World Class Judges

Rick Kempen

Noord Holland, Netherlands

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

For well over thirty years, my life has been all about beer. Flunking out of university because of my side job as a waiter in De Pilsener Club turned out to be one of the best things to happen to me. In 1998, I joined Bier&cO, one of Europe’s leading beer import and distribution companies, dedicated to bringing craft beer from all over the globe to the people.

Having held various positions within Bier&cO, I eventually shaped its export department by representing a handful of American craft breweries. Together with a handful of others we pioneered the European market which helped start a European ‘beer revolution.’

Today, I am beer ambassador at Bier&cO, traveling around the globe, promoting and educating about a portfolio of special, exciting, and one-of-a-kind craft beers. I am a certified beer sommelier (Doemens Diplom-Biersommelier) and co-founded Dutch Beer Week as well as the Dutch Beer Challenge, a competition for Dutch beers. I like to see myself as a professional beer connoisseur who has had the pleasure of making a hobby out of his work. Beer, consequently, means everything to me!

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

Judging at World Beer Cup means you get to learn from fellow judges from all over the world, all bringing their specific expertise. Talking with your peers is a rare opportunity to better yourself in beer. Also, it gives you the opportunity to taste beers from breweries who take their business and craftmanship seriously. They dare to have their beers evaluated by professionals, using their feedback to improve their creations. Contributing to that, and doing that by tasting some of the best beers in the world without knowing what they are, is a huge honor, privilege, and pleasure.

What else would you like the world to know?

Participating as a brewery, you not only compete for awards, but you get valuable feedback from a professional and skilled group of tasters. Do it!

Gad Deviri

Tel Aviv, Israel

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

It all started for me with homebrewing, which fed my soul. I started to import brewing supplies to the very young and small Israeli craft and homebrew market. I enrolled in courses at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and started teaching homebrewing and beer sensory.

Beer is a very interesting drink. It can be very ‘down to earth’ or a very complicated drink. It has so many shapes and shades. It’s never boring.

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

Judging in the prestigious competition in the word is a milestone in my professional life. It is an honor to be part of the team. Judging at this International competition gives me a broad perspective of the world of beer styles and tastes and is a rare opportunity to meet others from the industry.

Marty Nachel

Illinois, United States

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

After tasting beer on my first brewery tour, I realized exactly how good beer can be when it’s fresh and offered in many different styles. I knew immediately this was my new focus in life. I began brewing my own beer at home and submitting it to competitions. Following this, I became a beer judge with the Beer Judge Certification Program (the first in my home state) and began freelance writing on the topics of beer and brewing which eventually led to the publication of several books. Now I’m judging beer as a professional judge with international credentials.

Beer is important to me not just as a preferred beverage of choice, but also as a libation to be generously shared with others, and I consider it a link to our own human history.

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 first because I consider it a great privilege to evaluate some of the best beers in the world. Secondly, I appreciate the opportunity to meet and judge alongside my peers from other countries around the globe. I’m proud to be a member of the global beer judging community.

What else would you like the world to know?

It’s my goal to judge beer on every continent that has a commercial brewing industry.

Ai Tani

Osaka-shi Kitaku Oyodonaka, Japan

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

“Almost 30 years ago, small-scale brewing began in Japan. At that time, imported German and Belgian beers were occasionally available in Japan. Small-scale brewing had begun, but there were few high-quality beers and few good brewers. I decided that I would grow as a professional and spread the word about the existence of high-quality beer in Japan. This is why I entered this industry.

Twelve years ago, I decided just acting as a judge was not enough to advance quality standards, so I started running my own bottle shop and beer pub, selecting good quality beer, and providing it to consumers while maintaining quality. Since five years ago, I have also owned a brewery, and while deepening my awareness of beer, I also improve brewing, sipping and serving skills, and support the management of breweries and restaurants.

Beer has a long history and has recently evolved from technological developments and scientific advances. From the current situation, where Japanese historical food and liquor culture is evolving through beer, we believe that we can find an opportunity to build a new beer culture in Japan.

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

Being able to judge at the World Beer Cup, the world’s premier competition, is a source of pride. It is a good opportunity to measure my judging skills.

It was also a great experience how the judges are organized at the World Beer Cup. I believe it is the best competition in the world. The fact that many Japanese have won awards has become a guideline for quality improvement for Japanese brewers. It is also a great place where you can exchange information with beer judges from all over the world.

