Lance Chavez

Idaho, United States

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.

Leigh Maberry Hostetler

Texas, United States

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

I entered the beer industry through an internship opportunity for QA and lab work. This was shortly after my first ever craft beer: a classic American pale ale, that completely blew me away with the complexity and delicious flavor craft beer could offer. As a microbiologist and anthropologist, my skill set seemed perfectly matched for the brewing industry. The love for the sensory sciences was a natural progression during my tenure in the industry because at the end of the day, beer is intended to taste cohesively good, which is something analytical data can’t always demonstrate. Beer has been a collaborative effort for millennia and I am excited by the contributions I can offer to encourage growth throughout the industry.

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 to expand my knowledge and palate for international classifications and flavors. I judge to meet fellow judges and learn from their wide range of occupations, experiences, and sensory backgrounds. The World Beer cup judging opportunity allows cultural divides and geo-political barriers to be loosened allowing for equal trade of beer enthusiasm and expertise. Bonus: Critically evaluating beer and diving deep into what four simple ingredients can provide and honoring our industry peers creativity is simply fun and rewarding!

What else would you like the world to know?

On average, 75% of the beers we taste throughout judging are good beers. Just because you don’t win an award doesn’t mean you aren’t making great beer. Keep up the good work brew crews and let’s craft beer thriving!

Domingo Otero

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

I got into the brewing industry because, from a young age—around 15 or 16—I started looking at food and drink as something inseparable. I became really interested in how food pairs with different beverages, and that curiosity naturally led me to explore beer. At first, I was tasting the beers that were available in my country, mostly German and American imports, though they didn’t always arrive in the freshest condition. In 2004, I traveled to California to study and work, and that’s where everything really clicked. I was exposed to a wide range of breweries and beer styles, and I completely fell in love with American IPAs and dark beers. That experience opened my eyes to what beer could really be. Beer is important to me because it’s a millennia-old beverage. It represents work, community, family, and friendship. Wherever we go, when we gather and raise a glass, it’s often a beer we’re sharing. Every ingredient has labor and history behind it. Every hop is fascinating—how it can completely change sensory profiles depending on where it’s grown. At the end of the day, beer is family, friends, and hard work. It’s an industry to protect, support, and help grow stronger.

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 because it represents the very best of what our industry can be. It’s the place where passion, technique, tradition, and innovation all meet on a global stage. Being invited to judge means sitting alongside some of the most respected brewers and sensory professionals in the world, and that alone is incredibly motivating. Judging at the World Beer Cup means a lot to me personally. It’s a reminder of why I fell in love with beer in the first place. Every beer on the table represents years of learning, risk-taking, hard work, and pride from a brewer somewhere in the world. Having the responsibility to evaluate that beer with fairness, focus, and respect is both humbling and energizing. For me, it’s also about giving back. Being part of that process allows me to support brewers, celebrate excellence, and contribute to the growth of a global beer community that truly feels like family. At the end of the day, judging at the World Beer Cup isn’t just about medals—it’s about honoring the craft, the people behind it, and the shared love of great beer.

What else would you like the world to know?

I would love for the world to know more about Panamanian beer and everything we’re building in my country. Panama may be a small country, but we have a strong and diverse craft beer culture. We brew all kinds of beers—everything from Belgian-style ales to Polish-inspired beers, American styles, European classics, and clean German lagers. What truly excites me is the opportunity to keep representing my country on a global stage whenever I’m invited to events like this. Competitions of this level allow me to continue spreading the language of beer, building culture, and helping place our industry where it deserves to be. I also believe strongly in supporting the people behind the beer. This industry is about brewers, teams, and community, and it’s important that we continue fighting for this movement—so that instead of declining, it grows again and regains the strength and momentum it once had. My goal is to help push Panamanian craft beer as high as possible and to keep that momentum moving forward.

Paul Segura

California, United States

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

This all began as a homebrewing hobby while I was a university student. It was so much fun that I volunteered my time at a local brewery in San Diego just to learn more. After getting my B.S. degree, I decided to get a formal brewing education up in Davis, CA. Immediately after finishing that, I was hired at a commercial brewery in 1994/95 and I’ve been brewing commercially ever since. I really enjoy all things related to craft beer and brewing – the art, the science, etc. But I particularly like all the social aspects. Craft beer is close to my heart and I really want to share it with anyone who is interested and/or curious about it. I love making people happy one beer at a time.

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 means a lot to me. It is more than just a way for me to give back to an industry that has given me SO much for over 3 decades. It’s also super fun and its a great learning experience. I have become a better brewer by virtue of being a judge. Lastly, the friendships and the camaraderie with all my fellow judges make my heart happy. I am grateful to the BA for the invitation and I look forward to judging for many years to come.

What else would you like the world to know?

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. 😉