Bailey Smith
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
I got into the beer industry in my early 30s when I wanted to make a change from the engineering consulting world. I'd always loved "stuff in pipes and tanks" and wanted to continue doing something with that. As was the case for many of us, I'd been a homebrewer for years, so getting into brewery engineering was a no-brainer! I was lucky enough to get a job in the industry doing exactly that, and nearly 20 years later, I'm still here! Beer matters to me because it makes people happy, and I love knowing that I get to be part of that every day. Beyond that, the melding of science and art that you see in brewing is something you can't find in many places—it still fascinates me to this day!
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
More than anything else, I judge at the World Beer Cup because of the people. Yes, the beer is amazing, and I love being able to stretch my sensory legs and experience a range of beer that most people can't. But the things that keep me coming back year after year are the camaraderie I feel with my fellow judges—whether I've just met them or have been with them on panels for years—and the universal dedication to our shared craft.
