Michael König

Baviera, Alemania

¿Cómo entró en la industria cervecera? ¿Por qué le importa la cerveza?

En 2011, empecé como bloguera de cerveza por amor a este tema. En ese momento, la cerveza artesanal también despegó en Alemania. A través de mi blog había creado una gran red con muchas cervecerías en poco tiempo. En 2013, me convertí en sumiller de cerveza en Doemens y en 2014 cambié a tiempo completo a una tienda online de cerveza artesanal. Desde 2016 soy sumiller jefe de cerveza o embajador de marca de Maisel & Friends en la cervecería Gebr. Maisel, un trabajo de ensueño. La cerveza es mi afición, mi pasión y mi profesión... mi vida. Me encanta probar nuevas cervezas, hablar de cerveza y descubrir cerveza cada día.

¿Por qué participa como juez en la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza? ¿Qué significa para usted ser jurado en la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza?

La Copa Mundial de la Cerveza es la mejor competición cervecera del mundo. Sentarme a la mesa como juez y hablar de cerveza con muchas personalidades conocidas del mundo de la cerveza es un honor y me llena de orgullo. Como juez de la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza determinas cuáles son las mejores cervezas del mundo. ¿No es genial? Es el mejor trabajo del mundo.

Noel Sanchez

Stuttgart, Germany

¿Cómo entró en la industria cervecera? ¿Por qué le importa la cerveza?

I’ve been a beer enthusiast since an early age, mainly because of the close relationship between beer and heavy metal. It has always been my favorite beverage during fun times. Beer and music can bring people together in a curiously special bond. I greatly enjoy being an agent who promotes this wonderful human connection—and making a living from it.

In the mid-2000s, my interest in understanding beer more deeply was sparked when some relatives invited me to brew beer at home. A few years later, while working as a creative director, I participated in a brainstorming session to create the brand for the first microbrewery in Panama. Seeing the boom that craft beers were experiencing, I saw an opportunity to quit advertising and dedicate myself fully to the beer industry.

In 2014, I began my journey as a beer professional, studying and formally training with various organizations. Since then, I have managed to stand out in different fields as an entrepreneur, consultant, and educator. I also became a beer judge at competitions held in more than 20 countries, building a large network of colleagues and opportunities across the globe.

Today, I’m the regional sales director for BrauKon in Germany.

¿Por qué participa como juez en la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza? ¿Qué significa para usted ser jurado en la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza?

For me, having the opportunity to participate as a judge in the largest and most important beer competition in the world, next to internationally respected professionals, is an honor, a privilege, and a great reward for dedication.

Shaun O’Sullivan

California, Estados Unidos

¿Cómo entró en la industria cervecera? ¿Por qué le importa la cerveza?

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.

¿Por qué participa como juez en la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza? ¿Qué significa para usted ser jurado en la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza?

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.

Kathia Zanatta

¿Cómo entró en la industria cervecera? ¿Por qué le importa la cerveza?

After finishing my food engineering degree in Brazil, I followed my love for beer. I landed an internship at Paulaner Brewery in Germany in 2005, where I delved into the world of brewing and embraced the country’s diverse beer culture. Upon my return, I transitioned into a role at a brewery in Brazil, where I honed my skills over a five-year period in areas such as quality control, research and development, and laboratory analysis. In 2008, I embarked on a journey to Germany for the Beer Sommelier course, marking my entry into Brazil’s burgeoning craft beer scene.

Equipped with this expertise, I began organizing beer events. By 2010, I co-founded Instituto da Cerveja, an educational institution dedicated to the art of beer, and since then I have been fully committed to studying (including a brewmaster course in 2011), impactful teaching, hosting beer and food events, and consulting.

¿Por qué participa como juez en la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza? ¿Qué significa para usted ser jurado en la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza?

I have been participating as a judge in beer competitions since 2009, consistently enjoying the opportunity to expand my knowledge of beer, sensory analysis, and the market. It’s not only a chance to connect with new colleagues, but also an opportunity to support breweries by engaging in discussions about their beers and providing valuable feedback.