{"id":61558,"date":"2025-08-25T14:45:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T21:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/?p=61558"},"modified":"2025-08-25T15:00:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T22:00:33","slug":"accountant-to-cicerone-the-unexpected-journey-of-a-beer-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/accountant-to-cicerone-the-unexpected-journey-of-a-beer-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"Accountant to Cicerone \u2013 the (Unexpected) Journey of a Beer Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alaina Parchmann, BBA, CGA, CPA\u2026. Certified Cicerone? If you had told me 10 years ago that by 2025, I would be knee deep into a multi-year beer journey, I\u2019d have laughed at you.<\/p>\n

After all, past Alaina was barely a beer fan. Sure, I enjoyed the occasional wheat beer (the brand shall not be named), but Doppelbock? Lambic? Gueuze? I wouldn\u2019t have guessed those were styles of beer – let alone real words! I had a tenuous grasp on beer styles, at best. I knew Pilsners and IPAs existed, but my beer goggles were firmly behind accounting spectacles. Fast forward to today, and I have learned that the world of beer extends far beyond the selection at the BC Liquor Store. I now know that I am a sucker for decoction mashing, have a deep-seated appreciation for the classics, will forever be a hop head and a funk fanatic, and overall, am a proud Beer Geek. But how did I get here?<\/p>\n

\"Author
Author Alaina Parchmann (left) and fellow beer lover and Certified Cicerone\u00ae No\u00eblle Phillips at Tinhouse Brewing for the release of Project Hop’s historical IPA mixed-pack (photo: No\u00eblle Phillips)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pandemic Beginnings<\/h4>\n

My story began to unfold during the pandemic. Like many, I created a new Instagram account (@eye.of.the.beerholder86<\/a>), but I knew I was one of many new \u2018Beerstagrammers\u2019 trying to make their mark in the world. I had my niche (makeup and beer), but as a lifelong baker, the science of beer spoke to me, and I wanted to learn more. Not working in the industry, I was uncertain about how best to navigate amongst those that I admired (we all know that beer kept a lot of us sane during those dark months). I was relieved to find out that women in the beer industry are particularly open to sharing with each other. To this day, I am still blown away by the quality of women I have met and am forever grateful for how welcoming they have been. Women like Master Cicerone\u00ae Mirella Amato (author of Beerology<\/a>, the only Canadian Master Cicerone\u00ae, and overall wonder woman of beer) and Certified Cicerone\u00ae Lundy Dale (Pink Boots Society, BC Craft Brewer\u2019s Guild, and BC Ale Trail powerhouse), were integral in opening my eyes to what is available to someone wanting to take the journey in beer. Knowing I had the support of so many women, I felt much more prepared to take the next step.<\/p>\n

\"The
The book that started it all \u2013 Beerology by Master Cicerone\u00ae Mirella Amato (photo: Alaina Parchmann)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n