Certified Cicerone exam — failed the tasting component, retaking in 8 weeks
Got my results last month. Written section was fine — 81%. Tasting evaluation is what sank me. Evaluator said my off-flavor identification was inconsistent and my style descriptors were too vague.
I work at a craft beer bar and taste beer every single day, so this stung. Turns out casual tasting and structured evaluative tasting are completely different skills. I could tell something was off but couldn't name it precisely.
Now I'm doing structured tasting sessions 4 times a week using spiked samples. Diacetyl, DMS, acetaldehyde — drilling these systematically. Anyone else had to retake specifically for the sensory component?
Retook for the same reason. The key is pairing flavor identification with mechanism — knowing DMS comes from SMM and inadequate boil helps you lock in the name.
The style descriptor vagueness issue is real. Use the BJCP style guide language exactly — don't paraphrase. Evaluators are listening for specific vocabulary.
Spiked sample kits from FlavorActiV are worth every cent for this kind of prep. Doing blind trials with a study partner made a huge difference for me.