Pub expert professional#

Unfortunately, among the British general public there is a widely held perception that beer and cider are low value products so having professional qualifications demonstrates that both are worthy of learning about. My qualifications as a beer sommelier and cider pommelier are definitely a conversation starter! People are invariably surprised to learn that a person can be a sommelier of a drink other than wine.

Unlike a wine sommelier who is usually an employee of a restaurant or hotel, beer sommeliers and pommeliers tend to work for producers, brands, or are educators or writers like me. So is proof of the learner being an advocate or ambassador for beer or cider in elevating its reputation in the eyes of the general public. Food matching ability is an important element of the practical. These are followed by a practical examination where learners must identify beer or cider styles through blind tasting including describing their characteristics. To become accredited entails taking several courses and passing exams. My accreditations are through the Beer & Cider Academy which is the internationally recognised body for awarding professional qualifications in beer and cider. I am an accredited beer sommelier (the UK’s first beer sommelier of the year) and I was also the UK’s first accredited pommelier – a cider sommelier. Q2: What is a Beer Sommelier and Cider Pommelier ? One of my specialities is matching food with alcoholic drinks which I can do virtually in my head, but the practical research is so much more fun and definitely tastier! Now I write, talk, educate, train, entertain, advise, advocate and enlighten about my favourite subject. I have a yearn to learn and I studied through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and the Beer & Cider Academy and became officially accredited in those subjects.

The history, culture and place alcohol has in our lives also fascinates me. Little did I know that as an adult my wish would come true with a specialist subject of alcoholic drinks! I am fascinated by alcohol, especially the magical transformation of a foodstuff such as cereal, apples, grapes, and honey into an intoxicating beverage. When I was a child I wanted to be a teacher. Q1: What drew you to learning about and teaching others about all things liquid ?

Pub expert