BEER SOMMELIER ASSESSMENT

The Beer Sommelier programme is suitable for those working within any sector associated with beer. This could be hospitality, retail, brewing, sales or media, as well as beer “enthusiasts”.

Initially, assessment days will be once per quarter, and limited to four applicants per day. Dates will be released a year in advance, and applicants will have to provide evidence that pre-requisite training courses have been completed at by the date of their assessment. A wait-list system will be in place to fill vacancies should an applicant drop out or not feel fully prepared. More assessment dates will be allocated as required should demand exceed availability.

Sommelier Assessment

The Beer Sommelier assessment is a one-to-one viva voce examination of the applicant’s beer knowledge and experience (typically lasting 75-90 minutes). This will be conducted by Alex Barlow, Master Brewer, and observed by an accredited Beer Sommelier.

Applicants are expected to be able to identify, describe and communicate the features of a beer they have just tasted in a clear, confident, and accurate manner; to identify the nature and style of that beer; to suggest and justify suitable food pairings for that beer. The assessment is designed to test these skills and the candidate’s ability to identify notable flavour faults.

The format is consistent for every candidate and includes the following areas of assessment:

    • discussion of the candidate’s portfolio
    • candidate to lead the examiner through a tasting of 15 different beers, discussing their notable characteristics, beer family and style, and to suggest food matches when prompted
    • correctly identify flavour feature or faults among 6 spiked samples of a base beer
    • suggest beer pairings for a handful of dishes identified by the examiner from a sample menu

Applicants will find out immediately whether they have passed. Verbal feedback will be given suggesting areas to focus on and develop.

The proposed cost is from £325.00 per candidate

Pre-assessment criteria

Candidates are required to complete and pass four mandatory training courses prior to assessment in the order listed below.  

  1. BIIAB Award in Beer and Cellar Quality
  2. WSET Level 2 Award in Beer
  3. Guild of Beer Sommeliers Off Flavour Training course
  4. Guild of Beer Sommeliers Beer and Food Pairing Course

Further study is also highly advised: a list of recommended reading and resources is detailed on the ‘Resources’ page.

NB: Equivalent existing qualifications to the ones above may be considered by the panel prior to assessment. See the Beer Sommelier FAQs page for more details.

Portfolio of Evidence

Candidates will be required to submit a Portfolio of Evidence prior to the assessment (in a format of their choosing). Examples of evidence are listed below:

    • Evidence/dates of completion/certification of all beer education courses
    • Details of beer books read/ written, as appropriate
    • Evidence of beer presentations or beer dinners you have hosted (eg, photos, testimonials, event plans, media coverage and/or social media posts)
    • Evidence of beer and food menus created
    • Details of beer lists created for bars, restaurants or events
    • Details of breweries visited
    • Client/employer testimonies
    • Examples of published articles/features about beer authored by the applicant
    • Details of beer flavour descriptions written
    • Experience managing or working in beer focused hospitality venues

Examples of print, video, on-line, photographic, and audio evidence should highlight the applicant’s achievements to date.