CICERONE - LEVEL 1 UPDATED TOP EXAM
QUESTIONS And CORRECT Answers
What are the goals of a three-tier system - CORRECT ANSWERS Brewers & importers can
only sell to a wholesaler, who can only sell to a retailer, who can only sell to consumers. It
required legal separation between these tiers.
Describe the three- tier system. - CORRECT ANSWERS The three-tier system is supposed
to make tax collection easier for the state, protect consumers from abuses by companies that
make or sell alcohol, and create competition in the market.
How do you asses a beer shipment's physical condition and age when it is shipped to you? -
CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Check to see if the package is leaking or dented.
2. Check born on date or best by date (fresher always better).
3. Check temperature of product, should be cold upon delivery.
Who pays Federal Excise Tax? - CORRECT ANSWERS Brewery pays this
Who pays the State Excise Tax? - CORRECT ANSWERS Wholesaler pays this
Who pays Sales tax and local fees? - CORRECT ANSWERS Retailer pays this
Who Pays Income tax from beer sales? - CORRECT ANSWERS All parties that make a profit
pay this.
What are some responsible alcohol serving practices? - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Always tell
customers what the ABV of each beer
is on the menu.
,2. Serve high ABV beers in small serving sizes (smaller glassware).
3. A beertender should serve responsibly. Never
serve someone who is visibly drunk.
What are the effects of alcohol on the body? - CORRECT ANSWERS Alcohol is a central
nervous system depressant. It affects people in very low concentrations. Even one drink can
results in divided attention and a narrowing of a person's "attentional field." Alcohol is absorbed
in the gastrointestinal tract by simple diffusion into the blood, mostly via the small intestine.
What can distributors and retailers do to ensure beer's freshness is preserved - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1. Rotate inventory by selling older beer first, removing out of date products
from inventory, and checking older beer without a date by tasting it next to a fresh example. 2.
Refrigerated storage. If stored warm that accelerates oxidation, autolysis, and potential
infection off flavor development. 3. Limit the beer's exposure to light to avoid skunking **RRLL
(Rotate-Refridgerate-LimitLight)
What beers should be consumed fresh? - CORRECT ANSWERS It should always be
assumed that when a beer is released from the brewery it is ready to drink! Almost all beer
styles are best consumed fresh and the brewery will release the beer as soon as it is ready.
This is particularly true for hoppy beers, lighter beers, and all beer of typical strength.
Why and how do party pumps limit the flavor stability of beer? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Party pumps limit the flavor stability of the beer to less than one day because
the beer immediately comes into contact with oxygen that oxidizes it and with microbes that
infect the beer.
What gases are acceptable to use serving beer on a draft system? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen in a variety of blends. Never compressed air or
oxygen.
,Explain the structure and workings of a typical keg. - CORRECT ANSWERS When tapped, a
keg's valve (Sankey) admits gas into the headspace, which applies the pressure needed to push
beer up through the spear (or "down tube") and out of the keg up into the coupler and into the
beer tube, while maintaining the correct carbonation in the remaining beer.
Explain the components and workings of the pressure side of a draft system. - CORRECT
ANSWERS A high-pressure gas cylinder provides CO2. An attached Primary Regulator
lowers the pressure to a usable level. Each keg has its own Secondary Regulator. Sankey
Couplers allow gas into the headspace of the keg. If it's a long draw system it may use a
Nitrogen Generator and Gas Blender to add pressure to the system. A Beer Pump can also add
pressure. Braided vinyl or poly tubing Gas Line is used throughout.
Describe the one-way valves in a coupler. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. The Thomas valve
allows CO2 into the keg but prevents beer from backing up into the gas line if the pressure
drops.
2. The Check valve is for when the coupler is disconnected from the keg. It prevents beer
remaining in the beer line from flowing out through the coupler, preventing a mess when
tapping a fresh keg.
Describe a beer keg coupler - CORRECT ANSWERS The Coupler is important to the beer
and pressure sides of a draft system because as gas flows in the keg, beer is pushed out, all
through the coupler. The coupler pushes down the ball or poppet in the keg neck allowing gas to
flow in and creating pressure in the keg's headspace that pushes beer up through the spear and
into the beer line to the faucet. There are 6 different types of Sankey coupler.
