CHICAGO – Results of the first-ever Advanced Cicerone exams, held February 2-3, were reported this weekend. Six of forty candidates achieved a passing score to become the first to earn the newest level of Cicerone certification announced last year.
“We are very pleased to recognize these individuals who have demonstrated distinctive expertise in beer,” said Ray Daniels, founder and director of the Cicerone Certification Program. “We expect they will contribute greatly to quality beer service through their professional activities in the many and varied ways that they serve the beer community.”
The six who passed include:
- Alexander Meyer, Upslope Brewing Company
- Chris Pisney, Cicerone Certification Program
- Daniel Imdieke, Tenth and Blake Beer Co.
- Jack Van Paepeghem, Oxbow Brewing Company
- Jordan Mills, Mill Street Brewery
- Ryan Daley, The High End, a business unit of Anheuser-Busch
To become an Advanced Cicerone—the new level of certification between Certified Cicerone and Master Cicerone—candidates must achieve a score of 80 or higher on an exam that includes six hours of written questions, four taste panels, and two oral exams.
In addition to the two days of Advanced Cicerone exams held in Chicago, the Cicerone Certification Program has also given examinations in San Leandro, CA and Washington, DC in February and March. A total of about 80 candidates took the exams offered at those sites.
“Based on the results of the Chicago exams, we anticipate that 10 to 15 additional candidates will achieve Advanced Cicerone in this round of testing,” said Cicerone Content Manager and Master Cicerone Pat Fahey.
“In addition to those who have passed, we have seen a similar number who did well on the written portion and will only need to improve their tasting score to join the ranks of the Advanced Cicerones,” said Fahey. Like the Certified Cicerone exam, candidates can retake either the written or tasting portion of the exam in an effort to achieve a passing score.
Additional Advanced Cicerone exams are slated for Allen, Texas and Placentia, California this fall.
About the Cicerone Certification Program:
Founded in 2007 by brewer, author, and beer educator Ray Daniels, the Cicerone Certification Program seeks to ensure that consumers receive the best quality beer at every service occasion. To facilitate this, those who sell and serve beer are encouraged to acquire knowledge in five areas: 1) Keeping and Serving Beer, 2) Beer Styles, 3) Beer Flavor and Evaluation, 4) Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes, and 5) Pairing Beer with Food.
To this date, more than 68,000 individuals have been certified through the program.