Ben Jankowski
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
It began for me in 1989, at the Triple Rock Brewpub in Berkeley, CA. There was fresh beer brewed on premise and I had to explore this phenomenon further. Attending a Michael Jackson speaking engagement increased my intrigue. I'm a homebrewer since 1990 and counting! Additional and evolving brewing interests include: co-organizing the first Craft Beer Festival on Long Island, NY in 1993, and writing articles for various beer publications which focus primarily on beer styles and the history of brewing in the United States. An active member of the Beer Judge Certification Program since 1992, holding the rank of Grand Master Beer Judge, and serving as a grader of BJCP tasting and written exams for twelve years. Beer is constantly evolving from revisiting and advocating traditional styles to new creations, and is enjoyed in every socio-economic walk of life.
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
WBC is the pinnacle of beer judging and I am honored to be selected with others from around the world to participate in this event and evaluate beers from every continent. It is a privilege to be with judges, stewards and organizers who "speak" beer.
