NEW YORK-Civilization of Beer president Samuel Merritt was named New York's first Certified Cicerone™ beer sommelier today during a brief ceremony and open house for area beer importers, brewers, distributors and retailers. The brainchild of Ray Daniels- author, editor and publisher of more than a dozen books on brewing and beer , graduate and senior faculty member at the Siebel Institute of Technology, and president of the Craft Beer Institute-the program is the first of its kind to be based on objective, independent skills assessment.
 
The Cicerone Certification Program assesses and certifies beer industry professionals independently for tasting skills, knowledge of proper service and storage, and demonstrated expertise in beer culture-including its historic and socioeconomic aspects. As a " Certified Cicerone™," Merritt is designated a beer expert certified to guide consumers in high-quality experiences with beer and food.  
 
"An educated beer seller is a better beer seller," says Merritt, a mantra of The Civilization of Beer. The company has been featured on The Martha Stewart Show and Martha Stewart Living Radio on Sirius XM, helped Chef Daniel Boulud launch his new East Village craft beer-focused DBGB Kitchen & Bar, as well as regularly contributing to CHOW.com's CHOW Tips video program.
 
About The Civilization of Beer
The Civilization of Beer was founded by Samuel Merritt in the fall of 2006 after he concluded that in New York City-one of the most exciting and vibrant culinary communities in the world-highly trained culinary professionals were lacking knowledge of the basic ingredients and styles of beer.
 
Through his ten years in sales and brand management for The Craft Brewers Guild and The Brooklyn Brewery, Merritt cultivated an evangelical passion for bridging the gap between wine studies and beer studies in the professional culinary community and returning beer to its proper place at the American table.
 
The mission of The Civilization of Beer is to promote, through education and appreciation, the responsible enjoyment of high quality, craft beer in the context of our rapidly changing culinary landscape.
 
To schedule an interview with Mr. Merritt, call (917) 952-6211 or ping samuel@civilizationofbeer.com.