Wine sommeliers have been wowing us with detailed and valuable wine knowledge helping us pick out only the very best wines the world has to offer. And now beer lovers can rejoice as well! The time has come to introduce the cicerone!! A cicerone is defined as beer-world-equivalent to a certified sommelier, and is greatly helping to grow the industry! It all started in 2007 when Ray Daniels, a Chicago-based beer expert, started the Cicerone Certification Program. Students must pass exams on topics such as beer chemistry, history, and culture. And of course, food pairing is also a major responsibility of the job. Cicerones are working in breweries and pubs, researching the perfect summer wheat beer to compliment a delicious summer meal.
Beer culture has taken a slow and steady approach to gaining both popularity and notoriety, but now chosen as the third most popular drink over water and tea, we believe it was worth the wait! Those individuals who have developed a particular palate for the hoppy, grainy, and sometimes citrus-flavored beverage are passionate about their trade.
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company has just celebrated their 10th anniversary and is still going strong. They have battled many road blocks in their 10 years of operation including a mudslide closing the road leading to the restaurant. But through it all they have remained dedicated to their purpose; making great beer!! Owners Christine and Lenny Mendonca have also combined their brewing quest with community outreach. The brewery has a section solely dedicated to fundraising, and the couple is well known in the community for their philanthropic efforts.
Breweries like the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company are the inspiration for home brewers alike. That’s right; anyone can brew their own lagers right in their home! All one has to do is go down to their local brew store, pick up a kit and get to work. The store will provide you with everything needed from ingredients to equipment to help create your own masterpiece!! The Home Brewery is one of our favorite spots here in SF!