In this age, we have beer geeks, beer snobs, enthusiasts. And then we have Cicerones – the beer world’s answer to sommeliers!
Every Cicerone, pronounced as “sis-uhrohn”, goes through a rigorous process to become one of the most respected beer nerds. Certification always sets you apart in a world full of experts and geeks. And while there are a handful of certifications offered around the world, our focus in this article is purely on the Cicerone certification programme.
Let’s begin with what the Cicerone Certification Programme is. It was founded by Ray Daniels, a veteran of the craft beer industry, long-time brewer and a beer expert. Daniels brings more than 25 years of his brewing, judging, studying and writing experience. Cicerone Certification Programme is aimed at beer professionals and enthusiasts to elevate the beer experience for consumers. It offers industry professionals as well as consumers a platform to learn and develop skills that are essential to serve, store and handle a beer. Due to improper handling and serving practices, we see that beers are not treated the way they are supposed to. Every place which serves beer should have a basic understanding of beer ingredients, beer styles, flavour and evaluation, appropriate glassware and storing beers. There’s a lot more to the certification than this. To break it down, the Cicerone programme is divided into four certification levels. Each of these is discussed below on a high level.
Coloradan becomes a master cicerone, a rare beer title held by just 28 people in the world.
Level 1: Certified Beer Server
This serves as an entry-level for the program where it primarily lays emphasis on the fundamentals. Some of the key topics at this level are storing & handling, preparation to serve, types of glassware, troubleshooting draft systems, beer ingredients and beer styles. Level 1 assessment is 100% online and results follow instantaneously.
Level 2: Certified Cicerone
Certified Cicerone dives a little deeper than the fundamentals of beer server. The assessment here is split into individual modules where the first part is a written section followed by an oral demonstration and tasting exam. This is an intense test of your skills which is very stressful but rewarding in the end. Passing level 1 serves up as a prerequisite.
The Hardest Beer Exam In The World: What it takes to be a Master Cicerone
FAQ
How many Level 1 Cicerones are there?
How hard is it to become a master Cicerone?
What does a master Cicerone do?
How many people are Cicerone certified?
How many Cicerones are there in the world?
There are currently 173 Advanced Cicerones, 4568 Certified Cicerones and over 150,000 Certified Beer Servers in the world. The Master Cicerone exam is a two day marathon of all things beer including three hours of essay writing per day plus one on one demonstrations with some of the most celebrated people in beer and food.
What is the Master Cicerone syllabus?
The Master Cicerone Syllabus presents an outline of the knowledge tested in the exam. Review it to guide your studies and assess your readiness for the exam. Candidates for Master Cicerone certification must demonstrate encyclopedic knowledge and an in-depth understanding of all issues related to brewing, beer and beer service.
How many master Cicerones are there?
Recently the Cicerone Certification Program announced that six people had achieved the rank of Master Cicerone. There are now a total of 28 Master Cicerones worldwide. A Master Cicerone is similar to a Master Sommelier in the wine world but the focus is less on service/hospitality and more on general beer knowledge.
What is a Master Cicerone?
The Master Cicerone is the highest professional beer credential and is truly an elite level of certification. As of 2021, there are 24 Master Cicerones in the world. Craig Becker of Canada was the first to achieve the Master Cicerone title in 2014.