Kathia Zanatta

Wie sind Sie in die Bierbranche gekommen? Warum ist Bier für Sie wichtig?

After finishing my food engineering degree in Brazil, I followed my love for beer. I landed an internship at Paulaner Brewery in Germany in 2005, where I delved into the world of brewing and embraced the country’s diverse beer culture. Upon my return, I transitioned into a role at a brewery in Brazil, where I honed my skills over a five-year period in areas such as quality control, research and development, and laboratory analysis. In 2008, I embarked on a journey to Germany for the Beer Sommelier course, marking my entry into Brazil’s burgeoning craft beer scene.

Equipped with this expertise, I began organizing beer events. By 2010, I co-founded Instituto da Cerveja, an educational institution dedicated to the art of beer, and since then I have been fully committed to studying (including a brewmaster course in 2011), impactful teaching, hosting beer and food events, and consulting.

Warum richten Sie beim World Beer Cup? Was bedeutet das Richten beim World Beer Cup für Sie?

I have been participating as a judge in beer competitions since 2009, consistently enjoying the opportunity to expand my knowledge of beer, sensory analysis, and the market. It’s not only a chance to connect with new colleagues, but also an opportunity to support breweries by engaging in discussions about their beers and providing valuable feedback.

Matt Johnson

South Dakota, United States

Wie sind Sie in die Bierbranche gekommen? Warum ist Bier für Sie wichtig?

After homebrewing for a few years, I decided to become a professional brewer in 1997. I quit my job and went to brew school. I got a job as a brewer right out of school and never looked back. I was lucky enough to brew through the meteoric rise of craft beer, and I’ve enjoyed it the entire way. I worked my way up from brewing at a few brewpubs to being the brewmaster of brewery operations at a mid-sized brewery in San Diego, producing 85,000 barrels a year at our peak. Along the way, I built eight small breweries and have been a member of the Hop Quality Group, a voting member of the Hop Research Council, a member of the MBAA National Technical Committee, and the BA Brewpub Committee.

This industry is very big yet very small and collaborative, and I’ve enjoyed being a part of it. I will continue to be part of this great group of brewers and collaborators.

Warum richten Sie beim World Beer Cup? Was bedeutet das Richten beim World Beer Cup für Sie?

I became a judge for the simple reason that I wanted to learn more about beer styles and what it takes to brew them. Being able to taste and give opinions on beers for the World Beer Cup is a great learning experience. It also helps create friendships within our industry. Judging the WBC, one of the best beer competitions in the world, is an honor and a privilege for anyone. It’s a way to share my industry knowledge with other brewers and judges. I love it because it also allows me to continuously learn more about our industry and the trends happening within it.

Lana Svitankova

Wie sind Sie in die Bierbranche gekommen? Warum ist Bier für Sie wichtig?

Beer is a love story in every sense. I fell down this rabbit hole on my honeymoon in Prague, over a glass of dark Czech lager, and I’ve continued my journey ever since. It started as a hobby, but it became a job, an educational vocation, and so much more. Like any relationship, there have been highs and lows, but the beer industry, the drink itself, and the people involved never cease to amaze me.

It’s more than just a set of flavors—it’s a collection of stories, emotions, memories, and experiences. That’s what makes it so exciting. Not all stories have a happy ending, but we’re here to change that and make the industry better.

Warum richten Sie beim World Beer Cup? Was bedeutet das Richten beim World Beer Cup für Sie?

Judging at the World Beer Cup is a roller coaster of emotions. It’s a huge responsibility to do justice to an overwhelming number of beers. It’s an uplifting feeling to represent your country with pride. It’s an immense joy to meet and learn from the best peers in the beer world, having countless meaningful conversations. It’s a lot of fun, but everyone takes it very seriously. The amount of knowledge and experience in the room is outstanding.

Winning a medal at the WBC means going through rigorous assessment and reaching the podium with flying colors. It’s a reason for every winner to be proud and to celebrate their work and team effort.

Gad Deviri

Tel Aviv, Israel

Wie sind Sie in die Bierbranche gekommen? Warum ist Bier für Sie wichtig?

Alles begann für mich mit dem Heimbrauen, das meine Seele nährte. Ich begann, Brauereibedarf für den sehr jungen und kleinen israelischen Markt für handwerkliches Brauen und Heimbrauen zu importieren. Ich schrieb mich für Kurse am Siebel Institute in Chicago ein und begann, Heimbrauen und Biersensorik zu unterrichten.

Bier ist ein sehr interessantes Getränk. Es kann sehr "bodenständig" oder ein sehr kompliziertes Getränk sein. Es hat so viele Formen und Schattierungen. Es ist nie langweilig.

Warum richten Sie beim World Beer Cup? Was bedeutet das Richten beim World Beer Cup für Sie?

Die Teilnahme an diesem renommierten Wettbewerb ist ein Meilenstein in meinem Berufsleben. Es ist eine Ehre, Teil des Teams zu sein. Die Teilnahme an diesem internationalen Wettbewerb gibt mir einen umfassenden Einblick in die Welt der Bierstile und -geschmäcker und ist eine seltene Gelegenheit, andere aus der Branche zu treffen.