Cicerone® Syllabus Topics
Certified Beer Server Candidate scope · 53 topic articles
Keeping and Serving Beer
24 topics
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / A. Purchasing and accepting beer
1. The Three-tier System in the United States
Know the normal legal movement of beer through brewer or importer, wholesaler, retailer, and consumer, plus common direct-sale exceptions.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / B. Serving alcohol
1. Alcohol Effects
Understand basic alcohol absorption, elimination, and guest indicators relevant to responsible beer service.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / B. Serving alcohol
2. Responsible Serving Practices
Use accurate strength information and appropriate serving sizes to support responsible service.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / C. Beer storage
1. Beer Is Best Consumed Fresh
Most beer is ready to drink when released and should be sold fresh unless the beer is intentionally cellarable.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / C. Beer storage
2. Rotate Inventory
Check date codes, sell beer in date order, remove out-of-date product, and train staff to move the whole beer list.
7 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / C. Beer storage
3. Store Beer Properly
Cold, stable storage preserves flavor; warm storage accelerates oxidation and other stale character.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / C. Beer storage
4. Protect Beer from Light
Understand lightstruck aroma risk and which packages protect beer from damaging light.
5 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / C. Beer storage
5. Serve Beer Properly
Draft beer needs proper dispense gas; compressed air and party pumps shorten beer stability.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / D. Draft systems
1. Key Draft System Elements
Recognize the basic draft parts a server is expected to identify.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / D. Draft systems
2. Draft System Operation
Know standard temperature expectations, keg cooling time, and who should adjust gas pressure.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / D. Draft systems
3. Basic Troubleshooting
Run simple draft checks before escalating persistent pouring problems.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / D. Draft systems
4. Draft System Maintenance
Draft systems must be cleaned on schedule and never used before cleaning is complete.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / D. Draft systems
5. Temporary Draft Systems - Jockey Boxes
Know what jockey boxes are, when they are used, their common types, setup basics, and cleaning need.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / E. Beer glassware
1. Select Appropriate Glassware
Choose glass size, shape, and brand presentation that fit the beer and service context.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / E. Beer glassware
2. Use Beer Clean Glassware
Clean every glass before filling and know manual, machine, and inspection standards for beer-clean service.
9 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / E. Beer glassware
3. Preparation to Serve
Prepare clean glassware at proper temperature and use rinsers only for clean glasses.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / F. Serving bottled beer
1. Prepare for Service
Store bottle-conditioned beer upright and keep packaged beer cold or at style-appropriate serving temperature.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / F. Serving bottled beer
2. Examine Bottle
Inspect bottles for instability, residue, yeast, and service decisions before opening or pouring.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / F. Serving bottled beer
3. Open Bottle
Know safe opening procedures for common beer closures.
4 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / F. Serving bottled beer
4. Final Bottle Check
Check the lip and closure after opening before presenting or pouring the beer.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / F. Serving bottled beer
5. Pouring Bottled Beer
Pour filtered and unfiltered bottled beer with appropriate angle, foam, and sediment control.
4 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / G. Serving draft beer
1. Pouring a Beer
Use correct draft faucet position, glass angle, head formation, and hygiene for standard draft pours.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / G. Serving draft beer
2. Pouring Nitro Beer
Pour nitro beer with the correct fill, settle, and top-off pattern.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
I. Keeping and Serving Beer / G. Serving draft beer
3. Changing a Keg
Know basic same-product keg change steps, cooling requirements, and FOB reset expectations.
3 question bank questions
Beer Styles
5 topics
Certified Beer Server
II. Beer Styles / A. Understanding beer styles
1. Historical Development of Beer Styles
Understand that styles developed from local ingredients, equipment, water, technology, law, culture, and consumer demand.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
II. Beer Styles / B. Style parameters
1. Quantitative Parameters of Beer Character
Know the numeric measurements used in the CBS style scope: ABV, ABW, IBU, and SRM.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
II. Beer Styles / B. Style parameters
2. Qualitative Parameters of Beer Character
Use appearance, aroma, flavor, finish, mouthfeel, and perceived bitterness to describe beer.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
II. Beer Styles / C. Beer style knowledge
1. Knowledge Requirements of Listed Styles
Know the required CBS descriptor set for listed styles: perceived bitterness, color, alcohol level, and key flavors.
129 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
II. Beer Styles / C. Beer style knowledge
2. Beer Styles by Region
Study the CBS style list by region, plus emerging styles, non-alcoholic and alcohol-free beer, and gluten-free or gluten-reduced beer.
143 question bank questions
Beer Flavor and Evaluation
8 topics
Certified Beer Server
III. Beer Flavor and Evaluation / A. Taste and flavor
1. How We Perceive Flavor
Know the basic roles of aroma, taste, mouthfeel, body, and carbonation in beer flavor.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
III. Beer Flavor and Evaluation / A. Taste and flavor
2. Beer Evaluation
Evaluate beer using temperature awareness, core components, aroma techniques, appearance checks, and complete tasting.
9 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
III. Beer Flavor and Evaluation / B. Identify normal flavors of beer and their source
1. Malt and Grain Flavors
Connect beer color to broad malt and grain flavor families.
6 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
III. Beer Flavor and Evaluation / B. Identify normal flavors of beer and their source
2. Hop Flavors
Understand hop bitterness, flavor, aroma, and broad regional flavor families.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
III. Beer Flavor and Evaluation / B. Identify normal flavors of beer and their source
3. Fermentation Flavors
Know how yeast and bacteria can create expected beer flavor.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
III. Beer Flavor and Evaluation / C. Off-flavor knowledge
1. Oxidation
Recognize common stale and age-related beer character.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
III. Beer Flavor and Evaluation / C. Off-flavor knowledge
2. Lightstruck Skunky
Recognize skunky aroma as a light-damage fault.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
III. Beer Flavor and Evaluation / C. Off-flavor knowledge
3. Dirty Draft Lines
Recognize buttery or sour character as possible draft-line problems.
3 question bank questions
Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes
15 topics
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / A. Ingredients
1. Grains
Know what malt is and that unmalted grains can also be used in beer.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / A. Ingredients
2. Hops
Know hop contributions, dry hopping, basic plant anatomy, and major growing regions.
5 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / A. Ingredients
3. Yeast
Know ale and lager yeast names, typical flavor differences, and that other microbes can shape beer.
5 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / A. Ingredients
4. Water
Understand that water is most of beer by weight and that minerals affect brewing and flavor.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
1. Milling
Know that milling crushes malt and other grains into grist.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
2. Mashing
Know that grist is mixed with hot water and malt enzymes convert starches into sugars.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
3. Lautering
Know that lautering separates sweet wort from spent grain.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
4. Boiling
Know that wort is boiled to sterilize it and to add hop bitterness, flavor, and aroma.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
5. Whirlpool
Know that whirlpooling spins wort to separate hop fragments and solids.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
6. Chilling
Know that wort is cooled to fermentation temperature before yeast is pitched.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
7. Fermentation
Know that yeast consumes sugars and creates alcohol, CO2, and flavor compounds.
1 question bank question
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
8. Maturation and Lagering
Know that immature beer is rested to reduce undesirable flavors.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
9. Clarification
Know that clarification separates yeast and other solids from beer.
2 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
10. Carbonation
Know that CO2 levels are adjusted to the desired level before service or packaging.
3 question bank questions
Certified Beer Server
IV. Beer Ingredients and Brewing Processes / B. Brewing Process Overview
11. Packaging
Know the main package formats used for finished beer.
3 question bank questions