View Larger Version >>

Willoughby Brewing Co. head brewer Rick Seibt has joined an exclusive club. He learned last month that he passed the rigorous cicerone exam. Seibt is now one of only 11 certified cicerones in Ohio, according to the Cicerone Certification Program. What's a cicerone? In plain language, it means Seibt knows a boatload about beer -- everything from how to make beer to what food goes with what beer to how to properly clean draft lines to picking out flaws when tasting beer. You become a cicerone after passing a test that lasts about three hours and includes multiple choice and essay questions, and beer sampling. "It's a tough achievement," Seibt said. You can try your hand a 10 sample questions for free at the cicerone website. The other cicerones in Ohio are: Chad Bordner of North Canton, who works for Superior Beverage; Robert Gerrity of Rocky River; Jennifer Hermann of Kent; Lee Hill of Columbus, who works with Sierra Nevada; Scott LaFollette of Cincinnati; Grant McCracken of Cincinnati, who works with Boston Beer Co.; Samuel Pecoraro of Dayton; Geoff Randolph of Columbus, who works with Superior Beverage; Andy Tveekrem of Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland; and Derek Zomomski of Cincinnati, who works with Bell's Brewing. And speaking of Willoughby Brewing, Seibt said beer sales have exploded under the new ownership team that took over this year. The brewpub has expanded selling its beer to select restaurants and bars in the Cleveland area. Seibt estimated that sales have at least doubled. Willoughby makes one of the most unusual beers in Ohio: Peanut Butter Coffee Porter. "We can't keep it in stock," he said. "We're working our butts off ... It's a good problem to have. It's a great problem to have." Willoughby won a couple of medals at the recent International Beer Fest in Cleveland. The Moonshadow IPA took home a silver, while the Peanut Butter won a bronze.