Ronda Liu

Massachusetts , United States

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

My beer journey started with my first sip of Trappist beer. From pilsner to lambic, the complexity and variety of beers are fascinating. Tasting beer became my passion, leading me to meet like-minded people and eventually work with some world-class breweries in Hong Kong and the U.S. While enjoying well-made beer, I also crave to know more about this fantastic beverage, which is when I started my sensory training and beer judging journey. To me, beer extends beyond my professional accomplishments. It’s a personal passion and belief that beer has the unique ability to bring people together.

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

It’s such an honor to judge at the World Beer Cup, one of the most prestigious beer competitions. These opportunities have allowed me to share my expertise and knowledge with the industry’s elite. Learning from judges with diverse backgrounds and cultures has significantly deepened my understanding of international beer trends. However, what truly enriches my experience is the chance to give back to the beer community and provide positive feedback to brewers, encouraging them to create more world-class beers.

Jose Dacak

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

I started homebrewing during my last year in college, trying to replicate the awesome beers we drank after class, in San Antonio, Texas.

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 the pinnacle of a beer judge’s career, and a great way to make friends with beer enthusiasts from all over the world. I am very excited to be joining this amazing group of people and share our experiences and knowledge doing what we love the most.

Jesse Brown

Washington, United States

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

I was a bartender in Wyoming who wanted to understand more about the production of beer, whiskey, and all things drink. Around 2006, while studying at the University of Wyoming, my friends and I would drive down to Fort Collins for weekends to visit breweries. New Belgium had a big impact on my early craft beer journey. Fast forward to January 2009—one semester from graduating—the economy had collapsed.

I moved to Lander, Wyoming, to climb and bartend. I convinced the new head brewer at Lander Brewing Co. to give me a job washing kegs. I self-studied all the brewing books I could afford, soaking up as much knowledge as possible. Ten years later, I love making craft beer more than ever in the Seattle area.

Beer matters to me because what I create brings communities together. Anywhere in the world, beer serves as a social conduit. It always brings me joy to see people gathered in the taproom.

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

I deeply care about the sensory aspect of beer, and I judge at the World Beer Cup for many reasons. One reason is my love for the qualitative experience—everything that goes into judging a beer is shaped by personal history and knowledge of styles. I’m constantly challenged by other world-class judges and always return home inspired with new perspectives.

Judging at the World Beer Cup is an honor. It allows me to have deep conversations with some of the best brewers and judges in the world.

Jose R Ruiz

Chih, Mexico

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

I started homebrewing back in 2001 and then moved for work to live in Michigan, there I met some brewing friends that were also Bee Judge Certification Program judges. They taught me how to brew all grain batches and then I took a course to become BJCP Certified. In 2008, on returning to to Mexico I wanted to open up a microbrewery, but I found out that there were no suppliers for ingredients in Mexico. I started looking for suppliers that were willing to have a new distributor in Mexico and that is how I set up Micervesa, the first brewing supply company in Mexico. After that I was invited to organize the first BJCP beer competition in Mexico, since I was the only BJCP Certified judge at that time, and that is how Copa Cerveza Mx started and became the most important Beer competition in Mexico.

Beer matters to me because I see it as a social drink that unites people and countries. Beer is one of the few things countries have in common as a drink, but of course with a great diversity of styles. Beer is fun and it is best shared with friends.

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

Being a judge at the World Beer Cup is a tremendous honor, as it allows me to participate in the most prestigious beer competition worldwide. It is a great opportunity to meet new beer judges and share and learn from their experience, and explore the beer culture from their countries and cities. It is also a great responsibility to judge and select the best beers on the table that will be given awards, knowing that they mean a lot for each brewery.

I think beer competitions are a great motivation for brewers to do their best effort and keep brewing excellent beer, and this elevates the overall beer culture and experience to the end consumer.