What

is the Cicerone® Certification Program?

Flashcards Overview of the
Cicerone® Certification Program

(Cards 1 – 5)
1




Who founded the What year was the
Cicerone® Certification Program? Cicerone® Certification Program founded?

2 3




4 levels of Cicerone® Certification Program 5 main areas of knowledge
in the Cicerone® Certification Program

4 5




Three-tier system of alcohol distribution

Flashcards Part I, Section A.
Purchasing and Accepting Beer

(Cards 6 – 10)
6




2 types of retailers 2 common exceptions to the
(and 2 examples of each) three-tier system

7 8

A professional certification program that
provides independent assessment and
certification of knowledge and skills of beer
servers.




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Founded in 2007. Ray Daniels
• Owner of Craft Beer Institute.
Started giving exams in 2008. • Has written about beer for years.
• Senior faculty member at the renowned
brewing school, Siebel Institute of
Technology.

1. Keeping and serving beer 1. Certified Beer Server
2. Beer styles 2. Certified Cicerone®
3. Beer flavor and evaluation 3. Advanced CiceroneTM
4. Beer ingredients and brewing processes 4. Master Cicerone®
5. Pairing beer with food

1. Producers/Importers
2. Distributors/Wholesalers
3. Retailers (on-site and off-site)

Producers sell to distributors.
Distributors sell to retailers.
Retailers sell to customers.

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1. Brewpubs 1. On-site
They produce beer and sell directly to e.g., tavern or restaurant
consumers without having to go through a 2. Off-site
distributor. e.g., liquor store or grocery store
2. Small breweries
They’re often allowed to sell directly to
retailers without having to go through a
distributor. Commonly called “self-
distribution.”





What law requires the three-tier system? 3 reasons for the three-tier system
When did it start?

9 10




How is alcohol absorbed into the body?

Flashcards Part I, Section B.
Serving Alcohol

(Cards 11 – 27)
11




5 factors that affect the 4 classic symptoms of intoxication
absorption of alcohol into the body

12 13




What are some chronic health issues What does BAC stand for?
caused by alcohol consumption

14 15




What is the legal BAC limit for driving? What is alcohol tolerance?

16 17


1. Regulate and control the alcohol industry Twenty-first Amendment to the United States
2. Prevent a return to the excesses and Constitution.
abuses that led to Prohibition
3. Tax revenues Enacted in 1933.

Through the tissues of the mouth, throat,
stomach and small intestine.






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1. Relaxed inhibitions 1. Food
2. Impaired judgment 2. Concentration of the alcohol
3. Slowed reaction time 3. Carbonation
4. Loss of coordination 4. Temperature of the beverage
5. Hydration

Blood alcohol concentration Damage to the liver, heart and brain.

Regular consumption of alcohol can result in a 0.08% in every state except Michigan, where it is
tolerance. Consumption of more alcohol will 0.10%.
produce the same effects as previously with
lesser amounts.





2 types of alcohol tolerance 4 ways that the body
gets rid of alcohol

18 19




Why is it dangerous to consume alcohol Why is it important to
while taking medication? be a responsible beverage server?

20 21




What is the Are you required to check IDs
legal drinking age? to detect underage customers?

22 23




4 forms of acceptable ID Review the California Drink Chart Guide

24 25




Could your employer be held liable 3 kinds of alcohol related liability
for your customer’s DUI?

26 27


1. Breathe 1. Metabolic tolerance – The body absorbs
2. Sweat the alcohol more slowly.
3. Urine 2. Functional tolerance – A person can act
4. Mother’s milk sober with higher BAC.

To ensure everyone’s health and safety. The liver processes alcohol and some types of
medication. So one substance could be processed
We, or our employer, could be held liable for the at the neglect of the other, or the liver could be
actions of a drunk customer. overworked.

No. California law does not require you to check 21 in most instances.
ID. However, your employer might have a policy
that requires it. (There are some exceptions for consumption, but
the legal age to buy alcohol is almost always 21
Checking IDs will help protect you and your years.)
employer against liability for underage drinking.

This chart provides only an estimate of BAC. It’s

good to have an idea of how many drinks a 1. Driver license
person could consume before she is intoxicated. 2. ID card
3. Passport
4. Military ID

1. Administrative liability – The licensee Yes. Either the licensee or the server could be
could be held responsible. sued for injuries or death that resulted from
2. Criminal liability – The server could be gross negligence or willful misconduct.
held responsible for a violation such as
serving a minor or after-hours drinking.
3. Civil liability – The licensee or the server
could be sued for injuries or death.





Does beer have a shelf life?

Flashcards Part I, Section C.
Beer Storage

(Cards 28 – 37)
28




Which types of beer are 3 tactics to ensure that the
best for aging? beer you serve is fresh

29 30




How long will beer How long will beer
stay fresh on tap? stay fresh in bottles?

31 32




Must all beer be 2 characteristics of
stored in refrigeration? oxidized beer

33 34




How does beer Does glass color
become “skunked”? protect the beer from light?

35 36


Yes. Beer is best consumed while it’s fresh.







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1. Rotate inventory Beers with high ABV or with strong flavors are
2. Store beer properly best for aging.
3. Serve beer properly (draft beer should use
CO2, not air)

Beer in bottles will stay fresh up to 6 months Non-pasteurized draft beer will stay fresh 1 1/2
refrigerated. to 2 months refrigerated.

Pasteurized draft beer will stay fresh 3 to 4
months refrigerated.

1. Papery flavor All beer will stay fresh longer in refrigeration.
2. Wet cardboard flavor
Refrigeration is required for draft beer.

Refrigeration is recommended for bottled beer.

Yes. Glass color protects beer from light. Light damages beer within a few minutes.
Brown glass protects best.
Then green. Skunkiness mostly shows up in the aroma.
Clear glass provides no protection from light.

Aluminum, ceramic, and boxes provide
maximum protection from light.





4 ways to keep
draft beer fresh longer
Flashcards Part I, Section D.
Draft Systems

(Cards 38 – 47)
37




4 main elements of a draft system Keg

38 39




Coupler FOB

40 41




Faucet Standard temperature of a draft system

42 43




How long must a keg be Who may adjust gas pressure to kegs?
refrigerated before dispensing?

44 45


1. Always refrigerate draft beer
2. Always use CO2 or CO2-nitrogen mixture
3. Use the proper pressure
4. Never use air or a “party pump”




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Allows for storage and transport of beer. 1. Keg
Usually made of stainless steel. 2. Coupler
Sizes vary from 5 gal (1/6-barrel) to 15.5 gal 3. Foam on beer detector (FOB)
(1/2-barrel). 4. Faucet
Has a valve to attach the coupler.

Foam on beer detector. Attaches to the keg valve.
Automatically stops the flow when the keg is low Allows CO2 in and beer out.
on beer. Beer line attaches to the coupler.
Saves beer—and money—by preventing foam
from entering the lines, so you don’t have to
purge the lines when switching kegs.
Can be wall-mounted, or part of the coupler.

38° F (3.3° C) The “tap” that dispenses beer.
Screws onto the shank.
Tap marker (“tap handle”) identifies the beer.

Only a draft-trained technician may adjust gas 24 hours or else it will foam.
pressure to kegs.





4 basic ways to troubleshoot a draft system How often should draft system be cleaned?

46 47


Every 2 weeks. 1. Refrigerate the keg for 24 hours.
Every 3 months for a complete FOB and coupler 2. Check that the coupler is engaged.
cleaning. 3. Check for kinks or pinches in the beer line.
4. Check that the FOB is set for service.