Meet a Cicerone: CC Micah Funk of Camp Beer Co

Micah Funk is a Shift Supervisor at Camp Brew Co and the very first guest on my Meet a Cicerone podcast. His newly leveled up beer smarts are allowing him to bridge the gap between the production side of the brewery and the sales staff.

Putting a Cicerone certification to work

Since passing, Micah is now able to do staff training and help more with beer focused events. He can also create more effective and evocative terms for beertenders and sales staff to use when talking about Camp's offerings. That is one of my favorite things about the certification. It is not just a line on a resume. It changes how you talk about beer and how well you can teach others to do the same. As you will hear in the interview, he has almost immediately been able to put his new knowledge to work for Camp Beer Co.

Three months from enrollment to passing

Micah enrolled in the Beer Scholar course for the Certified Cicerone exam at the beginning of November 2023. He passed both the Certified Cicerone written and tasting exams just three months later, in January 2024. He crushed the tasting exam with a 91% and said he felt very well prepared for the written exam.

If you are wondering whether a quick timeline like that is realistic, Micah is a good example of what focused studying can do. The key is studying what the exam actually tests and practicing the tasting side, not just the book side.

What to listen for

If you are weighing the exam yourself, listen for how Micah describes his prep and how soon his new knowledge started paying off at work. That is the part I hear from students most often. The certification is not only a credential. It makes you better at your job within weeks, not years.

How this podcast started

A big thanks to Micah. This episode was recorded on Zoom. There is nothing fancy about it. I was testing the concept before going big with it. Truthfully, I was not even planning to make a podcast. I just wanted feedback on my courses. I quickly came to realize that the stories Beer Scholar students and Certified Cicerones share with me are relatable, inspiring and helpful to folks who are prepping for the Cicerone exams.

If you are in the industry and on the fence about leveling up and taking the Cicerone exams, these interviews show why you should stop wondering about it and get it done.

Watch the video above to hear Micah tell his story in his own words. Want to start your own prep? Grab the free study guide for the Certified Cicerone exam, or check out the Certified Cicerone course.

Cheers! –Chris