Tetsuya Kojima

Tokyo, Japan

How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?

Beer has completely changed my life. About 25 years ago, I was just a craft beer fan. One day, I attended a beer festival in Tokyo sponsored by the Craft Beer Association and saw a flyer for a Beer Judge Seminar. I became interested in the beer judge qualification program in Japan, and a few years later, I took the seminar and got certified as a beer judge.

About 10 years ago, I received a phone call from Ryouji Oda, former president of the Craft Beer Association, asking me to serve as a lecturer at the beer tasting program and beer judge qualification program sponsored by the association. Now, I’m a lecturer for the association, teaching beer tasting and judging methods at seminars. I’m also a competition director at Japanese beer competitions, such as the International Beer Cup and the Japan Great Beer Awards.

In fact, I don’t work in the beer industry. My actual job is as a computer science professor at a college in Tokyo. However, beer occupies a significant part of my life. I am, and always will be, very happy to spend my life in the world of craft beer.

Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?

My first judging experience at the World Beer Cup was in Nashville in 2018. As a certified beer judge, I wanted to contribute to events like this to help raise the quality of craft beer. This was the primary reason I joined the World Beer Cup. Another reason was my desire to stay updated on global trends in craft beer, which remains a crucial part of my experience at the WBC. I hope to judge new beer styles at every World Beer Cup. It’s an excellent learning opportunity for me, and I can share my experiences from the competition with my students and fellow beer judges in Japan.

Chris Hotz

California, United States

How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?

I started as a homebrewer in 2004. I won a couple National Homebrew Competition medals and got more involved with my local homebrew club, QUAFF. In 2013, I enrolled in the brewing certificate program at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The next year I was hired at Ballast Point Brewing as a quality analyst. I was promoted to R&D brewer at the Little Italy R&D facility. By 2019, I was teaching the finishing practices and raw materials courses for the UCSD brewing certificate program. I left Ballast Point in 2022 to become a quality manager at Societe Brewing.

Beer has been a big part of my life since I started homebrewing. I love the creativity and analytical side of brewing, as well as all the friends I have made in the industry.

Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?

Since becoming a Beer Judge Certification Program judge in 2014, I have really enjoyed the judging community and participating in local/national competitions. I have made friends in the community and learned a lot about the behind-the-scenes day-to-day of running a competition. Participating in judging competitions has made me a better taster and brewer.

Fernanda Meybom

How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?

I have always liked beer and my grandmother was a homebrewer.As a chemical engineer,I became more familiar with the fermentation process and the beer industry. After my graduation and a sommelier course, I decided to learn more about sensory analysis. I got involved with beer competitions and local homebrewers associations, including organizing competitions and conferences.I’m a master’s candidate in food engineering and beer science. I recently co-authored a chapter about pairing beer and food in Guia da Sommelieira de Cervejas (Beer Sommelier Guide), and co-authored a chapter about probiotic beer in Protocols in Technology of Probiotic Foods and Beverages for Springer Protocols. I’m also the technical advisor at the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy of Santa Catarina in Brazil. I am an active BJCP Certified judge and for the last 10 years I have judged in international beer competitions in Chile, Spain, Mexico, South Africa, Belgium, Argentina, and Uruguay. I’m the co-founder of Passaporte Cervejeiro, a company that organizes beer travel groups to Belgium. I have taught several courses in Brazil. Writing and cooking are my passions, and after five years as a columnist for Revista da Cerveja (Magazine of Beer), I now share recipes at my own website.

Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?

The World Beer Cup is one of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the world, and winning a medal there is celebrated as a significant competitive achievement. Being selected for the judging team is therefore a great honor and an achievement for beer professionals, as well as a great responsibility to select the worthiest beers from among the entries. Being part of the World Beer Cup is a great validation of my hard work, study, and preparation in the beer industry, and a wonderful way to use my beer evaluation skills.

Marek Kaminski

How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?

I have been working in the beer industry since early 2014, and later that year I co-founded a Polish craft beer brand, Browar Kingpin, where I have also served as brewmaster since 2018. I am a well-traveled international beer, cider, and mead judge with experience at the World Beer Cup, European Beer Star, Brussels Beer Challenge, Birra dell’Anno, International Beer Cup Japan, Concurso Brasileiro de Cervejas, and many other competitions. I have been the co-founder and president of the Polish Craft Brewers Association since 2018, and I also serve as an organizer, proctor, and grader for BJCP Beer, Cider, and Mead Judge certifications. Additionally, I am the BJCP EMEA Regional Director, a WSET Certified Educator for Award in Beer qualifications, a contributor to periodicals, and I run beer education classes and regular tasting events.

To me, beer embodies a rich blend of history, craftsmanship, and creativity. It’s a medium for exploring flavors, places, and stories, fostering communities, and celebrating cultural traditions. The art and science of brewing continually inspire me, offering endless opportunities for personal development and enjoyment.

Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?

I judge at the World Beer Cup because it is the largest and one of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world, where I get to meet many great beer professionals and taste some of the best beers in the world. It’s a great opportunity for me to both contribute to the evaluation as well as make new friends and master my skills. To be a judge at the World Beer Cup is to be part of the judging elite and to have my competences in the field recognized.