Craig Thomas

California, United States

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

My first brewing job was meant to be a stepping stone into distilling. However, as I pursued my master’s in brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University, I began appreciating beer more and more. To me, it felt like a more experimental, exciting, and forward-thinking craft. The diversity of ingredients, techniques, and historical traditions delivered a broader, more compelling story of flavor and experience than distilled spirits did. There is so much to learn, and each moment of learning is aided or reinforced by sensory experiences that have created very impactful memories for me.

Since graduating in 2014, I’ve done my best to shape my career path by putting myself in situations where I can absorb knowledge from people with different types of expertise. I’ve had the privilege of traveling the world tasting beer while working with Bill Simpson and AROXA. I’ve brewed with some of the best at Firestone Walker Brewing Company, tested my practical and theoretical sensory knowledge as part of the ASBC Sensory Subcommittee, and explored beer dispense in order to earn Master Cicerone. Now, at Abstrax Hops, I’m reevaluating everything I thought I knew about beer. New frontiers never end!

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

There is no other place where so many diverse, knowledgeable, and experienced people gather to taste and talk about beers and beer styles. What better spot to challenge preconceptions, discuss new techniques, and discover new trends? Furthermore, the competition brings in a plethora of world-class examples across so many styles. It is the only place where one can repeatedly experience technical precision and artistic expression in equal measure—sometimes at the same time. Competitions like the World Beer Cup are outlets where a brewer’s intent can be fully grasped and appreciated, as these beers are labors of love, often produced fresh and free from the constraints of distributor deals, consumer preferences, cost-of-goods quandaries, and dispense dilemmas.

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.

Richard Dube

Kentucky, United States

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

I am part of a very small group of professional brewers that actually never homebrewed. I began my brewing career with Molson Breweries in Montreal as a freshly graduated microbiologist. Joining the beer industry was more a necessity than a true passion for beer. That said, I quickly fell in love with the processes of beer production and the importance of sensory evaluation. Beer is now part of my life and I tremendously enjoy sharing my experience/recommendations over a well-designed beer.

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

The passion to share my practical experience and know-how, accumulated over the past 43+ years, makes judging the perfect path to do so. The group of judges is well-rounded and offers engaging discussions about beer profiles, all while following agreed-upon guidelines.

Emily Vegas

Thüringen, Germany

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

For me, beer is everything; it’s both my profession and my hobby. When I’m not working at the brewery, I’m judging competitions, reading books about beer, taking courses, or simply enjoying some beers. My life has meaning, thanks to beer.

I started working at Polar Brewery in Venezuela in 2015 after graduating as a biologist. I began as a brewer apprentice and then moved to Germany, where I worked at Doemens Academy in the laboratory and pilot plant. There, I took a course to become a brewmaster and graduated in 2019. After becoming a brewmaster, I started working at the Institut Romeis, performing chemical and analytical controls for breweries in Germany and around the world.

In 2021, I began working for Oettinger Brewery as a quality assurance specialist (microbiology and chemistry), and since January 2023, I’ve been working for Paulaner, also in quality assurance. During my first two years in Germany, I served as a steward for the European Beer Star Competition, and in 2021, I started judging various beer competitions, including the Austrian Beer Challenge, Concours de Lyon, African Beer Cup, World Beer Cup, and Women’s Trophy.

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

I had already judged in several competitions in Europe, and I dreamed of participating as a juror in the largest competitions in the world and in other countries outside Europe. That’s why I applied for the World Beer Cup—it’s one of the most important competitions globally. I also wanted the opportunity to meet amazing professionals from around the world and learn more about beer. It’s truly wonderful, and I’m very proud of it.