Apprentice Brewer Jake Oulsman

Real ale enthusiast Jake Oulsman has landed his dream job as Stoke-on-Trent’s only apprentice brewer.

Jake, 23, of Alton, Staffordshire, has been taken on by Burslem based Titanic Brewery.

It is the first time that the expanding company has taken on a brewing apprentice.

And Jake will be able to call on the experience of Titanic’s Managing Director, Keith Bott, who started as an apprentice in the brewing industry in 1985.

Jake, who has a keen interest in craft food and drink making, geared up for his new career with a cycle ride around England.

“I knew I wanted to work in a brewery and it was a great opportunity to look at the different beers available across the country,” explained Jake who has also spent a year in New Zealand since leaving school.

“I am generally fascinated by traditional skills, including brewing, so a career in a brewery such as Titanic’s is fantastic for me.”

Jake will work around 40 hours a week at the brewery and a tutor will visit regularly to help him and monitor his progress.

Keith Bott, who is also chairman of national independent brewers’ association, SIBA, said: said: “We have taken on four new staff at the brewery in the past 12 months and the time is now right to take on an apprentice brewer.

“This has been made possible through the new apprenticeship scheme backed by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

“It is essentially the same job as I took on around 27 years ago, a mix of old fashioned craft skills and hard work.

“I enjoyed it so much that I eventually brought the brewery with my brother, Dave.”

For now, Jake’s ambitions remain a little more modest. “I am really looking forward to the day when I create a new beer for Titanic Brewery,” he said.