Cheers To The Takeout's Kate Bernot, America's Newest Certified Cider Professional

The Takeout is comprised of three full-time employees, and we spend most of our waking hours together. Our individual successes and failures are our collective successes and failures. And as the site's papa grande, I get overcome with pride when one of our hijas do well.

Right now, The Takeout associate editor and certified beer judge Kate Bernot is probably flushed with embarrassment, but I'm happy to announce that she is now a Certified Cider Professional, a designation given by the United States Association of Cider Makers. Kate earned her accreditation after passing the 60-question examination.

What does this mean to you, dear Takeout reader? It means Kate, who's been a force on our cider coverage (see here and here for starters), will become more of an authority on the topic.

Kate was the first hire for The Takeout, and she's written some of my favorite stories on this site. Kate, we're super proud of you!

(Feel free to use the comment thread below to ask Kate your cider questions.)