Matthew Peetz

Colorado, Estados Unidos

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

Empecé a elaborar cerveza casera en la universidad mientras estudiaba la reparación celular utilizando la levadura como organismo modelo. Mi asesor de posgrado estaba a cargo del Rocky Mountain Microbrewing Symposium y pude conocer a expertos del sector mientras trabajaba como voluntario en el evento. Seguí trabajando con levaduras como profesional de la investigación en la Universidad de Colorado Denver antes de trasladarme al Brewing Science Institute. Utilicé mi experiencia en la propagación de levaduras para trabajar en la industria de los biocombustibles antes de fundar Inland Island con un compañero de trabajo. He pasado los últimos cinco años creando mi propia empresa, Propagate Lab, que suministra levadura a las industrias cervecera, destiladora y sidrera.

La cerveza es para disfrutarla. Puede transportarle a cualquier parte del mundo mientras saborea miles de años de experiencia humana e historia. Con cientos de variedades de levadura, lúpulo, grano y otros ingredientes, se puede producir casi cualquier sabor, textura y color de cerveza para su disfrute. Puede elegir el sabor, el color, la sensación en boca y el aroma. O puedes simplemente machacar las lagers. Eso es lo bueno de la cerveza.

¿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 cerveza es una maravillosa combinación de cultura, historia, arte y ciencia. Los cerveceros trabajan sin descanso para crear algo que el público pueda disfrutar. Aquellos que son maestros de su oficio deben ser reconocidos al más alto nivel, que es ganar un premio de la Copa Mundial de la Cerveza. Los cerveceros se toman en serio lo que hacen y deben ser juzgados por jueces profesionales y con conocimientos. Tengo 10 años de experiencia en el sector, dirijo programas de formación sensorial en una universidad local y he viajado mucho por Europa. Creo que tengo la formación y la pasión suficientes para asegurarme de que cada muestra de cerveza se juzga como es debido.

Emily Vegas

Thüringen, Germany

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

For me, beer is everything; it’s both my profession and my hobby. When I’m not working at the brewery, I’m judging competitions, reading books about beer, taking courses, or simply enjoying some beers. My life has meaning, thanks to beer.

I started working at Polar Brewery in Venezuela in 2015 after graduating as a biologist. I began as a brewer apprentice and then moved to Germany, where I worked at Doemens Academy in the laboratory and pilot plant. There, I took a course to become a brewmaster and graduated in 2019. After becoming a brewmaster, I started working at the Institut Romeis, performing chemical and analytical controls for breweries in Germany and around the world.

In 2021, I began working for Oettinger Brewery as a quality assurance specialist (microbiology and chemistry), and since January 2023, I’ve been working for Paulaner, also in quality assurance. During my first two years in Germany, I served as a steward for the European Beer Star Competition, and in 2021, I started judging various beer competitions, including the Austrian Beer Challenge, Concours de Lyon, African Beer Cup, World Beer Cup, and Women’s Trophy.

¿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 had already judged in several competitions in Europe, and I dreamed of participating as a juror in the largest competitions in the world and in other countries outside Europe. That’s why I applied for the World Beer Cup—it’s one of the most important competitions globally. I also wanted the opportunity to meet amazing professionals from around the world and learn more about beer. It’s truly wonderful, and I’m very proud of it.

Fernanda Meybom

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

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.

¿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?

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.

Chris Flaskamp

Santiago de Chile

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

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.

¿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?

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.