Aureja Jupp – Brewer at Three Blind Mice Brewery

“As a result of my apprenticeship, my head brewer trusts me to operate the brewery on my own.”

Why an apprenticeship?

I’ve always had a passion for making things at home and love nothing more than going out in the wild and picking in-season ingredients to cook cakes or brew beer and wine. During lockdown, I joined a local craft brewery and began helping with all aspects of the business. I loved the brewing process so much, I decided to join Three Blind Mice Brewery as a brewer. When an apprentice colleague suggested I do an apprenticeship, I jumped at the chance to get a professional qualification in brewing and further my education.

Benefitting my business

The apprenticeship has given me a much better understanding of the biological processes involved in fermentation and brewing. I’ve learnt brewhouse operation and how to manage and handle raw materials. I’m now competent in all aspects of running the brewery including recipe design, brew process from start to finish, cleaning and filling casks and kegs. 

As a result of the apprenticeship, my head brewer has allowed me to take on a lot more responsibilities, trusting me to operate the brewery on my own. I am now able to run a complete brew on my own with little or no supervision. I’m also contributing more ideas to recipes based on what I’m learning on the apprenticeship.  

Part of the apprenticeship requires overnight stays at the University of Nottingham’s campus where specialist lectures are held. As part of Three Blind Mice’s commitment to eliminating barriers to learning and providing development opportunities, all my travel and hotel expenses for this were covered, meaning I could focus on my education and professional growth without having to worry.

I’ve also enjoyed great social media exposure as the brewery consistently showcases my achievements. This not only boosts morale but also highlights the brewery’s dedication to its people. A career highlight was winning the HIT UnTapped competition which challenged apprentice brewers to produce an original recipe beer. My winning beer was called ‘A Box of Sparks’. This win put me on the brewing map, and I was invited to the House of Commons for National Apprenticeship Week to talk about the benefits of apprenticeships and encourage new talent into our growing craft brewing community. 

The HIT Training difference

The HIT Brewer Apprenticeship truly is a unique experience. Lectures held at the University of Nottingham are led by experienced lecturers and I loved hearing from some great industry expert speakers too. We also had access to the university’s amazing brewing facility at the International Centre of Brewing Science. Together with the HIT trainers who are also industry specialists, this apprenticeship has opened so many doors and I’ve made some excellent friends and contacts in the industry.

One day, I would like to have my own brewing business and make my own exciting and quirky beers.