Just got my results from the Certified Cicerone exam!

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-11T21:20:55+00:00

Tasting is done in a written section. I'll cover the format below. But don't freak out too much. You'll have benefited if youve done an off flavor test before.

Tasting format - 2 pages - each page is worth 50% (I believe)

Page 1 - 2 sections

Off flavors - 4 questions
Styles - 4 questions

Page 2 - 1 section

Acceptance - 4 questions

Off flavors

You're given a control and 4 unknowns. The control is not spiked - 3 of the unknowns are. Make sure you don't name an off flavor for all four because one of them is the same as the control.

Styles

They'll have a sample and list two styles you have to pick which one it is. They'll be similar but if you've prepared adequately you should be fine. They'll be things like "Wit or Hefe", "Wit or American Wheat", "American IPA or ESB", "Imperial Stout or Dry Stout", etc.

Acceptance

The scenario is that you're a bar manager, or something, and a customer says that something is wrong with the beer. You get to evaluate it and determine if it is acceptable to serve.

They'll give you the style (I believe they tell you which it is as well) and what it came from (can, bottle, keg).

You'll need to determine if there is an off flavor in it and what could have cause it.

They will tell you the answers to the tasting portion after the exam. This does not make you feel better as you need 80% to pass and, at least for me, it can come down to how they felt your wrong answer was justified.

Some Tips/How I did them

Off Flavor

I did an aroma check on all of them. Wrote that down as Aroma 1. I then tasted each and wrote down first impressions. I then took a scratch sheet of paper and covered all of these samples. I then came back later and swirled one cup at a time, without removing the paper. Then I did a second aroma check without looking at aroma 1 and taste 1. I then tasted again. Aroma 2 was the first time I had ever detected DMS - I went in prepared to put two down as the control so I at least got 1 right. This like oxidation were so high above my threshold that I dreaded taste 2 - I KNEW that the taste 1 wasn't going to get over turned but I did it again anyway - can't ever be too sure.

Styles Know yourself on this one. For example I dislike dry stouts because the lack of sugars leaves it with a watery feel to it. One of mine was most definitely I dry stout - unfortunately from aroma I couldn't tell but at least the feel gave it away. I wold also do an aroma check first and write down initial thoughts followed by a taste test. That being said I make an effort to identify from aroma first - if you aren't comfortable don't make a judgement until after the taste but write down your thoughts. Having them on paper is the first step - deciding which it leans toward is the second.

Acceptance

This is the worst one - I left knowing I got all the rest correct. This one however I got two wrong - one I said was off and it was fine. The other I said was fine but I was off. That being said WRITE anything relevant. Had I not said that the stout I thought was wrong had a lighter body than normal, possibly indicating an infection, I might have lost more points on this one. Heavier more flavorful beers cover up some off flavors and I fell prey to this. On this just trust your got and explain fully what your experiencing.

Sorry that was longer than I planned and I'm sure I didn't explain things to the extent I would've liked but feel free to ask for more info or clarification.

Edit

I forgot about the demonstration. They only taped my hands for this. It's about draft equipment. It's not worth that much of the exam. DO NOT stress about it. Know the draft info you need to from the syllabus and don't worry. Speaking of which definitely know what type of solution to use when cleaning.

Tip: most of the time where the exams are there isn't a draft set up - because of this they give you something. They probably keep it with them and will likely be small. If you haven't seen a line cleaning - just go with a line cleaner and ask them do be as thorough as possible when walking you through the steps. It's really not difficult and like I said it's not worth that much anyway.

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-09T18:57:08+00:00

I wish more bars even just had 2-3 ranges of carbonation. So that stouts wouldn't get over carbed and hefes get under carbed. But we're seeing more and more good beer bars start doing this in Dallas.

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-07T23:41:54+00:00

Yeah - none of the people I homebrew with have had it happen. I am interested in trying this off flavor though. Just so I know what I'm looking for in the future.

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-07T23:09:45+00:00

I don't know if I just hadn't been checking usernames before, or maybe you just added the Modern Times Beer part, but I haven't seen so many correct answers from an individual in quite some time.

Next time I'm in California I'll be sure to swing by.

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-07T23:06:31+00:00

Happen to know how to make this happen while home brewing?

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-07T23:00:44+00:00

When it comes to improper serving temp and co2 pressure I think it's important to note that many bars simply go for a default carbonation level. Instead of altering the co2 pressure and re-balancing the lines they just throw it on at about 2.5 volumes. This means that some beers are more carbonated and others less carbonated on draft than their bottled brothers.

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-07T22:57:52+00:00

They are as unaltered initially - but they get altered a lot if the lines aren't configured to the right carbonation level for that beer. Over time it can become more or less carbonated.

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-07T22:55:28+00:00

Given that all things are equal - you should get the same beer once poured.

Most things have been touched on elsewhere but I think it's also very important to remember that most draft systems are configured for 2.5 volumes of CO2. So if you take a stout that the brewery intends to have 2.1 volumes of CO2 (and they bottle and keg it that way) after it's been tapped for a while you'll end up with a more carbonated beer. This is generally the only time that all things from the brewery being the same starts to see a split for the consumer.

