Master Cicerone®
Master Cicerone® is the fourth and highest level of the Cicerone® Certification Program. It recognizes an exceptional understanding of brewing, beer, and pairing — combining outstanding tasting abilities with an encyclopedic knowledge of commercial beers. Master Cicerones work in various roles in the industry, often holding senior or specialized positions in education, consulting, or technical areas. To become a Master Cicerone, candidates must score 85 percent or higher on a two-day exam which includes eight hours of written essay questions, eight individual tasting panel exams, and 12 separate oral examinations.
Skills / Knowledge
- Technical identification of 30 beer off-flavors by taste
- Unprompted beer style discrimination by taste
- Appropriate use of technical flavor descriptors
- Appropriate flavor description for consumers
- Authoritative knowledge of all types of draft systems
- Encyclopedic knowledge of beer service
- In-depth knowledge of all beer styles
- Familiarity with an extensive range of commercial beers
- Professional brewer’s understanding of beer ingredients and brewing process
- Culinarian ability to create and assess beer and food pairings