’s license and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle

• Have a basic understanding of Excel, Word, Google Docs etc

• Age: Over 21 only

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 55 pounds and be able to team lift up to 165 pounds.

Work Environment:

We are a very small cidery using the space we have to maximum efficiency. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud most of the time. Temperatures vary seasonally in work areas. The Cider Maker must be capable of lifting 60 lbs multiple times during a shift and able to stand on concrete floors for long periods of time.

Compensation and Benefits:

Duluth Cider offers above average entry level wages that will be determined by experience. This is an entry level position for someone looking to make a start in the rapidly growing craft cider industry. Many opportunities will be made available to the right candidate. Benefits include:

• Sick/Safe Leave Benefits

• Health Insurance

• 40 hours of PTO will be given at the start of each year

• Free cider and merch