Describe jumper lines and what they're used for in a draft system - CORRECT
ANSWERS Jumper line is flexible vinyl beer line in a long draw system that goes from the
keg couplers to the bundles of beer tube and also from the beer tube to the faucet shanks. The
jumper line is just a piece of tubing at either end of the system that makes the connections, to
the keg on one end and the faucet on the other. Because they're vinyl, they should be replaced
annually (just like the vinyl tubing in a direct draw draft system).
, Describe FOB's (Foam on Beer) and what they are used for in a draft system. - CORRECT
ANSWERS FOB's are used on long draw systems. A FOB is a float in a sealed bowl that
drops when beer flow stops because the keg has run out. The FOB fills the beer line with
dispensed gas which beeps the line full of pressurized beer while the keg is changed. FOB's save
the bar operating coasts by limiting beer waste. FOB's and draft lines should be cleaned every
two weeks.
Describe the various types of beer line that can be used in a draft system. - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1. Barrier tubing - Low resistanec barrier tubing is used in long draw trunk lines.
It's good for keeping oxygen from contacting beer. It has a glass smooth lining that inhibits beer
stone, microbial growth, and flavor leakage.
2. Vinyl tubing - More oxygen permeable and needs to be replaced annually, especially jumper
lines.
3. Stainless Steel lines - Jockey box or draft tower.
Describe the various types of beer line that can be used in a draft system. - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1. Barrier tubing - Low resistanec barrier tubing is used in long draw trunk lines.
It's good for keeping oxygen from contacting beer. It has a glass smooth lining that inhibits beer
stone, microbial growth, and flavor leakage.
2. Vinyl tubing - More oxygen permeable and needs to be replaced annually, especially jumper
lines.
3. Stainless Steel lines - Jockey box or draft tower.
Discribe beer faucets. - CORRECT ANSWERS Beer faucets dispense beer and hold the tap
handle up. The faucet is connected to the wall or draft tower via a shank.
- US faucets attach to standard shanks(1-1/8" diameter & 18 threads).Standard beer faucets are
rear sealing and have vent holes that need to be carefully cleaned and inspected during routine
cleaning.
- Ventless or forward-sealing (Perlick)faucets are easier to clean.
QUESTIONS And CORRECT Answers
What are the goals of a three-tier system - CORRECT ANSWERS Brewers & importers can
only sell to a wholesaler, who can only sell to a retailer, who can only sell to consumers. It
required legal separation between these tiers.
Describe the three- tier system. - CORRECT ANSWERS The three-tier system is supposed
to make tax collection easier for the state, protect consumers from abuses by companies that
make or sell alcohol, and create competition in the market.
How do you asses a beer shipment's physical condition and age when it is shipped to you? -
CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Check to see if the package is leaking or dented.
2. Check born on date or best by date (fresher always better).
3. Check temperature of product, should be cold upon delivery.
Who pays Federal Excise Tax? - CORRECT ANSWERS Brewery pays this
Who pays the State Excise Tax? - CORRECT ANSWERS Wholesaler pays this
Who pays Sales tax and local fees? - CORRECT ANSWERS Retailer pays this
Who Pays Income tax from beer sales? - CORRECT ANSWERS All parties that make a profit
pay this.
What are some responsible alcohol serving practices? - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Always tell
customers what the ABV of each beer
is on the menu.
,2. Serve high ABV beers in small serving sizes (smaller glassware).
3. A beertender should serve responsibly. Never
serve someone who is visibly drunk.
What are the effects of alcohol on the body? - CORRECT ANSWERS Alcohol is a central
nervous system depressant. It affects people in very low concentrations. Even one drink can
results in divided attention and a narrowing of a person's "attentional field." Alcohol is absorbed
in the gastrointestinal tract by simple diffusion into the blood, mostly via the small intestine.
What can distributors and retailers do to ensure beer's freshness is preserved - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1. Rotate inventory by selling older beer first, removing out of date products
from inventory, and checking older beer without a date by tasting it next to a fresh example. 2.
Refrigerated storage. If stored warm that accelerates oxidation, autolysis, and potential
infection off flavor development. 3. Limit the beer's exposure to light to avoid skunking **RRLL
(Rotate-Refridgerate-LimitLight)
What beers should be consumed fresh? - CORRECT ANSWERS It should always be
assumed that when a beer is released from the brewery it is ready to drink! Almost all beer
styles are best consumed fresh and the brewery will release the beer as soon as it is ready.
