Advanced Cicerone
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ExploreAbout this exam
Advanced Cicerone is the third of four certification levels offered by the Cicerone Certification Program, introduced in 2015 to recognize individuals who have advanced their beer knowledge to an expert level. It is aimed at working beer professionals - brewers, beverage directors, distributors, educators and consultants - who need distinctive expertise in beer, strong sensory skills, and mastery of flavor vocabulary for both technical and consumer audiences. Candidates must already have passed the Certified Cicerone exam and must be of legal drinking age.
The exam has three components. The written component is taken online during a remotely proctored session and runs from multiple choice through essay questions; in-person written sittings are available on a limited basis. The in-person tasting panels cover off-flavor identification, beer style discrimination and descriptive analysis of samples. Two oral examinations, taken alongside the tasting panels, cover beer styles and pairing beer with food. Scoring is weighted across five knowledge areas: Keeping and Serving Beer (20%), Beer Styles (22.5%), Beer Flavor and Evaluation (22.5%), Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes (20%) and Pairing Beer with Food (15%).
Preparation should start with the Advanced Cicerone Syllabus, which outlines everything testable and is organized by those five areas. The program recommends reviewing Certified Cicerone study materials alongside more advanced resources, including some recommended for Master Cicerone preparation. In-depth theoretical and hands-on draft system knowledge is required, as is familiarity with multiple commercial examples of each style and the ability to identify the syllabus flavor compounds by taste; AROXA™ flavor standards are used in testing. Brewing beer yourself and practicing prepared beer-and-food presentations both reinforce the skills examined.
What you'll study
About Advanced Cicerone preparation
What does the exam actually consist of?
Three parts: an online, remotely proctored written exam mixing multiple choice and essay questions; in-person tasting panels covering off-flavor identification, beer style discrimination and descriptive analysis; and two in-person oral exams on beer styles and on pairing beer with food. The orals are taken alongside the tasting panels.
Do I need another certification before registering?
Yes. Passing the Certified Cicerone exam is a prerequisite, and candidates must be of legal drinking age. Plan your Level 2 timeline first, because you cannot sit Advanced Cicerone until Certified Cicerone is behind you.
How is the exam scored, and what do I need to pass?
You need a grade of 80% overall and at least 75% on the tasting portion. The written exam contributes 75% of the overall score, the oral exam 10% and the tasting exam 15%, with each of the five knowledge areas weighted within those components.
What does it cost, and what happens if I fail a section?
First-time written is $450 and first-time tasting and oral is $400. Retakes are $400 for the written and $350 for the tasting and oral exam. All exam fees are nonrefundable, so budget for a possible retake before you book.
Which knowledge area should I study first?
Start with the Advanced Cicerone Syllabus and work through its five areas, front-loading the two heaviest: Beer Styles and Beer Flavor and Evaluation at 22.5% each, plus Keeping and Serving Beer and Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes at 20% each. Pairing Beer with Food, at 15%, is smallest but still tested in an oral.
How hard is the tasting and oral portion?
It demands expert-level sensory precision. You must identify the syllabus flavor compounds by taste, using AROXA™ flavor standards in testing, discriminate styles, and describe samples in concrete, specific terms across the full flavor spectrum. The two oral exams require the same precision applied to styles and to food pairing.
What are the most common ways candidates fall short?
Thin style knowledge is a frequent problem: you are expected to know multiple commercial examples of each style, not just descriptions. Others lose points on vague flavor language, weak hands-on draft system knowledge, or no real practice preparing and presenting beer and food pairings.
How should I prepare beyond reading?
Brew beer, alone or with others, to reinforce how process variations change flavor. Practice describing beer and food out loud using concrete terms. Review Certified Cicerone materials, then move to advanced resources, including some recommended for Master Cicerone preparation, and use the sample tasting exam and sample essay prompts.
Where can I take it, and in what language?
The written exam is taken online during a remotely proctored session, with in-person written exams available on a limited basis. Tasting and oral exams are held at scheduled in-person locations. The program states the exam is available in Spanish for all published dates; check the current schedule for venues.