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Two BrewDog boys have earned the title of Master Cicerone

July 6, 2015Keith Gribbins

Rob MacKay Cicerone Certification Program
Mmm … smells like victory. (Pictured: BrewDog’s Rob MacKay)

Let’s just say becoming a Master Cicerone is not easy. While more than 50,000 have passed the first level Cicerone exam known as Certified Beer Server, only 10 individuals have now earned the Master Cicerone title — the third and top level of the program. To put that in perspective, there are twice as many Fields Medalists (noting that honor has been given out a little longer).

Recently, the Cicerone Certification Program announced the second European to become a master — Scotsman Rob MacKay — who became the tenth individual to earn the title of Master Cicerone. MacKay is the second European, joining BrewDog co-founder James Watt.

Wait! Didn’t BrewDog just update its brewhouse with the help of our friends at Ziemann? Read it!

MacKay earned the certification through a series of exams culminating in two days of intense taste panels plus written and oral questioning about beer styles, draft systems, beer evaluation, brewing technology and beer and food pairing given on May 5 and 6 in Chicago.

“Rob MacKay shows what happens when you combine passion, talent and hard work all in one place,” said Ray Daniels, brewer, author and founder of Cicerone. “In a very short period of time, he’s been able to master a large body of knowledge and develop an excellent set of tasting skills. We’re very proud to welcome Rob to the ranks of the Master Cicerones.”

Founded in 2007, the Cicerone Certification Program tests and certifies beer expertise similar to the wine world’s Master Sommelier program. The Master Cicerone exam includes six hours of written questions, 12 separate oral examinations and eight tasting panels for a total of over 40 samples. Candidates need an overall score of 85 percent to pass. Twenty-two candidates took the May 2015 exam in Chicago, with one individual achieving a passing score. Across all Master Cicerone exams, there have been 96 exam attempts by 69 individuals with 10 individuals achieving a passing score.

About Rob MacKay

Rob MacKay joined the craft beer industry when he got hired at BrewDog brewing in Scotland just over a year and a half ago. And while he works in marketing and graphic design, he jumped into learning about beer and brewing.

“I sat the Certified Beer Server and Certified Cicerone exams within a month of joining BrewDog,” said MacKay, “I figured the best way to understand what we were doing as a company was to just jump in at the deep end!” After that, he was invited to join the company’s taste panels, which is where he says he really started to learn a great deal about beer. “Quality control is an integral part of how our brewery operates and I’m honored to work alongside our team of highly trained sensory analysts in making sure that our beer is as good as it possibly can be.”

MacKay joins the nine previously designated Master Cicerones: Andrew Van Til of San Francisco; David Kahle of Chicago; Rich Higgins of San Francisco; Nicole Erny of Oakland, CA; Neil Witte of Kansas City, MO; Mirella Amato of Toronto, ON; Pat Fahey of Chicago; Patrick Rue of Placentia, CA; and James Watt of Aberdeen, UK.

The knowledge required for the Master Cicerone certification is outlined in the program’s Master Syllabus, which can be viewed at www.cicerone.org. The website provides information on the other levels of certification leading up to the Master Cicerone exam. The next Master Cicerone exam will be held in Chicago on November 3 and 4, 2015.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. mrbrewreview says

    July 9, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    The BrewDog boys have both earned the title Master Cicerone http://t.co/03gofYuxdm via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  2. DateBeer says

    July 9, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    The #BrewDog boys just earned the title Master Cicerone http://t.co/K1htbodGze @brewdog @BrewDogRob @CraftBrewingBiz http://t.co/SK3OpZ9v88

    Log in to Reply
  3. CrowdBrewed says

    July 9, 2015 at 3:00 pm

    The #BrewDog boys just earned the title Master Cicerone http://t.co/l0pSrCdGoF @brewdog @BrewDogRob @CraftBrewingBiz http://t.co/W4r7O3mFRf

