Ale or Lager?
Learning about all of the tested beer styles on a Cicerone or BJCP exam can be overwhelming at first. The approach I recommend most is learning to categorize and re-categorize beer styles in as many ways as you can. It’s a helpful starting point to know which tested styles are ales and which are lagers.
How to Use the Ale or Lager Tool:
If desired, select the Cicerone level for which you are studying. Selecting the level will show you only the beer styles tested at the Certified, Advanced, or Master Cicerone levels.
For each beer style, select whether the style is an ale or a lager.
Match the Region
Random Beer Style Generator
This random beer style generator lets you choose the Cicerone level you’re studying, as well as global beer regions. Study only the beer styles you may be tested on, or test yourself on every beer style tested on the Master Cicerone exam. This free beer study tool allows you to self-test your knowledge using the beer style generator as a prompt.
How to Use the Random Beer Style Generator:
If desired, select the Cicerone Certification Program certification level for which you are preparing.
If desired, select the global beer region on which you’d like to focus.
Click the “Pick a Beer” button and receive a randomly selected beer style.
Depending on your goals, you may want to use the prompt to:
Write or recite the quantitative ranges for ABV, IBU, and SRM for the style.
Write a complete description of the beer style.
Write or recite commercial examples.
Or maybe you’re new to beer and just want some guidance on a new beer style to learn about!
For maximum memory retention, I recommend writing or reciting the information and then checking your work against the beer style guidelines you are using. Self-testing this way gives you a more accurate sense of what you know and don’t know, but also strengthens what you’re learning.