Marion Weinberger

Steinbach am Attersee, Austria

How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?

It all started in 2013 when I joined Heineken Brau Union Austria as a brand manager looking after three big beer brands in Austria. One year later the brewery sent me to get an education as a beer sommelier and it triggered my passion for beer. Beer is the most versatile drink in the world and I am still curious about it.

Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?

It is a very special contest to judge as one of a few of the Europeans and it’s a great honor to be part of it.

What else would you like the world to know?

I am the first Austrian female to be invited to judge in the World Beer Cup. 🙂

Fernanda Meybom

How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?

I have always liked beer and my grandmother was a homebrewer.As a chemical engineer,I became more familiar with the fermentation process and the beer industry. After my graduation and a sommelier course, I decided to learn more about sensory analysis. I got involved with beer competitions and local homebrewers associations, including organizing competitions and conferences.I’m a master’s candidate in food engineering and beer science. I recently co-authored a chapter about pairing beer and food in Guia da Sommelieira de Cervejas (Beer Sommelier Guide), and co-authored a chapter about probiotic beer in Protocols in Technology of Probiotic Foods and Beverages for Springer Protocols. I’m also the technical advisor at the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy of Santa Catarina in Brazil. I am an active BJCP Certified judge and for the last 10 years I have judged in international beer competitions in Chile, Spain, Mexico, South Africa, Belgium, Argentina, and Uruguay. I’m the co-founder of Passaporte Cervejeiro, a company that organizes beer travel groups to Belgium. I have taught several courses in Brazil. Writing and cooking are my passions, and after five years as a columnist for Revista da Cerveja (Magazine of Beer), I now share recipes at my own website.

Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?

The World Beer Cup is one of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the world, and winning a medal there is celebrated as a significant competitive achievement. Being selected for the judging team is therefore a great honor and an achievement for beer professionals, as well as a great responsibility to select the worthiest beers from among the entries. Being part of the World Beer Cup is a great validation of my hard work, study, and preparation in the beer industry, and a wonderful way to use my beer evaluation skills.

Nicholas Galton-Fenzi

Western Australia, Australia

How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?

I was a keen learner, and I started homebrewing at 17. My first batch of beer (kit and kilo) had very poor temperature control and showed a lack of brewing understanding on my behalf … It was absolutely terrible. From then on, I have tried to learn as much as I can about beer, the industry, the ingredients, and the people involved. This journey has taken me through 23 different countries and I have now been involved in over 50 breweries worldwide.

Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?

I judge at the World Beer Cup because I wish to share what I have learned within the industry. I do it so I can provide my feedback, where I can, and further learn, for myself, about beer styles. I get the opportunity to meet with fellow judges who can also provide additional feedback on the style of beer that is being judged.

What else would you like the world to know?

This industry is rapidly changing, with the amount of additional science and information that comes through on a daily basis. A beer making it through to the second round of this competition is already leagues ahead. Achieving an award is an incredible accomplishment for the brewery involved.

Lance Chavez

Idaho, United States

How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?

I got into the beer industry after I graduated college and decided that instead of pursuing a career with my degree I wanted to find a trade that I enjoyed. I was lucky that my friend Josh King who is the brewmaster at Sockeye Brewing needed some help and the job just fit me.

Beer matters to me because I take pride in my work and enjoy producing beers that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of beer lovers. Just like any craftsman who has high expectations for themselves, I hold my beers to a high standard which I believe ends up in a quality product that I am proud to put in a glass.

Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?

It is a privilege to be invited to participate in the World Beer Cup judging panel. I am both humbled and honored to be able to help seek out the best beers in the competition. It is also a privilege to be able to judge alongside the panel of beer experts that the Brewers Association assembles. My beer knowledge and appreciation for the many unique beer styles we are able to sample always grows after each judging experience.

What else would you like the world to know?

The people behind the scenes of the World Beer Cup deserve a huge amount of respect and credit. There are so many people who volunteer their time to help sort entries, steward tables for the judges, coordinate the competition, feed the crew, and so much more. Most of these people don’t get paid but donate their time all for the love of beer. Cheers to all of those unsung heroes.