Cicerone Certified Beer Server Exam Study Guide Part IV – American Styles

This is Part IV of a series on knowledge for the Cicerone Certified Beer Server Exam. All information disseminated is from the syllabus provided by the Cicerone website and mixed with my own thoughts. I’m doing this to 1) help me learn the material and 2) share the knowledge with people who haven’t heard of the exam or are planning to take the exam.

Feel free to skip ahead to other sections. Here’s a list of all the study guide parts:

This is Part IV on American Styles.

**Note – PB stands for Perceived Bitterness**

American Styles

Historical

American Lager (Light/Standard/Premium)

  • PB – Low
  • Color – Straw, very pale
  • ABV – Lower to normal

California Common Beer

  • PB – Pronounced
  • Color – Light amber to dark amber
  • ABV – Normal

Modern

American Wheat Beer

  • PB – Moderate
  • Color – Straw to gold
  • ABV – Normal

American Blonde Ale

  • PB – Moderate
  • Color – Straw to gold
  • ABV – Lower to normal

American Pale Ale

  • PB – Pronounced
  • Color – Gold to amber
  • ABV – Normal

American Amber Ale

  • PB – Pronounced
  • Color – Amber to dark amber
  • ABV – Normal

American India Pale Ale (IPA)

  • PB – Assertive
  • Color – Gold to dark amber
  • ABV – Elevated

Imperial IPA

  • PB – Highly assertive
  • Color – Dark gold to dark amber
  • ABV – High

American Brown Ale

  • PB – Moderate
  • Color – Light brown to dark brown
  • ABV – Normal

American Stout

  • PB – Assertive
  • Color – Black
  • ABV – Normal to elevated

Oatmeal Stout

  • PB – Moderate
  • Color – Black
  • ABV – Normal

American Barleywine

  • PB – Assertive
  • Color – Light amber to light brown
  • ABV – High to very high

Imperial Stout

  • PB – Pronounced
  • Color – Black
  • ABV – High to very high

Happy studying and good luck on the exam! Remember to check out the other posts. Here they are again:

If you passed the exam and used any of these posts as help, I’d love to hear about it. Leave your thoughts on them, the exam or anything else below!

April Dirty Thirty Day 10 – Shipyard Brewing Export Ale

Today’s April Dirty Thirty craft beer review is on…

Shipyard Brewing Export Ale

Shipyard Brewing Export Ale, and yes that’s my 6-foot Nationals Stadium Fathead

Shipyard Brewing Export Ale

Critical Information:

  • 5.1% ABV
  • American Blonde Ale
  • Available Year Round

My Experience:

– POUR

Poured from bottle into tall pilsner-type glass. It has a golden-straw color. Almost completely see-through. The tall glass makes watching the bubbles rise entertaining.

– SMELL

Malt, grains and a biscuit scent come through the most.

– TASTE

I get mostly toasted malt with some fruitiness. There is also some unexpected bitterness, a little too much for me, which appears at the end. The carbonation makes it feel “fuller” while you drink it — it’s like I try to take a gulp but it’s only a sip.

– FOOD PAIRING

I would say something from my favorite food group — sandwiches. Some sort of grilled chicken with bacon and swiss panini? Anything from Spicy Pickle would be great. I just wish there still was one around here… Continue reading