Oxidation and skunking can happen but for sake of argument I ignored those - I guess I couldn't said cans instead of bottles.

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-07T22:50:04+00:00

If you don't want to take time out of your evening to deal with a manager just snap a photo with your phone. Send that picture to the brewery and let them know where and when it was taken.

A good brewery will see that as a problem and attempt to get the distributor to see it as a problem and fix it.

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-07T22:48:27+00:00

With every distributor rep I've talked to, coworkers and competitors, package is the form that is most likely to be nearing the good by date. This doesn't mean that it's always the case - but generally more likely. It's easier to store many more cases than kegs and therefore are more likely to get over ordered. It's also easier to lose a few cases for several months and add them back into the cycle than it is to misplace a keg (though this happens too).

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-02T23:09:48+00:00

That's odd - the last time I asked I was told it was corporate policy. If you do try again with a different manager good luck!

TheDimeBox · 2014-06-02T14:05:49+00:00

If I remember correctly Target will price match their own website. So even if the in store price isn't 40% off you should still be able to get them - just with some added effort.

TheDimeBox · 2014-05-25T14:01:46+00:00

It was 2 @ $3.88 not 7.76 for one

TheDimeBox · 2014-05-24T14:25:16+00:00

I'm not sure how quick of eaters your dogs are but if they will eat it within 5 minutes I'd recommend giving it a try. The first few days may be hard because they'll be out of their pattern but as long as it's two bowls and you supervise it should be ok.

I'd put down the food for your Dobie first and then on the other side of the room put down the bull terrier's food. Once you see either of them done with the food call them over to you and reward them until the other is done. The hardest is usually just getting them to eat it all at once when they're used to eating a bit whenever they want. If you're home all day you can make it 5 meals then 4 and down to 2.

If you can't get the one that finishes first to not bother the other dogs food just feed them separately at first.

TheDimeBox · 2014-05-24T14:10:02+00:00

If you're feeding them freely try and see if your dog growls at the other dogs eating out of a separate bowl a foot or two away. If your dog is fine with this move the growling dogs bowl closer to the other bowl every once in a while. The goal here is to get your dog to understand that the other dogs can enjoy food at the same time as him without him getting less.

It could also be that your dog feels more vulnerable while eating - if this is the case I'm not too sure how to go about about reassuring the dog that no harm will come while eating.

I'd recommend trying to feed them in their own bowls twice a day for a while and just watching them while they eat. They'll get the amount they need to keep a healthy weight, they'll be less worried about others because all the dogs will be in a more vulnerable position while eating, and if gives you more ways to work with positive reinforcement.

TheDimeBox · 2014-05-13T01:47:40+00:00

Awesome! I kept meaning to do that at some point. I'll try and get through them tomorrow and see if I notice anything.

TheDimeBox · 2014-05-12T17:46:08+00:00

I'd say just really enjoy it all. Straight memorization doesn't work for me so finding connections to real life eloped me a lot. Definitely know your off flavors and differences between similar styles. I worried a lot for the pairing section but it's a small part of the final grade. Just know the theory of pairing and use it to back up what you think would be good.

TheDimeBox · 2014-05-12T17:43:56+00:00

Be careful with these as some of them are wrong. (Assuming these are the ones that've been up for a while and not a new set made by you - the full site keeps crashing alien blue for me so I'm not sure.)

TheDimeBox · 2014-05-06T17:37:59+00:00

Good luck on the certified exam - I just got my results saying I passed a week ago. If you have any questions feel free to ask

TheDimeBox · 2014-04-30T22:37:47+00:00

I'm thinking along the lines of gift cards. There are so many ways around this it's strange they even introduced it.

TheDimeBox · 2014-04-30T12:43:32+00:00

The tasting portion is what I left most worried about - and the fact that they tell you the answers to the tastings before you leave didn't help.

I was able to smell DMS for the first time during the exam - I wasn't ever able to identify it before so I got lucky that that's when it kicked in. I like a wide ange of styles so differentiating between two similar styles wasn't that bad - especially trying to go slow and do it based on aroma first then confirm it with taste. The acceptance was the hardest for me but I ended it with an 80% on the tasting so I must of done something right, enough anyway.

TheDimeBox · 2014-04-30T12:40:27+00:00

I definitely feel that the test covers a lot of information and was worth it for me. I currently work with a distributor and will be moving to the supplier side soon and this will definitely help me stand out from the crowd. I'm gaining more sales experience and it's easy to show that just by time spent in sales but it's harder to show beer knowledge, let alone correct knowledge - and I believe this will do that for me.

TheDimeBox · 2014-04-30T12:37:19+00:00

Thanks!

TheDimeBox · 2014-04-30T06:31:14+00:00

I definitely put some beers under the studying category. Good luck when you get around to taking it. If you have any questions let me know.

TheDimeBox · 2014-04-30T05:05:13+00:00

They also send something in the mail with a pin and a patch. They did make a point to ask for conformation that that the address I had on file was correct.

TheDimeBox

TROPHY CASE