In 2016, and every year to follow, one lucky beer loving gal from Buffalo will have an opportunity to be awarded a Certified Cicerone Scholarship. Thanks to the ongoing support of the Buffalo Beer Goddesses (BBG), local female beer enthusiasts continue to find the support that they are looking for when it comes to crafting an inclusive beer culture.

This year is the first year that the beer advocates will be awarding a deserving member of the Buffalo beer community with this honor. Once chosen, the female recipient will head to Chicago to obtain her certification (level two of the four level program). The exam costs $400, plus expenses for travel and lodging. BBG will be picking up the expenses for one woman (annually) to become a certified cicerone.

“The Certified Cicerone certification has become the benchmark of beer knowledge and expertise. Certified Cicerones carry with them a vast knowledge of tasting, styles, pairing and brewing alike,” says Tracey Maciejewski, Treasurer of the group. “To further our support of women involved in the beer world, we have created a scholarship program to help assist in the financial aspect of this certification.”

As Buffalo’s beer industry continues to grow, it is important that no one gets left behind. Thanks to the efforts of the BBG, women are being given support and camaraderie throughout the year. In the four years since it was formed, the BBG have hosted beer related events, classes and sessions throughout WNY. Now BBG is taking leadership to another level, by providing women with the tools that they will need to further their careers in an industry that is typically oriented towards men.

Applications are now open until Friday, November 18th and can be found on the new BBG website www.buffalobeergoddesses.org or by emailing buffalobeergoddesses@gmail.com. Selections will be made in mid-December, with testing to take place in 2017. Find BBG on Facebook.