World Class Judges

Fal Allen

California, United States

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

I started as a homebrewer in 1985. I was working at a waterfront bar in Seattle and one day, while I was checking in a couple of cases of Redhook, I had an epiphany: I thought, “Wait a minute, someone gets paid to make Red Hook beer. Maybe I could get paid to make Redhook beer!” So I started visiting the Redhook brewery in the Fremont district and sharing my homebrew with the brewer. I would stop in a couple of times a week and ask him to try the beers with me. Finally, he hired me with the provision that I not bring him any more of my homebrew. For a few years I worked at the brewery during the days and tended bar at night. Rick the brewer was kind to me and rotated me through most of the positions in the brewery. I learned a lot about beer. In 1989, I got a job as a full time brewer at Pike Place Brewery. Then, in 1999, I moved to Anderson Valley Brewing in California, where I am today.

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

I judge the World Beer Cup for a couple of reasons. One, for the opportunity to judge with other people that have a different take on beer than I do. To learn and discuss beer and brewing with these folks and make new friends and partnerships in the brewing world. Second, I like to keep up to date on what is going on in the wide wide world of beer. Being selected to judge the most prestigious beer competition in the world is a great honor. I feel very lucky to be in such esteemed company of great brewers and beer industry people.

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.

Brian Watson

Hamilton, New Zealand

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

In 1990 I saw a job for a trainee brewer with Heineken in the newspaper. I was lucky enough to get the job and never looked back. I have been in craft since 1996 in the U.K. and just love the industry, the people in it and what craft sands for.

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

I judge to give back to the industry, catch up with people from different countries and cultures, learn from people, and experience the wider world of craft beer. I am passionate about craft beer and love the industry and those in it. Every time I travel I learn something, and hope to never stop learning.

Wolfgang Lindell

Sor-Trondelag, Norway

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

Having German roots, it’s fair to say that we always celebrated the culture of beer! My main hangout in college was at a brewpub in the nineties and it really inspired me to see the brewer at work with the craft. I also became interested in how technology can obscure reality, to which I sought out disciplines that kept me grounded to the world around us. I interned at a Maltster, graduated in the natural sciences, and eventually continued to work in the industry and attended brew school, becoming a master brewer in 2006. Beer and brewing matter to me in that they’re both an art and a science, a direct connection to the natural world, to agricultural raw materials, to culture and history, and to people.

We all need daily sustenance with food and drink so it’s great to be a part of the communal human journey.

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

After working 20 years in the industry, it’s great to be able to give something back. The community of beer is alive and strong, and we need to take care of our own and recognize and foster excellence. It’s also great to be with other inspired colleagues, which allows good discussion and illumination into the current state of affairs of our industry.

Jose R Ruiz

Chih, Mexico

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

I started homebrewing back in 2001 and then moved for work to live in Michigan, there I met some brewing friends that were also Bee Judge Certification Program judges. They taught me how to brew all grain batches and then I took a course to become BJCP Certified. In 2008, on returning to to Mexico I wanted to open up a microbrewery, but I found out that there were no suppliers for ingredients in Mexico. I started looking for suppliers that were willing to have a new distributor in Mexico and that is how I set up Micervesa, the first brewing supply company in Mexico. After that I was invited to organize the first BJCP beer competition in Mexico, since I was the only BJCP Certified judge at that time, and that is how Copa Cerveza Mx started and became the most important Beer competition in Mexico.

Beer matters to me because I see it as a social drink that unites people and countries. Beer is one of the few things countries have in common as a drink, but of course with a great diversity of styles. Beer is fun and it is best shared with friends.

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

Being a judge at the World Beer Cup is a tremendous honor, as it allows me to participate in the most prestigious beer competition worldwide. It is a great opportunity to meet new beer judges and share and learn from their experience, and explore the beer culture from their countries and cities. It is also a great responsibility to judge and select the best beers on the table that will be given awards, knowing that they mean a lot for each brewery.

