Rick Kempen

Noord Holland, Niederlande

Wie sind Sie in die Bierbranche gekommen? Warum ist Bier für Sie wichtig?

Seit über dreißig Jahren dreht sich in meinem Leben alles um Bier. Dass ich wegen meines Nebenjobs als Kellner im De Pilsener Club von der Universität geflogen bin, erwies sich als eines der besten Dinge, die mir passieren konnten. 1998 kam ich zu Bier&cO, einem der führenden Bierimport- und -vertriebsunternehmen in Europa, das es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht hat, handwerklich gebrautes Bier aus der ganzen Welt unter die Leute zu bringen.

Nachdem ich verschiedene Positionen bei Bier&cO bekleidet hatte, baute ich schließlich die Exportabteilung auf, indem ich eine Handvoll amerikanischer Handwerksbrauereien vertrat. Gemeinsam mit einer Handvoll anderer Unternehmen leisteten wir Pionierarbeit auf dem europäischen Markt und trugen dazu bei, eine europäische "Bierrevolution" einzuleiten.

Heute bin ich Bierbotschafterin bei Bier&cO und reise rund um den Globus, um für ein Portfolio besonderer, aufregender und einzigartiger Craft-Biere zu werben und darüber zu informieren. Ich bin zertifizierter Biersommelier (Doemens Diplom-Biersommelier) und Mitbegründer der Dutch Beer Week sowie der Dutch Beer Challenge, einem Wettbewerb für niederländische Biere. Ich sehe mich selbst gerne als professionellen Bierkenner, der das Vergnügen hatte, seine Arbeit zum Hobby zu machen. Bier bedeutet mir folglich alles!

Warum richten Sie beim World Beer Cup? Was bedeutet das Richten beim World Beer Cup für Sie?

Als Juror beim World Beer Cup können Sie von anderen Juroren aus der ganzen Welt lernen, die alle ihr spezifisches Fachwissen mitbringen. Der Austausch mit Gleichgesinnten ist eine seltene Gelegenheit, sich in Sachen Bier zu verbessern. Außerdem haben Sie die Gelegenheit, Biere von Brauereien zu probieren, die ihr Geschäft und ihre Handwerkskunst ernst nehmen. Sie trauen sich, ihre Biere von Fachleuten bewerten zu lassen und nutzen deren Feedback, um ihre Kreationen zu verbessern. Dazu beizutragen, indem man einige der besten Biere der Welt verkostet, ohne sie zu kennen, ist eine große Ehre, ein Privileg und ein Vergnügen.

Was möchten Sie der Welt noch mitteilen?

Wenn Sie als Brauerei teilnehmen, konkurrieren Sie nicht nur um Auszeichnungen, sondern Sie erhalten auch wertvolles Feedback von einer professionellen und erfahrenen Gruppe von Verkostern. Machen Sie mit!

Silvia De Tomas Ayllon

Lima, Peru

Wie sind Sie in die Bierbranche gekommen? Warum ist Bier für Sie wichtig?

I am part of the second generation of a brewing family in Peru that started in 2003. My parents taught me the art of making beer when I was 9 years old, studying and learning from it. This is how I fell in love with that passion, with its community, and everything that revolves around it. Over the years I have founded projects such as the Latin American Craft Beer Cup, Peruvian Beer Cup, Brewmart school, Brewpub Cebichela and my Two Broders Brewery. I also became a beer judge in 2014, participating in multiple competitions in Latin America. Beer matters to me, because it is part of the story of my family, of my life and it has taught me a lot over the years. I feel respect, admiration and I work hard to share with others how important it is, that they learn to value it, but above all to understand it.

Warum richten Sie beim World Beer Cup? Was bedeutet das Richten beim World Beer Cup für Sie?

I always dreamed of being part of the World Beer Cup, ever since I was young I always admired everyone who was part of it, and the experience one must have to be chosen for this great competition. I always followed in detail each event organized by the Brewers Association, learning from it and using it as a reference for the Peruvian market.

I judge beers in this competition, because it brings together the best beers and breweries in the world into one place. The level of analysis and professionalism that exists in each tasting session is incredible. Since beers are of a high level, it allows you to have different points of view and understanding about the every beer. You get to meet judges from all over the world! This is a very reason important reason for me to be part of it, get to know different cultures, exchange ideas, they make me personally a better person every day.

I am very happy to be part of this great competition that marks important milestones in the history of beer worldwide.

Marco Malaga

Wie sind Sie in die Bierbranche gekommen? Warum ist Bier für Sie wichtig?

I was born and raised in Lima, Peru. At 15 years of age, a teacher at my high school asked all students what profession they wanted to pursue as grown ups. My answer was “I would like to brew beer.” My teacher replied in disbelief: “And what do you have to study to become a brewer?” My answer was, “I am not sure but I will find out and do it.” My main inspiration was realizing how beer and brewing was an inherent part of society since ancient times. I was later gripped by the science, engineering, and artistic sides of brewing. I started brewing at age 19, graduated as a food engineer at age 23 and have been brewing continuously for 32 years. Beer has allowed me to make a living, travel all over the world, and be part of the amazing world beer community.

Warum richten Sie beim World Beer Cup? Was bedeutet das Richten beim World Beer Cup für Sie?

Judging at the World Beer Cup is the utmost honor for a beer professional. Being able to taste the best beers in the world, side by side, and discuss them with some of the most knowledgeable beer professionals in the industry, is an absolute experience. Beer is continuously evolving and the WBC is certainly a place where you see that evolution. As a brewer it helps me understand where the industry is heading and how the boundaries of quality keep getting raised.

Chris Flaskamp

Santiago, Chile

Wie sind Sie in die Bierbranche gekommen? Warum ist Bier für Sie wichtig?

I started homebrewing in Chile in 2000 and launched my own craft brewery in Santiago, Tübinger, in 2007. I’ve been a certified BJCP beer judge since 2014 and have judged at the world’s most important beer competitions, such as the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, European Beer Star in Germany, Brussels Beer Challenge in Belgium, World Beer Awards in the U.K., Blumenau Beer Cup in Brazil, and others.

I’m a co-founder and the current executive director of Chile’s Independent Craft Brewers Association, ACI Chile, since 2019, which has over 150 members from all over Chile. We’ve been organizing the yearly Great Chile Beer Festival and its beer competition, Copa ACI. During the dark years of COVID-19, I made the most of the downtime to write a book about beer history, beer culture, and beer styles. I’m proud to say that it has been quite successful, with two sold-out editions since 2021.

Beer has been part of my life since my student days in Germany, and I feel that I learn more every year about this beautiful beverage. I love opening people’s minds to the wide variety of beers, and there is still much to be done in that regard in Latin America.

Warum richten Sie beim World Beer Cup? Was bedeutet das Richten beim World Beer Cup für Sie?

Judging at the World Beer Cup is like being at the global center of beer experts, and it is always a pleasure and a great honor to share time, stories, and pints with the most accomplished brewers and beer judges in the world. This experience enables me to continue learning and improving my knowledge of beer tasting, new trends, and beer style appreciation.

It is also important for me to represent our relatively small country and emerging craft beer market at a global event and to spread the word about the increasingly vibrant Chilean beer market.