My Road to Cicerone®: Greg Schatell of Boston Beer Company

Greg Schatell is a Certified Cicerone^® from Sacramento, California. Here he shares a bit about how achieving Cicerone certification helped his career in the beer industry. 

1. Where do you work and what do you do there? 
   I work for the Boston Beer Company as the District Manager in Sacramento, CA.
2. How did you first hear of the Cicerone Certification Program? 
   I first heard of the Cicerone Certification Program when I started working for Boston Beer in 2013. Beer education is extremely important in our organization and many individuals within the company make it a personal goal to earn the title of Certified Cicerone. 
3. Why did you choose to pursue Certified Cicerone while already working in the beer industry?
   I decided to pursue Certified Cicerone while I was living in San Diego, CA. There are some so many beer-savvy individuals in that city that I wanted to make sure my level of beer knowledge was up to San Diego standards. I knew that the Cicerone program was an all-encompassing way to learn about beer to help better prepare me to do my job well, and just become more knowledgeable about something I love and am passionate about--beer.
4. What was your study support network like? Did you receive support from a study group, your employer, or study solo? 
   My support network was very strong. It was a combination of self-studying, as well as support from friends and co-workers. On my own time, I would read books and go to bars all over town to taste any and all beers I could try (luckily in San Diego that’s pretty easy). I also received advice and support from other Boston Beer colleagues, as well as employees at my wholesaler in San Diego, Crest Beverage, who I worked with that were also pursuing Certified Cicerone. Between the beer training and education that I receive from my company, learning every day out in the trade, and taking personal time to study, I was able to learn enough to earn the title of Certified Cicerone.  
5. Describe your study process. How did you prepare for the exam? 
   Luckily, being out in different bars every day helped a lot in my preparation. It allowed me to become familiar with draft systems, off flavors, style recognition, etc. On top of my day to day, I also prepared by reading. One book that I found very useful was Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher. Finally, I’m fortunate enough to work for a company that has been brewing craft beers since 1984 and is full of passionate beer lovers. This network and the beer education we provide was invaluable.
6. Explain how earning your certification has helped your career. 
   Honestly, I rarely ever tell people that I am a Certified Cicerone. For me, it was a personal goal and a challenge that I set for myself for my own development as a professional in the beer industry. I wanted to be able to speak with the utmost confidence when talking to other beer aficionados. Studying and preparing for Certified Cicerone was a clearly laid out path that could help me accomplish that. Now I am able to speak to customers and retailers more confidently than ever before and help educate them on beer. The more people know, the more exciting the beer industry gets.
7. What are your greatest strengths now that you’re a Certified Cicerone? 
   I would say that my greatest strength now is educating others. I love talking to everyone about beer and teaching them about things they didn’t know. Whether it is about different hop varieties, the history of certain styles, why their beer has a specific off flavor… I get very excited spreading the knowledge that I have around to any and all people that I encounter.
8. Were there any areas of study that you became particularly interested in while preparing for the Certified Cicerone exam? 
   I was really passionate about the history of beer. It is amazing to me to look back at the origin of certain styles and how beer has evolved over time. It is a beverage that has been around for thousands of years and continues to always evolve. I mean in the grand scheme of things, the discovery of yeast was very recent. Before we really understood yeast, beer truly was the work of the gods. I mean how cool is that! It makes me wonder what other groundbreaking discoveries are still out there that will continue to change the way we experience beer.
9. In your opinion, how valuable is it for those looking to boost their career to earn Cicerone certification? 
   Like I mentioned before, if you are passionate about beer and want to learn more, the Cicerone Certification Program is an amazing way to really push yourself and learn more than you ever thought possible. It isn’t an end-all by any means but it’s a concrete goal that you can set for yourself and a very well respected title in the beer industry. People know Certified Cicerones have put in the time and effort to study and are usually the ones people trust when they have questions or need advice on beer. If you’re serious about beer, I would highly recommend trying. Even if you don’t pass, you will learn so much in the process that no one can ever take away from you.
10. What advice do you have for Certified Beer Servers who are looking into taking the Certified Cicerone exam? 
    Immerse yourself in beer! Read as much as you can, taste as much as you can, and ask questions whenever you have the opportunity. There are a lot of beer lovers in this country and it’s an extremely exciting industry to be in. Certified Cicerone is challenging and is no walk in the park, but if you commit yourself to it, you can earn your certification and be very proud of yourself for doing so. Also, even though it might take a lot of studying and practice, it’s beer! Beer is fun and delicious. It’s not like you’re taking an exam on 18th century literature! Like the great Wayne Gretzky said, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” 

Ready to get started? Learn more about the Certified Cicerone exam here!