Ai Tani

Osaka-shi Kitaku Oyodonaka, Japan

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

“Almost 30 years ago, small-scale brewing began in Japan. At that time, imported German and Belgian beers were occasionally available in Japan. Small-scale brewing had begun, but there were few high-quality beers and few good brewers. I decided that I would grow as a professional and spread the word about the existence of high-quality beer in Japan. This is why I entered this industry.

Twelve years ago, I decided just acting as a judge was not enough to advance quality standards, so I started running my own bottle shop and beer pub, selecting good quality beer, and providing it to consumers while maintaining quality. Since five years ago, I have also owned a brewery, and while deepening my awareness of beer, I also improve brewing, sipping and serving skills, and support the management of breweries and restaurants.

Beer has a long history and has recently evolved from technological developments and scientific advances. From the current situation, where Japanese historical food and liquor culture is evolving through beer, we believe that we can find an opportunity to build a new beer culture in Japan.

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

Being able to judge at the World Beer Cup, the world’s premier competition, is a source of pride. It is a good opportunity to measure my judging skills.

It was also a great experience how the judges are organized at the World Beer Cup. I believe it is the best competition in the world. The fact that many Japanese have won awards has become a guideline for quality improvement for Japanese brewers. It is also a great place where you can exchange information with beer judges from all over the world.

I was able to talk about my role as a judge and my thinking about evaluation at a high level. I would like to take it back to Japan and use it to educate beer judges and give advice on the growth of the market.

What else would you like the world to know?

If you ever come to Osaka, Japan, please visit our brewery, Craft Beer Base.

Nicholas Galton-Fenzi

Western Australia, Australia

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

I was a keen learner, and I started homebrewing at 17. My first batch of beer (kit and kilo) had very poor temperature control and showed a lack of brewing understanding on my behalf … It was absolutely terrible. From then on, I have tried to learn as much as I can about beer, the industry, the ingredients, and the people involved. This journey has taken me through 23 different countries and I have now been involved in over 50 breweries worldwide.

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 I wish to share what I have learned within the industry. I do it so I can provide my feedback, where I can, and further learn, for myself, about beer styles. I get the opportunity to meet with fellow judges who can also provide additional feedback on the style of beer that is being judged.

What else would you like the world to know?

This industry is rapidly changing, with the amount of additional science and information that comes through on a daily basis. A beer making it through to the second round of this competition is already leagues ahead. Achieving an award is an incredible accomplishment for the brewery involved.

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.

Mark Zunkel

Nuremberg, Germany

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

I studied my undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder. There, I was able to experience the craft brewing scene, but my true inspiration for brewing started during a study abroad year in Regensburg, Germany. I fell in love with lager beer and German brewing traditions. After returning to finish my studies, I started homebrewing. That accelerated my interest in beer and brewing, after which I applied and studied at the Technical University of Munich in Weihenstephan. After graduating, I started working with the world’s largest hop supplier, BarthHaas, as a technical manager. My passion lies in the tasting and technology of beer. Hops as a raw ingredient are the core of my passion. The composition, aroma, cultivation regions, and the individuals involved in the hop industry are central to my passion for beer.

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

I judge for many reasons: Meeting with beer industry colleagues, debating beer and beer styles, and experiencing the quality of beer in the market. The most interesting categories for me are all hoppy styles, but also the experimental categories where a brewer’s imagination can run wild.

First and foremost though, the World Beer Cup is for brewers and their customers. Therein lies the value for everyone in the industry and the most important reason why all the judges, breweries, and beer consumers should praise one of most important beer events in the world!