How to Study for the AC Tasting Exam

The strategy I used to pass the AC tasting exam:

Blind Panel Practice

Takeaways and strategies I’m using for the exam this week:

American Lager, International Pale Lager, Cream Ale, Kölsch, Festbier

Clues to tell them apart:

British Brown Ale, English Porter, Oatmeal Stout, Imperial Stout, Irish Stout, Irish Extra Stout, Foreign Extra Stout

Clues to tell them apart:

American Amber Ale, Märzen, Helles Bock (Maibock), Doppelbock

Clues to tell them apart:

Weissbier, Weizenbock, Belgian Blond, Belgian Tripel

Clues to tell them apart:

American Light Lager, American Lager, American Blonde Ale, International Pale Lager, Kölsch

Clues to tell them apart:

International Pale Lager, German Pils, Munich Helles, Festbier, Belgian Blond Ale, Belgian Single, Weissbier

Clues to tell them apart:

Baltic Porter, Imperial Stout, American Stout, Oatmeal Stout

Clues to tell them apart:

Belgian Dubbel and Belgian Dark Strong Ale (Belgian Quad)

Clues to tell them apart:

Gose, Gueuze, Berliner Weisse, American Light Lager, Munich Helles, Festbier, International Pale Lager

Clues to tell them apart:

International Amber Lager, American Amber Ale, Best Bitter, Strong Bitter, Märzen

Clues to tell them apart:

Belgian Tripel, Belgian Golden Strong, Saison

Clues to tell them apart:

German Pils, Munich Helles, International Pale Lager, Kölsch

Clues to tell them apart:

German Pils, Munich Helles, Kölsch, American Blonde Ale, International Pale Lager

Clues to tell them apart:

Irish Stout, International Dark Lager, Schwarzbier

Clues to tell them apart:

New Tasting Exam Strategy

I passed the written exam, the “style” and “food pairing” oral exams, but need to retake the tasting portion. The styles we’re asked to differentiate between are way more subtle than I expected, so I’m implementing a new strategy to train my palate for the retake.

Here’s how I’m doing it:

Tasting session 39

Beer 1 Choices: Irish Extra Stout, Imperial Stout, Baltic Porter, Schwarzbier

Beer 2 Choices: Witbier, International Pale Lager, American Blonde Ale, Munich Helles

Score: 1/2

Strategy/thoughts:

Tasting session 38

Beer 1 Choices: Märzen, Doppelbock, Wee Heavy, Belgian Dubbel

Beer 2 Choices: American Brown Ale, British Brown Ale, Munich Dunkel, International Dark Lager

Beer 3 Choices: International Pale Lager, American Wheat Beer, Kölsch, Munich Helles

Beer 4 Choices: Wee Heavy, Doppelbock, Belgian Dark Strong Ale, Weizenbock

Score: 3/4

Strategy/thoughts:

Tasting session 37

Beer 1 Choices: American Brown Ale, English Barleywine, American Barleywine, American Pale Ale

Beer 2 Choices: British Brown Ale, Schwarzbier, International Dark Lager, Munich Dunkel

Beer 3 Choices: Gueuze, Oud Bruin, Flanders Red Ale, Fruit Lambic

Beer 4 Choices: Scottish Export, Irish Red Ale, American Pale Ale, Strong Bitter

Score: 2/4

Strategy/thoughts: