World Class Judges

Walter König

Bavaria, Germany

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

I’ve never done anything other than beer and music! I grew up on a farm in a small village in Bavaria. There was a princely brewery in this village that was founded in 1598. Our neighbor was a brewer in this brewery and I often visited him in the brewhouse. I was fascinated by this craft and quickly became enthusiastic about the profession. At the age of 15, I began training as a brewer and maltster in this brewery. After several years of practical experience as a brewer, my career path took me to the Technical University of Munich, where I graduated as an engineer in brewing and beverage technology.

In Bavaria in particular, beer is closely associated with traditions, festivals, rituals and everyday life. There are many different beer styles for every occasion and every season. Due to my background in agriculture, I am primarily fascinated by the beer raw materials malting barley, wheat and of course hops and the conviction that a good beer needs nothing more than three ingredients, nature and the skill of the brewer.

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

I would like the German beer styles to be interpreted and judged at the jury tables in the way they have evolved from their tradition. I also enjoy exchanging ideas with judges from other countries and beer histories and discussing other beer styles and trends in the brewing industry.

Every brewer who submits a beer to the competition is entitled to transparent and honest feedback on their beer. It is therefore important to me that well-trained and focused judges give each beer the necessary attention. The World Beer Cup offers optimal conditions for this thanks to its organization and the online-based evaluation system. And despite the concentrated work, there is still enough freedom and many opportunities to get to know each other and have fun.

Lotte Peplow

Greater London, United Kingdom

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

I’ve been in the beer industry all my career but initially on the periphery, and I came to it through the PR and marketing route. As the craft beer world grew so did my interest and passion for the subject. I was lucky enough to begin my long relationship with the Brewers Association back in 2006 and I gradually took on more responsibility. My role widened until in 2019 when I was appointed American craft beer ambassador for Europe. It’s an honor and a privilege to work for the Brewers Association and I’m incredibly proud to represent them either when traveling overseas or at home in the UK.

For me, beer is not just a career but a way of life. I love the wide variety of flavors and aromas found in beer. It’s super versatile and makes the perfect food accompaniment. I love the beer community and the people who make this industry special. Everyone is friendly, welcoming, and united in a shared appreciation of this beautiful beverage. It’s a uniquely collaborative space and I count myself very lucky to be associated with some of the most talented brewing minds in the industry.

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

Judging in the World Beer Cup is the pinnacle of my beer journey and the gold standard in beer judging. It’s like competing at the Olympics! The quality of the competition is second to none — from the world class quality of the entries to the high standards of the judges and the professional, smooth-running organization behind the scenes. Of all the competitions I’ve judged around the world, the World Beer Cup is the biggest, most prestigious, most international, best-organized and most professional of them all — in my humble opinion, of course!

Being selected as a judge for the World Beer Cup is a huge honor and fills me with pride. I love judging because it focuses my mind on everything I’ve learned about beer and brewing. Much like an Olympic athlete, I have to be at the very top of my game and that’s an exciting and thrilling prospect.

I have only judged one World Beer Cup so far (2023 in Nashville) but was completely blown away by the standard of entries, quality of the judges, and organization of the competition. It was an enormously rich and rewarding personal experience and one I hope to repeat again soon.

What else would you like the world to know?

I play hockey (that’s field hockey to my American friends!) for a Club in southwest London and have done for many years. It’s great fun, a chance to run around and blow away the cobwebs before a beer in the bar afterwards. Last season we were undefeated and won promotion to a higher league. This season may be different! I’m married with three grown up children and one very lively dog.

Rene 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), then as a brewmaster in biotechnology and science. For 15 years I’ve been teaching the new guys “how to taste beer” in a sommelier course in ESCM and at Doemens achademy in Brasil. 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 the most refined world competition, 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 motivates me to participate since 2014. This competition is the best way to celebrate all the values ​​that beer represents in our society!

Blanca Fresno

Asturias, Spain

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

I started to brew beer 15 years ago. My first contact with independent and craft beer was in Bratislava when I visited a brewpub. Beer is all my life. My passion. I can’t imagine living without beer.

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

It was my goal to judge at the World Beer Cup because it is the most important competition in the world. For me, judging there is my top experience with beer in a beer competition. It was amazing. The professionalism during the journey was incredible.