I think beer competitions are a great motivation for brewers to do their best effort and keep brewing excellent beer, and this elevates the overall beer culture and experience to the end consumer.

Jason Macias

Pennsylvania, United States

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

After graduating with my MBA in finance from Drexel University, I was conflicted. Should I accept just ‘any’ job where my education and skills would be rewarded with a salary, or should I build on my educational foundation with hands-on skills in a unique industry that I was interested in learning more about — which was brewing.

My interest in brewing began as a homebrewer and was fueled when I began working as a server at a brew pub while attending college which introduced me to brewing on a micro scale — larger than home brewing but smaller than ‘big beer.’ My first industry job was as an assistant brewer at an upstart brewery in the quiet suburban outskirts of Philly which was initially perplexing to my family until they heard me share stories of my first few weeks and they knew I found my passion.

Eventually my education caught up with me as I worked my way out of the brewery and into various sales roles, starting with beer then raw materials (hops, malt) and eventually printed and brite aluminum cans, where I happily work currently with the Zuckerman Honickman packaging team.

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

The process of judging beer allows me to tap into my sensory skills, which I was mostly unaware I possessed until a few years back when I became a Beer Judge Certification Program judge and exam administrator for my local homebrew club. Having been educated in marketing during my undergrad years, I was well aware of how branding, labels, and packaging can impact consumer demand and sales. To completely put that aside and focus only on the actual beer was fascinating!

Beer styles are historical stories of a time and place where they originated. They offer glimpses into that time when you worked with what the land offered and played the hand you were dealt. Brewers played their hand across the globe creating the dozens of beer styles with countless attributes and characteristics that we have today. This is in addition to the story your senses can tell you about a specific beer sample’s journey into your sample glass.

The World Beer Cup represents the pinnacle of judging opportunities for me and I’m so thankful and proud to be a part of this beer judging community and engage with such amazing and interesting people from around the world.

Leonardo Sewald Cunha

Colorado, United States

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

I started as a homebrewer in south Brazil around 25 years ago. I created a homebrew club with some friends, and was getting close to a few fellow Brazilian breweries, who were very friendly towards homebrewers. Eventually, I decided to take it to the next level and earned a brewing degree at Siebel Institute in Chicago. That not only helped me get the brewing and entrepreneurial knowledge I needed but also exposed me to the values of American brewing: fun, camaraderie, creativity, and a serious commitment to quality.

Brazil didn’t have many breweries by the late 2000s, and none of the existing ones were focused on American styles of beer. With that in mind, the decision to start a brewery inspired by American beers in Brazil was an easy one. And it paid off: To this day, Seasons is viewed by consumers as one of the pioneer breweries in Brazil, something I’m really proud of because, to me, beer is so much more than just a beverage. Beer is history, science, culture, and entertainment. There’s a unique social aesthetic to beer, something that brings people together and makes them feel at home with each other. It’s just great!

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

So many things. There’s the learning aspect: I’ve been judging beers for almost 20 years but I’m always learning something new. Meeting fellow judges from around the world is also really cool. From a more personal point of view, being a judge at the World Beer Cup is a privilege; since I started in the brewing business and then became a beer judge, it has always been a dream of mine to be a part of this event.

Competitions like this help shape the world of beer. With so many different beer trends and beer scenes around the world, having a competition like the World Beer Cup raises the bar for everyone: high-level contests draw attention to brewers large and small. Their goals might be getting feedback or having a shot at an award, but what happens, in the end, is a celebration of quality. Each and every year we see higher quality beers on the table. As judges, we see the work of choosing the best beers getting harder and harder every year. And that’s great because that means there’s better beer out there for everyone. Competitions like the World Beer Cup play a big role in that.

Phil Joyce

Colorado, United States

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

I got into beer as a homebrewer and a founding member of the Avery Brewing Company’s “Homebrewers and Bottle Collectors Support Group,” as well as the homebrew club Hop Barley and the Alers in Boulder, Colo. After homebrewing for a few years, I was the founding head brewer of Powder Keg, which was my first opportunity to make brewing my career.