I was able to talk about my role as a judge and my thinking about evaluation at a high level. I would like to take it back to Japan and use it to educate beer judges and give advice on the growth of the market.

What else would you like the world to know?

If you ever come to Osaka, Japan, please visit our brewery, Craft Beer Base.

Phil Joyce

Colorado, United States

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

I got into beer as a homebrewer and a founding member of the Avery Brewing Company’s “Homebrewers and Bottle Collectors Support Group,” as well as the homebrew club Hop Barley and the Alers in Boulder, Colo. After homebrewing for a few years, I was the founding head brewer of Powder Keg, which was my first opportunity to make brewing my career.

Beer matters to me because of the community of people that it brings together. I have always found a group of people that have supported me, and provided me with opportunities to express myself technically and artistically. The beer industry has provided me with lifelong friends and an opportunity to learn from a diverse group of people.

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

I judge because I want to continuously learn and expand my palate and give back to the community that has given me so much. It’s wonderful to network and meet other beer professionals and support the Brewers Association through judging every year. This past year I had the opportunity to judge with a number of international judges and their shared insights provided incredible education outside the style guidelines and brought unmatched validity to the competition that I haven’t experienced elsewhere.

Tomoko Sonoda

Chiba, Japan

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

One of the plans for new business development was a brewpub, and I thought it would be fun to brew beer, so I applied for the position and was hired in 1996. The brewery opened in 2000, and I have been working as the brewmaster ever since. I believe that both drinking and brewing beer are magical experiences that enrich my life.

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

One goal is to deepen my knowledge of beer. By judging alongside people involved in the beer industry from around the world, I can learn to perceive things I might not otherwise notice, discover global trends, and, most importantly, train my sensitivity by putting myself in challenging situations. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this world-class judging competition, where accuracy in sensory evaluation and a serious sense of responsibility and judgment are required.

Agus Blanco

Madrid, Spain

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

My journey began behind the bar, serving patrons and forging connections with both the bartending team and the final drinker. This experience sparked a passion for understanding spirits like whisky and, especially, beer. I saw myself as a bridge between the consumer and the producer, eager to be the door that welcomes people into the world of flavors.

For over a decade, I’ve continuously honed my communication skills in the realms of beer, whisky, and now mezcal. My passion evolved into expertise, allowing me to train both brewers and judges at Lúpulo Digital’s tasting gym. I help them hone their sensory skills to craft and appreciate exceptional beverages. My focus lies in optimizing flavor and aroma profiles for breweries, ensuring their beers capture consumer hearts (and taste buds!).

In 2023, I had the honor of judging prestigious international competitions across the globe, expanding my knowledge of diverse beer styles and trends (Brazil, Germany, South Africa, Belgium, Spain). Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue this journey in 2024 (U.S., Italy, Mexico, etc.).

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

Judging at the World Beer Cup was a challenging yet enriching experience. Exchanging knowledge with fellow judges, from all corners of the globe and brewing generations, is truly special. The Brewers Association’s legacy as a craft beer revolution leader makes connecting with these judges even more meaningful. The vast knowledge and diverse perspectives at the WBC have challenged and broadened my understanding of beer. This event highlighted the ever-evolving world of beer, a community brimming with creativity and pushing boundaries. I’m grateful for this experience and excited to see the BA continue fostering innovation and inspiring future generations of beer lovers.

Juan Camilo Riveros

Bogota, Colombia

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

Got a revelation on my first pint of Guinness and being from a country with only industrial lager for beer decided to start brewing my own. I studied culinary arts in Argentina and there also learned the basics of brew ing. After that the books of Palmer, Papazian, Talley, Daniels, Hieronymus, Bouckaert and Cantwell, and Michael Jackson were my sources. A lot of homebrewing came after that. Humanity and beer have a very close relationship most of the different cultures in the planet have beer whenever they are celebrating or mourning. It is comfort for a friend or just joy of being somewhere or with someone. Good beer brings us together and gladness our spirits.

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

Judging at WBC means a lot of different things for me. In a way is a validation of all my reading, tasting, and hard work in general. It is also an important way of learning from people more knowledgeable than me or from beer cultures that I am not so familiar with. In a more personal level there is a moment that comes from time to time when a table of judges just sync perfectly and complement each other, where knowledge is shared and we are able to do a great job. That moment is very satisfying. Last but not least, when I am judging beer I feel that each beer tells me a different story and sometimes you find exceptional ones that innovate and change the way that you look at beer as a whole.