Lana Svitankova

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

My beer journey started with an exclamation on my honeymoon in Prague: “Oh, beer can be like this?!” That morphed into a passion that drives my travels, education, work, and free time alike. Beer is an enjoyment for the senses, varied and exciting, social and inspiring. And besides pure hedonistic experience, it is always a discovery of new: new ingredients, new techniques, new places, and last but not least, amazing people.

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 a great honor and privilege. Helping to find and highlight the best beers in their respective categories together with seasoned experts is a joy like no other. Watching the eyes of the winners light up, tears of happiness flowing, and banners and flags proudly displayed at the awards ceremony delights me to no end. Their merriment is so deserved since every time it’s only three awards, no more. The weight of making the choice and decision is always looming over each judge, but it’s a satisfying effort. Sharing knowledge, learning from the best, and representing your country in this ‘beer olympics’ is an invaluable experience, as well as the sheer enjoyment of meeting all the amazing people: judges, organizers, and volunteers, who make this celebration of beer real.

Noel Sanchez

Stuttgart, Germany

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Markus Raupach

Bavaria, Germany

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

I was born and raised in Bamberg and practically imbibed our beer culture with my mother’s milk. As I grew older, beer first became my passion and then my profession, not only in Germany but all over the world. I am the author of over 60 books and games about beer, including the chronicle of the German Brewers’ Association, host Germany’s most successful beer podcast with over 250 episodes, am a beer judge at the most important competitions worldwide and train beer sommeliers and beer judges throughout Europe with the German Beer Academy. As a Nominated Beer Educator, I have also recently started doing this for WSET. And it’s really funny to see what has become of the first sips of Bamberg Rauchbier…

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 special for me in many ways. For one, I get to learn about many different parts of U.S. beer culture and have already made many new friends across the U.S. Of course, I also learn a lot about the current and historical beers of the USA. On the other hand, I can bring my European-influenced, but also very extensive international experience to the table and share it with the judges. This results in exciting discussions, which are always enriching for everyone involved thanks to the different perspectives. I also really enjoy the supporting program and the CBC, which I always enjoy attending.

Gad Deviri

Tel Aviv, Israel

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

It all started for me with homebrewing, which fed my soul. I started to import brewing supplies to the very young and small Israeli craft and homebrew market. I enrolled in courses at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and started teaching homebrewing and beer sensory.

Beer is a very interesting drink. It can be very ‘down to earth’ or a very complicated drink. It has so many shapes and shades. It’s never boring.

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

Judging in the prestigious competition in the word is a milestone in my professional life. It is an honor to be part of the team. Judging at this International competition gives me a broad perspective of the world of beer styles and tastes and is a rare opportunity to meet others from the industry.

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.

Steve Luke

Washington, United States

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

In the summer of 2005, I found myself packing boxes and sweeping floors at a local brewery — and I was hooked!

The beauty of beer and brewing is that it can be as complicated or as simple you make it out to be, and finding that happy medium is up to each and every brewer. There are endless wormholes to seek knowledge and solutions, and continuously evolving techniques, equipment and ingredients. But at the same time, the brewing process is still timeless and logical. Good beer is good beer, no matter how you get there!

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 allows you to meet people with different backgrounds in the beer industry from all over the world. It’s engaging, exciting, and often challenging. And it gives you an unrivaled snapshot of the current state of beer — from a quality standpoint, to trends and experimentation, to observing and developing beer style parameters.

Lana Svitankova

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

Beer is a love story in every sense. I fell down this rabbit hole on my honeymoon in Prague, over a glass of dark Czech lager, and I’ve continued my journey ever since. It started as a hobby, but it became a job, an educational vocation, and so much more. Like any relationship, there have been highs and lows, but the beer industry, the drink itself, and the people involved never cease to amaze me.

It’s more than just a set of flavors—it’s a collection of stories, emotions, memories, and experiences. That’s what makes it so exciting. Not all stories have a happy ending, but we’re here to change that and make the industry better.

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 a roller coaster of emotions. It’s a huge responsibility to do justice to an overwhelming number of beers. It’s an uplifting feeling to represent your country with pride. It’s an immense joy to meet and learn from the best peers in the beer world, having countless meaningful conversations. It’s a lot of fun, but everyone takes it very seriously. The amount of knowledge and experience in the room is outstanding.

Winning a medal at the WBC means going through rigorous assessment and reaching the podium with flying colors. It’s a reason for every winner to be proud and to celebrate their work and team effort.