The Beer Sommelier Assessment: FAQs

What pre-assessment criteria do I need?

Candidates will be expected to complete and pass four mandatory training courses prior to booking their assessment in the following order:

  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 in addition to the above courses.

Applicants will be required to submit a Portfolio of Evidence prior to the assessment and there is also an optional multiple choice test to assess their knowledge.

An optional ‘assessment-ready’ on-line test is also available to test your knowledge prior to the assessment. This consists of 50 multiple choice questions. It gives you a good indication of areas and topics which you might need to develop ahead of the assessment. To book a test please contact BeerSom@cask-marque.co.uk.

How long does the assessment take?

A typical assessment will take 75 to 90 minutes.

How often are the assessment days?

Every quarter. Dates will be published on the Guild of Beer Sommelier’s website.

What does it cost?

The cost is from £325.00 per candidate.

When do I find out if I’ve passed?

Immediately. The assessor will share feedback with you on the same day. If you do not pass, the assessor will suggest areas to focus and develop on.

What do I get if I pass?

A Beer Sommelier pin badge, certificate, access to use the Guild of Beer Sommeliers digital assets and automatic entry into the Guild of Beer Sommeliers.

Are assessment days only held in the UK?

Currently, assessment days will only be offered in London and Sheffield

However, if we receive applications from several candidates who are based in a particular region or an overseas territory. We may arrange an additional satellite assessment centre in these locations.

What qualifications are considered equivalent to the mandatory qualifications stipulated

The equivalent qualifications can be found here and will be accepted as long as they have already been undertaken and passed. The table below shows equivalent qualifications and any additional course required to be taken pre-assessment:

Is the Beer Sommelier assessment accredited by a qualifying body/organisation?

The Guild of Beer Sommeliers is the awarding body having taken over from the Beer Academy (which started the Beer Sommelier qualification as part of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling).

The Beer Academy’s Chief Sommelier Examiner, Alex Barlow, is a founding member of, and maintains the same examining role within the Guild of Beer Sommeliers.

Is funding and/or sponsorship available for the training courses and assessment?

The Guild operates under the umbrella of Cask Marque, a not-for-profit organisation and is unable to offer part or wholly subsidised training courses or assessment days.

However, if you currently work within the beer, pub or hospitality sector, the programme may be beneficial to your continuous professional development and advantageous commercially.

We recommend you speak to your employer, and we can provide support for your appeal.

Can I use an existing Beer Sommelier as a mentor?

You can reach out to any of the accredited Beer Sommeliers listed in our directory and ask for guidance and advice.
Some may be open to offering their expertise and time free of charge, but please respect the fact that many of our members are self employed or freelance and therefore may ask for a fee for their services.

Is the online multi choice test compulsory?

No.
The on-line multi choice test is an optional extra. You might want to consider using this resource to test yourself in readiness for your assessment and check your level of knowledge.
It gives you a good indication of areas and topics which you might need to develop ahead of the assessment.

What happens if I fail the assessment?

Applicants will find out immediately whether they have passed or failed.

If an applicant fails to achieve the required assessment criteria, verbal feedback will be given suggesting areas to focus on and develop.

Candidates can re-book a further assessment when they have worked on their areas of development.

Applicants should note that the assessment fee will not be reimbursed in the event of a failed assessment and will be required to pay the fee for subsequent assessments.