Charles Nouwen
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
I grew up near the Abbey of Orval in Belgium and that actually is the first beer I learned to appreciate. So when I started college studying Bio Engineering I got attracted early by brewing science. A fascinating process. Somehow very simple but at the same time incredibly complex. A mix of science and magic, excellence and creativity, hard work but with a very epicurean perspective. I did a Masters in Brewing Science at UCL and have been working in this industry for more than 25 years now. From quality to operations, from innovation to education, there are so many different ways to embrace the beer industry. Beer is one of these few things that can bring back memories. People, moments, places. I think it's because beer is for the people: Approachable, authentic, unassuming, diverse and cultural.
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
Judging is an intense teamwork. You bring your best sensory skills around the table but you learn from your peers, debate and align. It's exhausting and exhilarating at once. It brings together people from all countries and beer cultures which makes the experience very rich and engaging, making new friends and growing your network every time. Brewers entrust us with their beers in this competition, and I am committed to honoring that trust by ensuring the most objective evaluation. As a brewmaster I think I can provide very helpful and constructive feed back based on sensory evaluations, connecting flaws and gaps with specific process areas, helping to improve. This is more important to me than anything else.
What else would you like the world to know?
There are lots of classic styles to judge in competitions but as an innovator I also love to judge a few contemporary styles or styles exploring new possibilities like Italian Grape Ale and tea beers.
