Beer sommelier
Also known as: beer advisor, beer selection advisor, sommelier
About this occupation
Beer sommeliers understand and advise on styles, brewing and best pairing of beers with foods in locations such as restaurants, breweries and shops. They know all about their ingredients, the history of the beers, glassware and draught systems. They prepare beer tastings, consult companies and customers, evaluate beer products and write about this subject.
A specialisation of sommelier.
Essential skills and knowledge
- fermentation processes of beverages
- analyse trends in the food and beverage industries
- apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages
- consult on beer presentation
- apply extensive study of beer styles from around the world
- apply HACCP
- advise on beer production
- ingredients for beer production
- biotechnology
- beer downstream processing
- pair beer with food
- describe the flavour of different beers
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Bartenders (O*NET 35-3011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.
- Collect money for drinks served.
- Balance cash receipts.
- Check identification of customers to verify age requirements for purchase of alcohol.
- Clean bars, work areas, and tables.
- Attempt to limit problems and liability related to customers' excessive drinking by taking steps such as persuading customers to stop drinking, or ordering taxis or other transportation for intoxicated patrons.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Enterprising
Top skills: Active Listening, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Coordination
US median pay: US$34,340 a year (2025), 756,390 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.6)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Waiters and Waitresses
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Fast Food and Counter Workers
- Baristas
- Food Preparation Workers
- Chefs and Head Cooks
- Food Service Managers
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Cooks, Short Order
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.