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Cicerone Certified Beer Server

Cicerone Certified Beer Server

Anyone can call themselves an expert on beer.

Heck, my personal business cards say Beer Connoisseur in lieu of having a “job title”.

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But what does that really mean? After all, it is a self-proclaimed title. It would be like calling myself a wine aficionado. Sure I know more about wine than your average person, but does that qualify me as an expert in the subject?

In today’s society, standardized tests are king.

There is a reason why people obtain college degrees. As much as we would love to prove our own intelligence level without a diploma, it makes it that much easier to argue our case with that silly piece of paper.

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And forget the significance of a college diploma, one can’t even get into college without a decent score on the SAT or the ACT. As for further education? Try getting into graduate or professional programs without taking the GRE, MCAT or LSAT. Not going to happen, my friends.

Would you visit a “doctor” that does not hold a Medicinae Doctor (MD) degree or hire a “lawyer” without a Juris Doctor degree? The Wench thinks not.

Having an official title means a lot in today’s day and age. Sad yes, but true.

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If I told you that I gave the best massages in the world, would you pay me $100 an hour to massage you? Probably not. If I was certified in some crazy exotic form of massage from some fancy massage therapy school,  I can guarantee that you would pay me big money to massage your back.

There is a large debate on whether or not standardized measures should predetermine one’s ability to perform a certain set of skills. I can argue both ways.

You see, I am “that guy” — the student that everyone hates. Mom, Dad … please stop reading. No, really. You don’t want to hear this.

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I was the kid who never had to study. EVER. You remember that kid in college, the one who spent all day on AOL instant messenger and all night hanging with friends, watching movies, out at parties and NOT studying? You remember that kid who never came to class, but got straight A’s? Yep, that was me.

Now, Mom & Dad, I know you are still reading this. But, remember what you told me? “We will pay for A’s & B’s but not for C’s & D’s.” Did I ever let you down? No.

I’m very proud to say that I never had to pay my parents a cent … just saying. Regardless of my (lack of) studying habits, I graduated with honors.  But luck has nothing to do with it.

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As much as I hate them, I do believe that standardized tests are important. Without them, anyone could declare themselves have any sort of credentials that they want or see fit, by their own standards — i.e.: I drink beer, therefore, I am a beer expert.

Society does need (ahhhh and my liberal nature hates admitting this) some sort of standards when it comes to expertise in different arenas. There has to be some sort of neutral and fair system in place that determines ones level of expertise in a certain subject. Am I wrong?

Long story short, I had a bad day. A really really bad day. An Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

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Yes, it was that bad. One of those days where you question your own self-worth and your purpose for existence on the planet.

Sure, I call myself a beer “connoisseur” … but what does that mean?? I write about beer, big deal. I drink a lot of beer, big deal. I read a lot of beer books & websites, big deal.

Wellas fate would have it, my stars were aligned in some sort of twisted yet methodological pattern today. You see, just as I was about to go get myself into a drunken funk and sulk in a corner, a strange thing occurred.

My friend on Twitter (@djacra) passed the Cicerone Certified Beer Server test. And upon congratulating him on his amazing feat, many of my followers that that it was I who had passed the exam — not him. And after explaining the mix up to several people, it occurred to me … how am I not certified??? (After all, I consider myself to be … errrr… a beer connoisseur?)

My rather emotional and irrational state of mind jaded my perception. And so I ventured into my beer cellar, where I found a relatively low abv beer to aide as liquid courage.

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Once I made my decision, I could not go back. With Frank Sinatra on the stereo & La Folie in the glass, I registered my information into the Cicerone program. And with no prior preparation or studying, I took the test.

Why on earth would pay $50 to take a test on a whim without any sort of preparation?

My closest friends in college and high school will tell you that I’m not one to study. (Once again, Mom & Dad — earmuffs!!!)

Studying was never my thing. LEARNING is, however. I’m really good at learning things and committing them to memory automatically (I am blessed with a photographic memory — yes try and test it, I dare you). Which, kind of makes it redundant to study. After all, if I KNOW it already — why would I need to study it?

And so, I challenged myself today. Do I really know as much about beer as I think I do?

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As it turns out, I’m on the right track. Am I a beer expert? Oh hell no. Am I a beer dummy? Oh hell no.

Neither an expert nor a novice, I am The Beer Wench — a Cicerone Certified Beer Server!!!

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Comments

10 Responses to “Cicerone Certified Beer Server”

  • Brew Hilda December 4th, 2009 at 7:25 am

    You are awesome! You AND that photographic memory. Your learing style is different. Your intelligneces (Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences) are stronger withinin areas that others struggle. I don’t need to earmuff, I’d rather know the truth than be delusioinal. The truth is, you’re damn lucky to have those gifts! You proved that with the brief stint in Life Insurance! So congratulations. You are an achiever, and you are brilliant. XXXOOO

  • TheHopsHoney December 4th, 2009 at 7:41 am

    W.O.W…. super jealous (about the lack of studying AND the photographic memory)…. but kick ass for you! A nice pat on the back for ya :)

  • Brad December 4th, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    Congratulations!!! Not a bad achievement to add to the résumé.

  • Daniel Del Grande December 6th, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    Thanks for the inspiring me to take this exam. Done–I’m number 895. So, am I right to assume that less than 900 people have taken the exam? Considering how many servers, wholesalers, writers, and plain old craft beer lovers there are out there, I would have assumed that there were several thousand more.

  • Beantown Brews December 7th, 2009 at 11:28 am

    My initial reaction to Cicerone certification was something on the order of “Badges?! We don’t need no stinking badges!” But I think I have warmed to the idea. I like the idea of independent assessment backing up claims of beer knowledge.

    Kudos & Congrats!

  • Chipper Dave Butler December 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

    Wow that takes balls, er, something to take that test without studying for it. Must be nice to remember everything you see. Me, I’d definitely will have to study for it. I can’t even remember where I put my car keys let alone all those beer facts. Grats on getting Cicerone certified. You’ve already put that good knowledge to use on your blog!

  • Cicerone Certified Beer Server December 7th, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    [...] inspiration from my friend The Beer Wench at http://drinkwiththewench.com, I thought it would be a good idea to look into some certification programs. Most of you know what [...]

  • Travis December 8th, 2009 at 10:50 am

    You just inspired me to take it too. Without studying I might add. I missed 5 out of the 60 questions.

  • Wenchie December 9th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    Travis — CONGRATS! Excited that I was inspirational! CHEERS!

  • Drink With The Wench » Blog Archive » Interview With RAY DANIELS December 28th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    [...] proud to say that I recently passed the first level of the Cicerone Certification Program — aka Certified Beer Server. My goal is to reach Master Cicerone Level by the time I reach [...]

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