Wow! I can’t believe it was way back in May that I published my first post on this site. And still I haven’t even started studying for the Certified Beer Server exam!
LC conversion by Ginny on flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
WordPress has been a much bigger learning curve than I expected. Plus I’m keeping microbrewr.com going with great podcasts each week, and looking for a job. :/
Anyway, it’s really important to me, to create this website while I study for the Certified Beer Server exam. I want to help everyone else who might be thinking of studying for the exam. So I’m going to share my study notes on this site.
The first step is to get my study materials together
Today I’m going through the materials to find any recommended books, articles, or whatnot.
Here is the reading list for Certified Beer Server exam that I’ll need to study. Feel free to get anything that you think you’ll need to pass the exam. Or check out my free study notes on this site.
Reading list for Certified Beer Server,
Part I. Keeping and Serving Beer
- Cicerone® Certification Program. “Certified Beer Server Syllabus.” http://cicerone.org, June 1, 2013. PDF. Accessed October 9, 2014.
- Wikipedia. “Three-tier (alcohol distribution).” http://en.wikipedia.org. Accessed October 9, 2014.
Know the first paragraph. - Triemert, Zach. “Are you Draft Savvy?” The New Brewer, July/August 2007. PDF. http://173.255.230.198. Accessed October 9, 2014.
- Micro Matic. “Pouring the Perfect Beer.” http://www.micromatic.com. Accessed October 9, 2014.
- Glastender. Operation Manual Glastender® Remote Beer Dispensing System. http://www.glastender.com. Accessed October 9, 2014.
Pages 3-4 about beer clean glassware. - Intoximeters. “Alcohol and the Human Body.” http://www.intox.com. Accessed October 9, 2014.
- Dunlap, Michaele P. Biological Impacts of Alcohol Use: An Overview. http://www.oregoncounseling.org. Accessed October 9, 2014.
- Responsible Beverage Server Training course from your local provider.
Know the effects of alcohol on the body and know how to deal with intoxicated customers and underage customers. Search Google for classes in your area. Classes usually last a couple hours and cost about $30. For a preview of the class, check out Lesson 004. Serving alcohol about when I took it. Mosher, Randy. Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink. North Adams, Massachusetts: Story Publishing, LLC, 2009. Print.
Know the parts about brewing, beer history, and beer styles. Other areas of this book differ from the Certified Beer Server material because this book is from the perspective of a consumer, enjoying beer at home.- Brewers Association. Draught Beer Quality Manual second edition. http://www.draughtquality.org. PDF. Accessed October 9, 2014.
So that’s all of the reading material for the Certified Beer Server syllabus, Part I: Keeping and Serving Beer. Seems like a lot. (Go here for reading materials for part II.)
When I learned that Certified Beer Server exam is just a 60 question multiple choice test and it usually takes 30 minutes, I thought it would be easy. Now I’m starting to think that I have my work cut out for me!
Anyway it’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to finally passing the exam and adding this certification to my resume.
So let’s get right into it by studying an overview of the Cicerone® Certification Program.
Sign up to study with me
Join me in studying for Certified Beer Server exam. More and more employers in the beer industry are requiring this certification. Many beer fans take the exam just for fun or for bragging rights.
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Study along with me–let’s pass this exam!
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I work for a wine, beer and spirits distributor in Las Vegas. I have been asked to take the Cicerone Certification courses and tests. I’m on line sending you this email because I want to be able to study for the test and pass it my first time taking the test. what and where can I look up to find the information that will help me? I will be taking the level 1 test, but will be looking to further my training.
Rob,
You’ve come to the right place! Beer Exam School has everything you’ll need to pass the heck out of the Certified Beer Server exam the first time. Certified Beer Server is the first level of the Cicerone Certification Program.
Beer Exam School was designed for people who don’t want to just pass the exam to put it on your resume, but for people who want to really know the material and gain knowledge for real beer service. So you’ll get a solid foundation for moving on to the next levels of the Cicerone program.
Here’s the study plan I usually recommend:
Let me know how it goes. 🙂