Lance Chavez
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.
