Love Beer? Have We Got a Job For You...

by Nichol Nelson, Posted May 21st 2010 @ 5:00PM

For one lucky person in London, the 9 to 5 grind is about to be a thing of the past. Spitalfields Market, a collection of covered shops and dining venues just outside of London, has resurrected an age-old job, and they're taking applicants. The position? Beer taster.

Reps for the market call it simply, "the best job in the world." The employee would essentially stop at venues throughout the market and taste test the beers for quality. It's a role that's been around almost as long as the market itself -- almost 400 years. (King Charles I of England first gave permission for fish, poultry and produce to be sold on the site in 1638.)

Malcolm Ball, president of Wellington Market Company, says although the taster used to mainly check the beer for quality and safety issues, he wants his new hire to do more. "Although the attraction of the role may seem obvious at first, the 21st century version would incorporate many more responsibilities than the original," he says. "Our ale taster would become an ambassador for food and drink in the area,"

Sound appealing? Don't bother applying if you don't know your suds inside and out. Ball says he needs a candidate with a "sound knowledge of local, regional, national and international beers." The finalists' know-how will be tested during a blind tasting of local beers.

If you're not qualified for the gig, don't despair. The salary is disappointing, to say the least. The position is pro-bono (that means you're donating your time for free). But Ball is convinced that won't discourage most applicants. "Although the role is voluntary, it obviously carries benefits," he says.

Want to try your luck? You can apply by writing a one-page essay and submitting it to market officials at The London Ale Taster website. The deadline is Sunday, May 23rd.

Filed Under: Food News, Tastings
Tags: beer, jobs, london, taste test, uk