Jim Matt
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
In 2010, my career in Big Pharma came to an abrupt end after 20 years. My job was eliminated, so I was looking for my next career at age 44. Fortunately, I had friends! And some of those friends owned Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis. I worked part time in the taproom and on the canning line in the summer of 2010. Once September of 2010 rolled around, Dave Colt offered me a full time job at Sun King as the lab person as well as Assistant Brewer. In 2012 I moved to Cincinnati, and in 2013 I joined the Rhinegeist team as Head Brewer and Employee #1. I have since shifted my focus to the lab as Chief Science Officer where I have been since 2017.
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
I've been judging beer since 2007. I started in the BJCP program and worked my way up to Master level in 2015. I've judged over 60 beer competitions....from homebrew competitions to FoBAB (starting in 2010). I judged my first GABF competition in 2014, and had to honor to judge in my first World Beer Cup competition in 2023. I take judging very seriously and judge beers in the way I hope that my beers are judged. Fairly, with integrity and with a lot of collaboration and feedback with my judging partners.
What else would you like the world to know?
I love traveling, hiking, working out, espresso, roasting my own coffee, cooking and hanging out with my two Aussiedoodles Archie and Auggie!
