Shana Solarte
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
My start in beer was pure luck: I was fortunate enough to combine my background with my interest in beer and got my start working on the content team for Cicerone, which opened several doors that helped me learn a ton about hospitality, brewing, and the culture of beer. Beer matters to me because of its long history as a beverage of the people. Communities around the globe have integrated beermaking into their culture, and to this day it still has the incredible power to connect people.
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
One of the best parts of judging at the WBC is the rare opportunity to share beers with people I would never meet otherwise. Sharing a judging table with experts from around the world and hearing their perspectives is invaluable, and I can’t even begin to quantify what I have learned in those discussions. As a result of these connections, I have a deeper understanding of the cultures that surround and influence beer production, regional expectations, stylistic nuance, and so much more. I'm so grateful to have this experience year after year. Also…it’s hard work, but it is fun. Judging at the WBC means so much to me. It means I’ve put in the work and have earned my place alongside a group of judges I respect and admire. It also means that I have a responsibility to the brewers who have trusted us to provide useful feedback and help them understand what the competition is really like. I take this responsibility seriously and hope to do my part in bringing new perspectives to the table as well.
What else would you like the world to know?
Even with the industry's ups and downs, we're really lucky to be living in this era of beer. Judging is when it's time to be serious, but the rest of the time? Beer is just good.
