To get some basic terms, start with the Wikipedia discussion of flavor. It does not mention the fact that recent research has identified new tastes, adding fat and carbonation to the basic tastes of sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami, and metallic.
Resources & Links
This page presents more than one hundred links, files, books, and courses that can help candidates prepare for Cicerone exams of all levels. As they cannot all be listed on one page, we recommend that you use the drop-down menus below to sort the content to suit your needs if this has not already been done.
Please note that we include links to a number of independently prepared resources such as local classroom courses which the Cicerone Certification Program does not endorse or monitor. Cicerone assumes no responsibility for independent resources and users should take appropriate diligence in assessing them.
To become listed here, check our guidelines for independent training courses.
All you need on water at this level is in this short description.
Focus on the British Bitters style of beer from All About Beer magazine
This article from Beer Advocate gives a pretty good first look at tasting beer properly.
Available free from the American Homebrewers Association. Simple introduction to brewing in magazine form. You can download a PDF of this after giving them your email address.
Focus on the British Mild style of beer from All About Beer magazine
Regarding skunky flavors, here’s a piece that’s short and sweet.
A classic of homebrewing. You can probably find a copy cheap at your local used book store or buy one new on Amazon for about $10.
Focus on the British Brown Ale style of beer from All About Beer magazine
While brewing oriented (excludes important server perspective) contains excellent descriptions of off flavors.
Good intro to beer and food pairing.
Focus on the British Porter style of beer from All About Beer magazine
A primer on malted barley.
Call the Brewers Association (888-822-6273) and order a copy of their brochure called “American Craft Beer and Food: Perfect Companions” (Cost: $1).
Focus on the Scottish Ales style of beer from All About Beer magazine
An excellent introduction to malting (and a good site to look around, too).
If you will be serving alcohol or supervising those who do, you’ll probably be required to complete an alcohol server education program suitable for your state. If you do a Google search on “alcohol server training” you’ll find websites that offer suitable programs for your state—usually online—for about $25.
The three-tier system of alcohol distribution is the system for distributing alcoholic beverages set up in the United States after the repeal of Prohibition.
Overall draft issues.
Concise presentation of how to pour a beer properly.
For important info about beer clean glassware, we strongly recommend pages 3 and 4 of this document. (Other pages are a bit more advanced.)
Intox has information about the effects of alcohol and responsible serving that you may find useful.
Oregon has information about the effects of alcohol and responsible serving that you may find useful.
BREW-ed was started by Certified Cicerone® and professional beer educator Cliff Mori to raise public understanding of beer. Through staff education, menu planning for restaurants and bars, beer themed private events and fun and informative brewery tours, BREW-ed is working to make craft beer drinkers as knowledgeable as they are passionate.