Beer matters to me because of the community of people that it brings together. I have always found a group of people that have supported me, and provided me with opportunities to express myself technically and artistically. The beer industry has provided me with lifelong friends and an opportunity to learn from a diverse group of people.

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

I judge because I want to continuously learn and expand my palate and give back to the community that has given me so much. It’s wonderful to network and meet other beer professionals and support the Brewers Association through judging every year. This past year I had the opportunity to judge with a number of international judges and their shared insights provided incredible education outside the style guidelines and brought unmatched validity to the competition that I haven’t experienced elsewhere.

Ricardo Aftyka

Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

I started my beer career very early, at 19 years old, as a brewer. After more than 15 years in which I participated in the founding of the Argentine Brewers Association, wrote articles, made video tutorials and wrote a book, I decided to found my own brewery, Juguetes Perdidos. I have been an International Judge for more than 15 years and thanks to beer I have traveled all over the world and met wonderful people. Today I am 45 years old and my life is completely filled with beer, so much so that my children learned to say “aftertaste” before “dad.” If I had to define in one word what beer means to me, I would say it is “passion.”

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

I trained for many years to be able to enter the World Beer Cup as a judge. It is the highest level we can aspire to as international judges.

Judging at the World Beer Cup is a unique opportunity to learn from other judges, share time and experiences, represent my country, Argentina, and be part of the most important competition in the world of beer.

What else would you like the world to know?

Juguetes Perdidos, my brewery, was the first one to get a Gold award for Argentina at the World Beer Cup!

Ken Smith

Colorado, United States

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

I sold wine for 10 years before joining the Boston Beer Company in 1995. I was looking for a change and the beer industry was becoming (and has continued to become) more interesting. My early days were spent in sales, transitioning to sales training in the early 2000s. I currently teach classes on everything beer and that environment continues to evolve. I believe that beer and its history, culture, and science will continue, as it has for millennia, to be a part of humanity way into the future.

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

Meeting others of like mind from around the world and being able to taste the best brewers have to offer is a thrilling experience. Friends are made and new beer styles are experienced! How cool is that?

Diego Setti

Florida, United States

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

I started homebrwing in 2010 in Buenos Aires, and became a Beer Judge Certification Program judge in 2012. Between 2012 and 2017, I gave many talks and trainings for the Asociación Civil Somos Cerveceros, which is the Argentine equivalent of the American Homebrewers Association.

In 2016, after a 6 months stay in Germany, I started doing some beer styles consultancies. In 2017, I quit my IT job to focus 100% on beer. I started a beer education institute called Zeta Atelier de Cervezas, offering a wide range of trainings and courses for beer enthusiasts and professionals. During that time I also became a Certified Cicerone and a Doemens Academie Biersommelier.

All that called the attention of many investors and entrepreneurs, so I accepted an offer to join the team of Prison Pals Brewing Company at the end of 2019 and I moved to Florida in 2020 to start that project, where I designed the layout and all the technical specs of the brewery. Now I’m working as brewmaster.

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 most prestigious beer competitions around the world and for sure is the biggest of all of them. It takes a lot of effort to become a part of the tasting panel: I applied for the first time in 2017 for the 2018 edition and for different reasons I’ve been able to have the honor of judging here for the first time in 2023. It’s a unique experience, where you taste world-class beers with a top notch tasting panel from every corner of the world.

Marion Weinberger

Steinbach am Attersee, Austria

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

It all started in 2013 when I joined Heineken Brau Union Austria as a brand manager looking after three big beer brands in Austria. One year later the brewery sent me to get an education as a beer sommelier and it triggered my passion for beer. Beer is the most versatile drink in the world and I am still curious about it.

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

It is a very special contest to judge as one of a few of the Europeans and it’s a great honor to be part of it.

What else would you like the world to know?

I am the first Austrian female to be invited to judge in the World Beer Cup. 🙂