Keen to deep dive into the world of beer?
Want to improve your tasting ability?
I’m excited to become a certified WSET (Wine, Spirit & Education Trust) educator for new beer courses that launched globally at the start of 2024. WSET is the world’s largest provider of wine, spirits and sake qualifications. The two new beer qualifications cater to beginner and intermediate levels.
I’m joining forces with one of the best drinks educators, Gill Gordon-Smith, to be one of the first in Australia to offer these courses. Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Beer are being offered in-person and online by Juice Education Consultants based in South Australia.
Having completed both Level 1 and 2 courses, I can vouch for the interactive and engaging approach that gives people confidence to select and describe beers. You get an opportunity to understand more about how beer ingredients and production methods influence the final beer in your glass.
How does WSET compare with Cicerone?
The Cicerone program has been expanding outside of the USA since 2007 and grown into an industry standard for certified professional who call themselves ‘beer sommelier’. I became a Certified Cicerone® in 2021, one of approximately 100 in Australia.
The first two levels, Certified Beer Server and Certified Cicerone, cover similar topics to WSET Levels 1 and 2 Awards in Beer. Both providers offer a deep dive into beer covering the main ingredients and how they are produced, beer production steps, service, storage and advice for pairing beer with food. The courses aim to arm beer professionals with knowledge and practical skills to ensure beer consumers are getting an enhanced drinking experience with the best quality beer possible.
How do the course providers compare?
The Certified Cicerone program offers a more in-depth exploration of beer, diving into the finer details of brewing, style parameters, beer history, serving and pairing. The exam places a stronger emphasis on beer style knowledge, food pairing advice and practical skills such as how draft systems work and professional service of beer. You are expected to be familiar with 67 different beer styles from around the world and be aware of historically important events and technological advancements in brewing.
In contrast, the WSET Beer Level 2 course provides a broader overview, touching on various aspects of beer without being as technical or in-depth. The WSET Beer Level 2 content leans more towards theoretical knowledge, with a focus on understanding beer production, key ingredients and common styles. Level 1 Beer is a crash course for people new to beer covering 19 styles, while Level 2 gives an overview of 54 styles grouped by the ingredients driving those flavour profiles e.g. malt-driven, hop-driven, yeast-driven and mixed culture fermentation.
I find the WSET courses to be less focused on technical aspects of brewing and production steps so that people without prior beer knowledge can follow the content more easily.
How about the exams?
To complete WSET Level 1 and 2 Awards, you sit a multiple choice exam (online or in-person) and your tasting skills are not assessed.
In contrast, to achieve Certified Cicerone you need to pass a 3 hour written portion (online) and 1 hour tasting exam (in-person) which includes differentiating similar styles and testing your flavour identification skills. It generally takes 6-12 months to complete a Certified Cicerone qualification depending on when the tasting exam dates are held in the larger Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth). I needed to wait 12 months after my written exam and travel interstate from Adelaide to sit my tasting exam.
What about time and preparation commitments for each course?
Certified Cicerone: Preparing for this exam requires a significant time commitment and may be more challenging to access for some due to its intensive nature. The learning material is a mix of books and online resources. Tasting samples or a recommend shopping list are not provided and it can be difficult to source fresh international examples and arrange tastings on an individual basis.
When it comes to beer style familiarity, there is much more preparation and study required to memorise specific intensity ranges such as colour, alcohol % or bitterness levels and to recall brand examples to achieve a Certified Cicerone qualification. I would recommend allowing at least 6 months to prepare for the exams if you’re already working in the industry.
WSET Beer Level 2: Some major differences to the Cicerone program, is that all courses are led by an expert in beer. They can be completed in a set timeframe ranging from 1 day for Level 1 to 5-8 weeks for Level 2. Having a set length, dedicated textbook and workbook helps you gain qualifications more efficiently and keep engaged with your learning. While still demanding, WSET courses are more accessible to a wider range of enthusiasts and professionals including those in the wine and spirits industry.
What about WSET beer tastings?
In all WSET courses, there is a unique Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT) that will have you tasting like a professional in no time. Having a common language to describe beer is beneficial to help you calibrate your palate and communicate more effectively with others about beer.
Tasting samples and recommended brands are provided in all WSET courses. When studying online, you purchase your own samples. In a classroom setting, all beer tasting samples are provided along with a chance to experience ingredients and aroma references.
A wide range of tasting samples from styles across the world are presented to enjoy in small groups with other like-minded individuals. The benefits of tasting within a group include social interaction, learning from each other and getting instant feedback during group discussions.
Who is the WSET course for?
- You want a core understanding of beer styles around the world.
- You work with or around beer in a brewery, hospitality, sales, marketing, industry supplier roles.
- You want to expand your drinks education from wine, sake or spirits to include beer knowledge.
What are the benefits of a WSET Beer Qualification?
- Comprehensive Overview: Understand the world of beer, recall similar and different styles, broaden your knowledge base.
- Beer and Food Service Skills: For those in hospitality roles, the knowledge of beer and food pairing principles will enhance the dining experience for customers.
- Industry Recognition: Hold a well-regarded qualification in the drinks industry and enhance credibility and career prospects.