World Class Judges

Matthias Kopp

Bavaria, Germany

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

I came to beer through curiosity rather than a straight career path. What started as a fascination with styles, flavors, and brewing traditions quickly turned into a deeper interest in craftsmanship, quality, and cultural context. Beer matters to me because it is one of the most democratic cultural products we have: deeply rooted in local traditions, yet globally connected. It tells stories about people, places, ingredients, and intent. Over the years, my work as a beer sommelier, consultant, writer, and international judge has allowed me to explore beer not only as a beverage, but as a medium of communication and cultural exchange. I am particularly interested in how brewing quality, sensory precision, and authenticity come together and how these values can be communicated clearly and respectfully to both professionals and consumers. #livingbeerculture

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

Judging at the World Beer Cup is both a responsibility and a privilege. It represents the highest level of international beer evaluation, where diversity of styles, cultures and brewing philosophies meet under a shared framework of quality and fairness. For me, judging at the World Beer Cup means contributing experience, focus, and respect to a process that has real impact on brewers worldwide. Every beer represents hard work, ambition, and pride, and deserves to be assessed with seriousness, openness, and sensory precision. I value the collaborative nature of the World Beer Cup judging panels, the exchange with highly experienced international colleagues, and the commitment to consistency and transparency. Being part of this process reinforces my belief that great beer evaluation is not about personal preference, but about understanding intent, style and execution at the highest possible level.

What else would you like the world to know?

I believe that beer deserves thoughtful conversation and careful evaluation. Beyond judging, my work focuses on connecting brewing craftsmanship with communication, education and cultural context. I am always interested in dialogue across borders. Between brewers, judges, writers and the wider industry and in helping beer be understood not just as a product, but as part of #livingbeerculture.

Samuel D’Imperio

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

I entered the world of craft beer in 2013 by opening Malta’s first craft brewery. The beauty of making craft beer is that you can experiment with many styles, and we do, using as many local ingredients as possible. In 2016, we brewed the world’s first Gose using caper flowers as dry hopping and sea salt from local cliffs. We also invite the world’s leading breweries to Malta, combining ingredients from their countries with our local ones.

The philosophy of my brewery is to use the best machinery available on the market to ensure consistency while still producing unpasteurized beers. I believe it is impossible to achieve this goal without technology.

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 great thrill and a point of pride to be on the panel with the best judges from around the world. Ever since I founded the brewery, the World Beer Cup has always been a milestone. It is the most prestigious beer competition in the world, and representing Malta for the first time in this competition is a great privilege and honor for me.

René Aduan Junior

São Paulo, Brazil

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

I’ve worked in beer industry since 2004, first as a beer taster (sommelier) and chef, then as a brewmaster and researcher in biotechnology and brewing science. For 16 years, I’ve been teaching the new folks “how to taste beer” in Brazil’s most important sommelier programs (ESCM, Doemens Akademie, Senac). Basically, beer is my priority and unconditional love.

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 refined world competitions, with the best selection of judges. It is a pleasure to be part of this event, sharing knowledge to the market. The exchange of experiences between everyone who participates is the solid basis that has motivated me to participate since 2014. This competition is the best way to celebrate all the values ​​that beer represents in our society!

What else would you like the world to know?

In my free time, I’m a guitarist and musician, so I really enjoy events that combine good beer, good food, and plenty of rock! Cheers!!!

Marty Nachel

Illinois, United States

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

After tasting beer on my first brewery tour, I realized exactly how good beer can be when it’s fresh and offered in many different styles. I knew immediately this was my new focus in life. I began brewing my own beer at home and submitting it to competitions. Following this, I became a beer judge with the Beer Judge Certification Program (the first in my home state) and began freelance writing on the topics of beer and brewing which eventually led to the publication of several books. Now I’m judging beer as a professional judge with international credentials.

Beer is important to me not just as a preferred beverage of choice, but also as a libation to be generously shared with others, and I consider it a link to our own human history.

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 first because I consider it a great privilege to evaluate some of the best beers in the world. Secondly, I appreciate the opportunity to meet and judge alongside my peers from other countries around the globe. I’m proud to be a member of the global beer judging community.

What else would you like the world to know?

It’s my goal to judge beer on every continent that has a commercial brewing industry.

Jose Dacak

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

I started homebrewing during my last year in college, trying to replicate the awesome beers we drank after class, in San Antonio, Texas.

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

Judging at the World Beer Cup is the pinnacle of a beer judge’s career, and a great way to make friends with beer enthusiasts from all over the world. I am very excited to be joining this amazing group of people and share our experiences and knowledge doing what we love the most.

Andrea Albertino

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

Beer is a fascinating matrix: the volatile complexity is huge every time you combine ingredients (water, malt, hops, yeast and maybe more) under specific processes (fermentation, aging). I have been working in the food industry for more than 10 years, after obtaining a PhD in chemistry. I have become a senior flavorist after years of training, mainly for sweet and beverage markets and beer has been a constant topic, both as an inspiration to create new profiles and as a matrix to work with (flavored beers/shandies). I have worked for multinational flavor companies based in Italy and Ireland before moving to Austria and working for Esarom. I have served as the president of the British Society of Flavourists, currently immediate past president. We are actively organizing online and in person events, we have a podcast, a magazine and we are constantly active in the flavor world (see the website bsf.org.uk). I am a home brewer too and everywhere I go I try to taste local craft beers. My motto is: never drink the same beer twice in your life. Be creative, be curious!

