Nicole Erny, Beer Expert, Shares Secrets Of A Cicerone

7 Things We Learned From A Certified Beer Expert

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By Lauren Murrow

Bucking the typical beer-buff profile, 29-year-old Nicole Erny is the first woman and youngest person ever to achieve the title of Master Cicerone, certified beer expert. Cheers to that.

On the grueling, 14-hour Master Cicerone Certification Exam...
"It's intense—two full days. Ten hours of writing. And two kinds of tastings: In one you have to detect the flaw of the beer down to the compound name. In another you have to describe the flavor profile and identify the style of beer, which is often obscure. It's very tricky." (Of the 11 candidates to attempt the exam in 2011, only Erny passed.)

On choosing pale ale over pinot...
Erny grew up near California wine country but naturally gravitated toward beer. "There's too much posturing in the wine world; I don't have the personality for it."

On the state of her liver...
"Most people think all I do is drink beer all day, but I probably drink less now than I ever have." Erny currently oversees the planning of the Certified (second-level) Cicerone exam and travels the country training beer aficionados.

On working with mostly bearded, big-bellied guys...
"Being quite a bit younger than most, and a woman, I've certainly run into walls within the beer community. I was partially fueled by my own defensiveness to get the certification, to earn legitimacy among my peers. But sometimes there's actually reverse sexism: 'Oh, you're a woman? You must have super tasting powers.'"

Become more suds-savvy with these insider tips.

1. Grab a growler. Many beer stores and bars offer half-gallon jugs to sample beers that aren't available bottled.

2. Reach for a cold one. Heat exacerbates oxidation, the main flavor-corruptor of bottled beer. (The stale stuff can taste papery.)

3. Give India Pale Ales a chance. "Less bitter ones are becoming popular, with flavors like citrus fruits or strawberry," Erny says.

Before You Go

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