    Log in to Reply
  4. barfliz says

    July 9, 2015 at 10:03 am

    The #BrewDog boys just earned the title Master Cicerone http://t.co/nNnzEjYA1W @brewdog @BrewDogRob @CraftBrewingBiz http://t.co/CuQCLrOoIb

    Log in to Reply
  5. BeerslutsZA says

    July 9, 2015 at 2:14 am

    The BrewDog boys have both earned the title Master Cicerone http://t.co/3gZK2MyTTL

    Log in to Reply
  6. russellmckaytwo says

    July 8, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    The BrewDog boys have both earned the title Master Cicerone http://t.co/OnWdJR0pWM
    (“Rob MacKay” no relation just country of origin lastname

    Log in to Reply
  7. Bryan Stewart says

    July 8, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    Bryan Stewart liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  8. Tracy Mellody says

    July 7, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    Lol. Ok. I’ll contribute. But only if you bring me back souvenirs. 🙂

    Log in to Reply
  9. Clay Keel says

    July 7, 2015 at 5:35 pm

    Ill do a Kickstarter

    Log in to Reply
  10. Katie R. Stouffer says

    July 7, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    Katie R. Stouffer liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  11. Tracy Mellody says

    July 7, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    I see nothing wrong with a year long trip around the world to “learn” about beer. 😉

    Log in to Reply
  12. Clay Keel says

    July 7, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    I need a scholarship….Let me add travel to Germany, Belgium, England and Check Rep. at least.

    Log in to Reply
  13. Tracy Mellody says

    July 7, 2015 at 11:47 am

    Well what’ya waiting for???

    Log in to Reply
  14. Clay Keel says

    July 7, 2015 at 11:32 am

    Ha! Just need a year to do nothing but study. And by study I mean mostly drinking beer.

    Log in to Reply
  15. Tracy Mellody says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    Clay Keel will u be #11?

    Log in to Reply
  16. Matthew W. Street says

    July 6, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    Matthew W. Street liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  17. Joe Alfeo says

    July 6, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    Joe Alfeo liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  18. Kimberly Hutchens Nichols says

    July 6, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    Kimberly Hutchens Nichols liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  19. Blake's Hard Cider Co. says

    July 6, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    Blake’s Hard Cider Co. liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  20. Stacy Allura Hostetter says

    July 6, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    Stacy Allura Hostetter liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  21. craftbangkok says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:46 am

    Two BrewDog boys have earned the title of Master Cicerone http://t.co/BfiAsuSfTr

    Log in to Reply
  22. Joanna Chulick Corrigan says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:38 am

    Joanna Chulick Corrigan liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  23. Jared Read says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:38 am

    Jared Read liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  24. crsimp01 says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:19 am

    The BrewDog boys have both earned the title Master Cicerone http://t.co/kvi0iXWBmX via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  25. CiceroneDan says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:18 am

    @CraftBrewingBiz @cicerone @brewdog Congrats, all! What are you going to do next?

    Log in to Reply
  26. HC Kim says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:07 am

    HC Kim liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  27. Scott Jimenez says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:07 am

    Scott Jimenez liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  28. cicerone says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:45 am

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: The BrewDog boys have both earned the title Master Cicerone. Hot damn! @cicerone @brewdog http://t.co/Pa1ctDrLRX

    Log in to Reply
  29. BrewboundFurn says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:39 am

    .@CraftBrewingBiz “joining HIS BrewDog co-founder James Watt” should just be “joining BrewDog co-founder James Watt.”

    Log in to Reply
  30. BrewboundFurn says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:38 am

    .@CraftBrewingBiz FYI: I don’t think MacKay is a co-founder of @BrewDog. I believe just James Watt and Martin Dickie.

    Log in to Reply
  31. InsuranceGuyKR says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:34 am

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: The BrewDog boys have both earned the title Master Cicerone. Hot damn! @cicerone @brewdog http://t.co/Pa1ctDrLRX

    Log in to Reply

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