CHICAGO — The Cicerone Certification Program today announced that Brian Reed, a trade brewer and member of the beer education team at MillerCoors, has become one of just 16 individuals worldwide to earn the title of Master Cicerone. Reed earned the certification through a series of exams culminating with two days of intense written and oral questioning about beer styles, draft systems, beer evaluation, brewing technology and beer and food pairing given in October.
“Brian worked incredibly hard over the year and it showed in his impressive results,” said Ray Daniels, founder and director of the Cicerone Certification Program. “We are thrilled for him and to have him as a representative of the Master Cicerone title.”
While more than 94,000 have passed the first-level Cicerone exam known as Certified Beer Server, only 16 individuals have now earned the Master Cicerone title – the fourth and top level of the program. Reed joins Jason Pratt, senior marketing manager, and Daniel Imdieke, beer education manager, as the third Master Cicerone at MillerCoors. Based in Pittsburgh, Reed is the first person in Pennsylvania to attain the Master Cicerone title.
“Brian exhibited incredible determination and an unmatched work ethic on his way to this accomplishment,” said MillerCoors CEO Gavin Hattersley. “We are proud of him and proud to have three Master Cicercones within the MillerCoors organization. It speaks to the passion and knowledge our people – and especially our brewers – have for their craft.”
Founded in 2007, the Cicerone Certification Program tests and certifies beer expertise similar to the wine world’s Master Sommelier program. The Master Cicerone exam includes six hours of written essay questions, two hours of oral examination from 12 different industry experts and two hours of tasting and evaluation covering more than 40 different samples of beer. Candidates need an overall score of 85 percent to pass. Across all Master Cicerone exams, there have been 169 exam attempts with 16 individuals achieving a passing score.
About Brian Reed
As a trade brewer at MillerCoors, Reed is part of the team that leads the company’s beer education efforts and is responsible for creating and implementing the award-winning, best-in-industry beer merchant education program. In his role, he also supports the MillerCoors national accounts sales team and provides counsel to the company’s sales and marketing organizations. He has worked with new product development teams for Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company and Blue Moon Brewing Company. In the course of his many roles, Brian has led over 600 beer, brewing, food and/or sensory events and classes.
As a former head of brewing operations, Reed has created a number of award-winning beers at the professional and homebrew level. He received his MBA and master of arts in journalism from Point Park University in 2013.
Reed joins the 13 previously designated Master Cicerones: Daniel Imdieke of Denver; Jason Pratt of Chicago; Max Bakker of New York; Andrew Van Til of San Francisco; David Kahle of Chicago; Rich Higgins of San Francisco; Nicole Erny of Oakland; Neil Witte of Kansas City; Mirella Amato of Toronto; Pat Fahey of Chicago; Patrick Rue of Placentia, Calif.; James Watt of Aberdeen, UK; and Rob MacKay of Aberdeen, UK. Gavin Harper of Fullerton, Calif., and Ryan Daley of New York also earned the Master Cicerone title today.
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.
The knowledge required for the Master Cicerones certification is outlined in the program’s Master Syllabus which can be viewed at www.cicerone.org. The website provides information on the other levels of certification leading up to the Master Cicerone exam.