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

It is an incredible honor for me to be invited to judge! One of the most important things in the industry is networking and this event will be a great opportunity for me to know more persons in this field. Since I don’t want to drink the same beer twice, this will be an opportunity for me to taste many more fantastic products.

What else would you like the world to know?

Always be curious, don’t stick to boring drinks and try different beers. There is such a big world outside boring mass produced market products. If you are interested in knowing more about the British Society of Flavours, visit the website or reach out to me on LinkedIn.

Alessandra Agrestini

Bologna, Italy

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

Born a few kilometers from one of the oldest and most important Italian breweries, I still remember the scent of beer wort from the school trip I made there, at the age of 6. Maybe that was the beginning of my curiosity and passion towards beer.

Nowadays, I am a beer consultant and communicator, teacher for many Italian beer associations, and writer for beer magazines and blogs. I try to spread beer knowledge as much as I can, starting from the growth of the Italian craft movement, in my country and abroad.

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

I have been an international judge since 2011, with experience in many competitions all around the world. Being a part of such an important competition means a lot to me and it makes me feel really proud.

Having the chance to meet people from different cultures and countries, sharing knowledge and different points of view, going deep into beer trends and topics with other experts in a country which is fundamental to the history of beer, worldwide — this is judging at the World Beer Cup, to me.

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.

Gavin Harper

California, United States

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

My dad started a side business importing beer from England, including casks! I made several connections over the years across the pond, learned some tricks, and created a solid foundation before deciding to work full-time in the industry in 2014. I have worked for tiny breweries, very large breweries and all size in between. Beer matters to me because it’s a low-drama source of genuine enjoyment that engages my senses, rewards attention, softens mental noise, and doesn’t ask you to be anyone else.

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

Judging at the World Beer Cup offers the opportunity to engage with amazing people from around the world, learn from their perspectives, and understand how their experiences shape perception, ultimately broadening my appreciation of beer. Being a judge means I get to participate in a global conversation about beer, that’s cool!

What else would you like the world to know?

I’m a former baby… though my snack habits say otherwise.

Shaun O’Sullivan

California, United States

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

After several career changes in my twenties—from being a photographer for a local Los Angeles weekly covering music and politics, to working as a CNN assignment desk editor, and then as a legal clerk at a high-powered corporate law firm—I found my passion in homebrewing, with the goal of one day opening my own brewpub.

Discovering my destiny and community within craft beer has been incredible, and I still can’t believe I get paid to do this.

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

I often tell aspiring beer judges that becoming a judge at the World Beer Cup can make you a better brewer and person. The experience involves interacting with fellow international beer judges, honing the skills of listening and being open to discussion. It’s a humbling experience that requires judges to set aside their egos, as we all strive toward the common goal of recognizing the best beers.

Nicolás Boan

Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

My uncle and aunt had been in the beer scene for over 15 years. During my final year of high school, I began working part-time with them, and my true eye-opening moment came when I served as a steward at that year’s South Beer Cup (SBC). Until then, I had no idea how broad beer could be.

While studying at university, I became deeply involved in organizing all aspects of SBC and the Copa Argentina de Cervezas, the largest competition in our country. After several years of working as an organizer and completing sensory training, I decided to pursue judging myself, passing the BJCP examination and eventually obtaining the National Rank.

Beer has been a core part of my life; I deeply enjoy my work and the opportunity to have a space where the industry connects, while highlighting the best beers being made is something I am very proud of.

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

Judging at the WBC is an absolute honor. I will always be grateful to the people who vouched for me and helped me be considered for a place on this panel.

Being part of this competition allows me to learn from some of the most talented people in the industry. It is an opportunity to stay up to date with evolving techniques, new styles, discover ingredients, and take a look at the creativity of brewers from all over the world. It is probably the best place to get a glimpse of the current state of beer quality.

It is an overall extremely enriching opportunity. I get to meet people from all over the world, while being able to keep my palate as sharp as possible.

What else would you like the world to know?

Beer is about the people who make it, and I enjoy traveling as much as possible to see what everyone is brewing out there.

Dana Johnson

Colorado, United States

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

Like many, I got into the industry after falling in love with home brewing. For my 30th birthday, I was given a homebrewing kit and (of course) Charlie Papazian’s “Complete Joy of Homebrewing” book. This was prior to the internet and my first batch or two had a very steep learning curve, but I was hooked. Five years later, I knew I didn’t want to start my own brewery but saw an opportunity selling cleaning, sanitizing, and process aids to the industry. I’ve been doing it ever since and couldn’t be happier.

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

I’ve been judging at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) since 2015. When the opportunity to judge at the World Beer Cup presented itself a couple of years ago, I jumped at the chance. The World Beer Cup is open to breweries all over the world, not just the US. The WBC is one of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world with some of the best judges in the world. It is interesting to judge with people from across the globe and is very educational. I am extremely honored to be included as a World Beer Cup Judge and to know that we are all very committed to doing our very best, each and every round and awarding medals to the best beers in the entire world.