Ignacio Curto

Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

I started homebrewing in 2006 and in 2013, with some friends, started a commercial project so we could drink the beers we wanted. I left my aeronautical engineering job in R&D to work and live from beer (or at least try to, hehe).

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

It’s a great pleasure to judge beers, share experiences and knowledge with people from all over the world. Each time I travel thanks to beer I feel rewarded in many ways—friendship, pleasure, new ideas, knowledge. The World Beer Cup is probably the biggest opportunity to experience all this.

Chris Flaskamp

Santiago, Chile

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

I started homebrewing in Chile in 2000 and launched my own craft brewery in Santiago, Tübinger, in 2007. I’ve been a certified BJCP beer judge since 2014 and have judged at the world’s most important beer competitions, such as the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, European Beer Star in Germany, Brussels Beer Challenge in Belgium, World Beer Awards in the U.K., Blumenau Beer Cup in Brazil, and others.

I’m a co-founder and the current executive director of Chile’s Independent Craft Brewers Association, ACI Chile, since 2019, which has over 150 members from all over Chile. We’ve been organizing the yearly Great Chile Beer Festival and its beer competition, Copa ACI. During the dark years of COVID-19, I made the most of the downtime to write a book about beer history, beer culture, and beer styles. I’m proud to say that it has been quite successful, with two sold-out editions since 2021.

Beer has been part of my life since my student days in Germany, and I feel that I learn more every year about this beautiful beverage. I love opening people’s minds to the wide variety of beers, and there is still much to be done in that regard in Latin America.

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

Judging at the World Beer Cup is like being at the global center of beer experts, and it is always a pleasure and a great honor to share time, stories, and pints with the most accomplished brewers and beer judges in the world. This experience enables me to continue learning and improving my knowledge of beer tasting, new trends, and beer style appreciation.

It is also important for me to represent our relatively small country and emerging craft beer market at a global event and to spread the word about the increasingly vibrant Chilean beer market.

Leonardo Sewald Cunha

Colorado, United States

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

I started as a homebrewer in south Brazil around 25 years ago. I created a homebrew club with some friends, and was getting close to a few fellow Brazilian breweries, who were very friendly towards homebrewers. Eventually, I decided to take it to the next level and earned a brewing degree at Siebel Institute in Chicago. That not only helped me get the brewing and entrepreneurial knowledge I needed but also exposed me to the values of American brewing: fun, camaraderie, creativity, and a serious commitment to quality.

Brazil didn’t have many breweries by the late 2000s, and none of the existing ones were focused on American styles of beer. With that in mind, the decision to start a brewery inspired by American beers in Brazil was an easy one. And it paid off: To this day, Seasons is viewed by consumers as one of the pioneer breweries in Brazil, something I’m really proud of because, to me, beer is so much more than just a beverage. Beer is history, science, culture, and entertainment. There’s a unique social aesthetic to beer, something that brings people together and makes them feel at home with each other. It’s just great!

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

So many things. There’s the learning aspect: I’ve been judging beers for almost 20 years but I’m always learning something new. Meeting fellow judges from around the world is also really cool. From a more personal point of view, being a judge at the World Beer Cup is a privilege; since I started in the brewing business and then became a beer judge, it has always been a dream of mine to be a part of this event.

Competitions like this help shape the world of beer. With so many different beer trends and beer scenes around the world, having a competition like the World Beer Cup raises the bar for everyone: high-level contests draw attention to brewers large and small. Their goals might be getting feedback or having a shot at an award, but what happens, in the end, is a celebration of quality. Each and every year we see higher quality beers on the table. As judges, we see the work of choosing the best beers getting harder and harder every year. And that’s great because that means there’s better beer out there for everyone. Competitions like the World Beer Cup play a big role in that.

Michael König

Bavaria, Germany

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

In 2011, I started as a beer blogger out of love for this topic. At this point in time, craft beer also took off in Germany. Through my blog I had built up a large network with many breweries in a short time. In 2013, I became a beer sommelier at Doemens and in 2014 I switched full-time to an online shop for craft beer. Since 2016 I have been head beer sommelier or brand ambassador for Maisel & Friends at the Gebr. Maisel brewery, a dream job. Beer is my hobby, passion, and profession … my life. I love trying new beers, talking about beer, and discovering beer every day.

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 the best beer competition in the world. Sitting at the table as a judge and talking about beer with many well-known beer personalities is an honor and fills me with pride. As a judge at the World Beer Cup you determine the best beers in the world. How cool is that? It is the best job in the world.