Beer News

Cicerone Program Adds Advanced Level

The Cicerone Certification Program will add a new level in 2016, Advanced Cicerone. Program creator Ray Daniels says the skill and knowledge needed to pass the Master exam was too advanced for most students. Bridging the gap between Certified Cicerone and Master status (currently held by 10 people), the intermediary level will recognize those who have knowledge beyond the Certified Cicerone level.

Author Fred Eckhardt Dies at 89

Legendary beer advocate and writer Fred Eckhardt passed away August 10 in Portland, Ore. Known as the Dean of American Beer Writers, Eckhardt’s many publications, including A Treatise on Lager Beers and The Essentials of Beer Style helped to shape today’s craft brewing culture. In an era of boring lagers, the former Marine advocated for better beer by penning columns in papers such as the Oregonian and the Seattle Times. In Oregon, his importance to the beer community has been memorialized with Fred, a namesake ale made by Hair of the Dog Brewing Co., and FredFest, an annual festival celebrating his birthday.

New Belgium Names Perich as New CEO

On August 10, Fort Collins, Colo.-based New Belgium Brewing announced its president and COO Christine Perich would replace Kim Jordan as CEO. Jordan, the company’s co-founder, will transition to executive chair of the brewery’s board of directors. An employee since 2000, Perich was instrumental in New Belgium’s move to an employee stock ownership plan in 2013.

Inc. 5000 List Includes Nine Breweries

Inc. magazine’s annual ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the US included nine breweries in 2015. Ranked No. 519, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. was the fastest growing, with a posted growth of 893 percent. Stone Brewing, at No. 2,910, led the breweries in total revenue, at $185.7 million. ■