Junior Brewer

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on Junior Brewer – Yeast & Fermentation to join NAPEX Brewery in Malaysia. Your primary focus will be yeast propagation, yeast handling and fermentation management, ensuring a reliable supply of healthy yeast, consistent pitching and stable fermentation performance. You will also support fermentation quality checks, troubleshooting and daily brewery operations.

This opportunity is suitable for fresh graduates or candidates with up to approximately two years of relevant experience. Brewery internships, pilot brewing, craft brewery experience and relevant university projects will be considered. Practical experience in brewing yeast propagation is particularly valued.

Key Responsibilities

Yeast Propagation & Management

• Propagate brewing yeast from starter culture to the required production pitching volume.
• Prepare propagation wort or media, and ensure propagation vessels, transfer lines and accessories are hygienically prepared.
• Monitor yeast growth, perform cell counts and assess yeast viability before pitching.
• Calculate pitching quantities and support controlled yeast transfer into fermentation tanks.
• Harvest yeast, assess its suitability for reuse and maintain appropriate storage conditions.
• Track yeast generations, re-pitching history and performance across successive batches.
• Follow aseptic handling practices and identify potential contamination or abnormal yeast conditions.

Fermentation Monitoring & Troubleshooting

• Monitor fermentation from pitching through completion, including gravity/Brix, pH, temperature, fermentation time and attenuation.
• Track batch progress and identify abnormal fermentation trends early.
• Support investigations into slow or stuck fermentation, extended lag phases, poor attenuation, abnormal flocculation, poor yeast recovery and inconsistent fermentation.
• Coordinate with the brewing team on wort readiness, pitching timing and fermentation conditions.

Quality Control & Brewery Operations

• Conduct routine fermentation checks, including yeast cell counts, viability assessment and basic microscopy.
• Support basic microbiological checks of yeast, fermentation samples and brewery hygiene as required.
• Assist in identifying the root causes of yeast-, fermentation- or contamination-related beer quality issues.
• Support wort transfer, fermenter preparation, beer transfer and other brewery operations when needed.
• Assist with cleaning-in-place (CIP) and sanitation of fermenters, yeast propagation vessels, hoses and transfer lines.
• Understand how upstream brewing processes, including mashing, boiling, wort cooling and oxygenation, affect fermentation performance.

Documentation & SOPs

• Maintain accurate records of yeast propagation, pitching, harvesting, generations and fermentation performance.
• Follow and support improvements to SOPs for yeast handling, fermentation monitoring, hygiene and sanitation.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Diploma or bachelor's degree in Brewing Science/Technology, Fermentation Technology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Food Science/Technology, Bioprocess Engineering or a related discipline.
• Fresh graduate or up to approximately two years of relevant brewing, fermentation or industrial experience.
• Hands-on exposure to beer brewing or industrial fermentation is preferred.
• Practical experience in yeast propagation, starter preparation, harvesting or re-pitching is strongly preferred.
• Practical understanding of yeast growth, handling and fermentation monitoring.
• Ability to perform or learn yeast cell counting, viability assessment, pH testing and gravity/Brix measurements.
• Awareness of aseptic techniques, contamination control, brewery hygiene and CIP practices.
• Ability to identify basic fermentation deviations and support technical troubleshooting.
• A hands-on, disciplined approach and comfort working in both brewery production and basic laboratory environments.
• Ability to follow SOPs and maintain clear, accurate technical records.
• English proficiency and the ability to communicate effectively with brewery operations staff.

Working Arrangements

This position is based full-time at NAPEX Brewery in Malaysia and works closely with the brewery's production, quality and technical teams. Occasional flexibility in working hours may be required to accommodate brewing and fermentation schedules.

Interested in developing your career in brewing and fermentation Apply through LinkedIn with your updated CV.