This is particularly true for hoppy beers, lighter beers, and all beer of typical strength.
Why and how do party pumps limit the flavor stability of beer? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Party pumps limit the flavor stability of the beer to less than one day because
the beer immediately comes into contact with oxygen that oxidizes it and with microbes that
infect the beer.
What gases are acceptable to use serving beer on a draft system? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen in a variety of blends. Never compressed air or
oxygen.
,Explain the structure and workings of a typical keg. - CORRECT ANSWERS When tapped, a
keg's valve (Sankey) admits gas into the headspace, which applies the pressure needed to push
beer up through the spear (or "down tube") and out of the keg up into the coupler and into the
beer tube, while maintaining the correct carbonation in the remaining beer.
Explain the components and workings of the pressure side of a draft system. - CORRECT
ANSWERS A high-pressure gas cylinder provides CO2. An attached Primary Regulator
lowers the pressure to a usable level. Each keg has its own Secondary Regulator. Sankey
Couplers allow gas into the headspace of the keg. If it's a long draw system it may use a
Nitrogen Generator and Gas Blender to add pressure to the system. A Beer Pump can also add
pressure. Braided vinyl or poly tubing Gas Line is used throughout.
Describe the one-way valves in a coupler. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. The Thomas valve
allows CO2 into the keg but prevents beer from backing up into the gas line if the pressure
drops.
2. The Check valve is for when the coupler is disconnected from the keg. It prevents beer
remaining in the beer line from flowing out through the coupler, preventing a mess when
tapping a fresh keg.
Describe a beer keg coupler - CORRECT ANSWERS The Coupler is important to the beer
and pressure sides of a draft system because as gas flows in the keg, beer is pushed out, all
through the coupler. The coupler pushes down the ball or poppet in the keg neck allowing gas to
flow in and creating pressure in the keg's headspace that pushes beer up through the spear and
into the beer line to the faucet. There are 6 different types of Sankey coupler.
Describe jumper lines and what they're used for in a draft system - CORRECT
ANSWERS Jumper line is flexible vinyl beer line in a long draw system that goes from the
keg couplers to the bundles of beer tube and also from the beer tube to the faucet shanks. The
jumper line is just a piece of tubing at either end of the system that makes the connections, to
the keg on one end and the faucet on the other. Because they're vinyl, they should be replaced
annually (just like the vinyl tubing in a direct draw draft system).
, Describe FOB's (Foam on Beer) and what they are used for in a draft system. - CORRECT
ANSWERS FOB's are used on long draw systems. A FOB is a float in a sealed bowl that
drops when beer flow stops because the keg has run out. The FOB fills the beer line with
dispensed gas which beeps the line full of pressurized beer while the keg is changed. FOB's save
the bar operating coasts by limiting beer waste. FOB's and draft lines should be cleaned every
two weeks.
Describe the various types of beer line that can be used in a draft system. - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1. Barrier tubing - Low resistanec barrier tubing is used in long draw trunk lines.
It's good for keeping oxygen from contacting beer. It has a glass smooth lining that inhibits beer
stone, microbial growth, and flavor leakage.
2. Vinyl tubing - More oxygen permeable and needs to be replaced annually, especially jumper
lines.
3. Stainless Steel lines - Jockey box or draft tower.
Describe the various types of beer line that can be used in a draft system. - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1. Barrier tubing - Low resistanec barrier tubing is used in long draw trunk lines.
It's good for keeping oxygen from contacting beer. It has a glass smooth lining that inhibits beer
stone, microbial growth, and flavor leakage.
2. Vinyl tubing - More oxygen permeable and needs to be replaced annually, especially jumper
lines.
3. Stainless Steel lines - Jockey box or draft tower.
Discribe beer faucets. - CORRECT ANSWERS Beer faucets dispense beer and hold the tap
handle up. The faucet is connected to the wall or draft tower via a shank.
- US faucets attach to standard shanks(1-1/8" diameter & 18 threads).Standard beer faucets are
rear sealing and have vent holes that need to be carefully cleaned and inspected during routine
cleaning.
- Ventless or forward-sealing (Perlick)faucets are easier to clean.
