Three further candidates have passed the Guild of Beer Sommeliers exam and gained beer sommelier accreditation. This brings the number of newly qualified sommeliers to 19 since the programme was relaunched in 2025, adding to a community of more than 200 existing sommeliers.
Carl Marshall, a vocational trainer at TOP training, Michael Clarke, an award-winning beer writer, and Matt Lewis, landlord of The Horseshoe pub in Chipping Sodbury, completed a rigorous examination assessing their beer expertise.
“I’ve wanted to become a beer sommelier for some time, partly because ‘it’s there’,” said Clarke. “It’s the Mount Everest of the UK beer industry in terms of beer knowledge and practical tasting skills.
“I was delighted to pass the exam. It’s an incredibly tough test: describing and identifying 16 beers face-to-face with the examiner. There’s a huge range of global beer styles that come up, not just the usual suspects. I found WSET’s structured tasting techniques very helpful in describing some of the more unusual styles.”
Matt Lewis added: “I was over the moon to find out I had passed the assessment for the Guild of Beer Sommeliers. I have worked for over a year to achieve this, and I aim to use this accreditation to further improve my knowledge of beers and my pub team’s knowledge. Beer is an essential industry to so many people’s lives, and a fantastic part of our culture.”
Alex Barlow, chief examiner for the Guild of Beer Sommeliers, said “Achieving Beer Sommelier certification requires both passion and discipline. I congratulate Carl, Michael, and Matt on their accomplishment, and look forward to the expertise and value they will all bring to the beer community. Passing the examination reflects a significant commitment to professional development and excellence in beer appreciation.”
