George Reisch

Missouri, United States

Come è entrato nel settore della birra? Perché la birra è importante per lei?

I am a fourth-generation brewmaster in the Reisch family, which owned and operated the Reisch Brewery in Springfield, Illinois, for 117 years, from 1849 to 1966. My dad was the last Reisch brewmaster at the Reisch Brewery. After retiring from a 37-year brewing career, I started Reisch Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, in 2018 and brewed the first Reisch Beer in 53 years, with all profits going to our charity. We tapped the first keg at my dad’s 100th birthday party, and he was so happy!

Perché giudica alla World Beer Cup? Cosa significa per lei giudicare alla World Beer Cup?

The World Beer Cup has the best judge panel made up of fabulous human beings with spectacular tasting ability. The best beers plus the best judges leads to a pure beer experience. A beer retreat! I am so humbled to be included as a judge!

Andres Quiros

San Jose, Costa Rica

Come è entrato nel settore della birra? Perché la birra è importante per lei?

After a long wait, I got to brew my first homebrew batch with friends in China, where I had some incredible beer mentors from Germany and the U.S. That later became an income, we would sell beers with our homebrew club at festivals, and later with our own homebrewery, I later got hired at a Chinese brewpub, which was my first pro job. Experimentation has always been my favorite thing about beer, luckily, when I started brewing professionally the breweries where always open for my experiments, which made me grow as a brewer. I later founded my brewery Experimento Cervecero in Costa Rica, which is now evolving from a small industrial brewery to a largely self-sustainable farmstead brewery.

Beer is about community and that has always inspired me, most times when you meet a brewer you kind of get a new friend, who knows what you’ve been through; and more often than not, the collaboration spirit is on. Sharing a passion and sharing a beer is always a great feeling.

Perché giudica alla World Beer Cup? Cosa significa per lei giudicare alla World Beer Cup?

It has been a dream come true to judge at the WBC, I would dare say the pinnacle of a judging career. I judge to learn and share knowledge and the WBC is a great avenue for this. The diversity of beer, both in style and origin is incredible, and tasting beer from all over the world is always very rewarding and exciting. The judging panel is the top of the industry worldwide, so meeting the people and sharing stories was a definite treat. Judging at the world beer cup was a clear goal when I started brewing and later on judging, and getting to do it was a great feeling.

Mark Zunkel

Norimberga, Germania

Come è entrato nel settore della birra? Perché la birra è importante per lei?

Mi sono laureato all'Università del Colorado, a Boulder. Lì ho avuto modo di sperimentare la scena della produzione di birra artigianale, ma la mia vera ispirazione per la produzione di birra è nata durante un anno di studio all'estero a Ratisbona, in Germania. Mi sono innamorata della birra lager e delle tradizioni birrarie tedesche. Dopo essere tornato per terminare gli studi, ho iniziato a produrre birra in casa. Questo ha accelerato il mio interesse per la birra e la produzione di birra, dopo di che mi sono iscritto e ho studiato all'Università Tecnica di Monaco a Weihenstephan. Dopo la laurea, ho iniziato a lavorare con il più grande fornitore di luppolo del mondo, BarthHaas, come responsabile tecnico. La mia passione è la degustazione e la tecnologia della birra. Il luppolo come ingrediente grezzo è il fulcro della mia passione. La composizione, l'aroma, le regioni di coltivazione e le persone coinvolte nell'industria del luppolo sono al centro della mia passione per la birra.

Perché giudica alla World Beer Cup? Cosa significa per lei giudicare alla World Beer Cup?

Sono giudice per molti motivi: Incontrare i colleghi dell'industria della birra, discutere di birra e di stili di birra e sperimentare la qualità della birra sul mercato. Le categorie più interessanti per me sono tutti gli stili luppolati, ma anche le categorie sperimentali, dove l'immaginazione del birraio può scatenarsi.

Prima di tutto, però, la World Beer Cup è per i produttori di birra e per i loro clienti. È qui che risiede il valore per tutti gli operatori del settore e la ragione più importante per cui tutti i giudici, i birrifici e i consumatori di birra dovrebbero lodare uno degli eventi birrari più importanti al mondo!

Fernanda Ueno

São Paulo, Brazil

Come è entrato nel settore della birra? Perché la birra è importante per lei?

I began my brewing journey in 2009 at Cervejaria Colorado in Brazil, starting as an intern and becoming head brewer. After earning a degree in food engineering, I completed the Master Brewers Program at UC Davis in 2015. I then led innovation projects for AB InBev’s craft breweries across South America and Europe.

In 2021, I moved to Europe to manage brewing and quality for ABI’s craft brands—including Camden Town, Bosteels, Birra del Borgo, and La Virgen—as well as co-packers and Beyond Beer products, until 2024.

Throughout my career, sensory analysis and beer judging have been part of my daily work. I’m passionate about experimenting with new ingredients, flavors, and techniques, exploring not just beer but also beverages like sake and coffee.

I’m also co-founder and brewmaster of Japas Cervejaria, a female-owned gypsy brewery blending Japanese and Brazilian influences. We brew and distribute our beers in Brazil, the U.S., and Taiwan, using beer as a creative way to honor our heritage.

Beer continues to teach me and connect me with amazing people every day—and I’m proud to give back to the industry that inspires me so deeply.

Perché giudica alla World Beer Cup? Cosa significa per lei giudicare alla World Beer Cup?

Judging at the World Beer Cup is both an honor and a way for me to give back to the brewing community that has shaped so much of my life. It’s a chance to support brewers by providing thoughtful, constructive feedback, and to celebrate the creativity, diversity, and technical skill that go into every beer. With a background in brewing, sensory analysis, and innovation across different cultures and styles, I see judging as a unique opportunity to keep learning while also helping to uphold the highest standards in our industry. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of such a prestigious event that brings together passionate professionals from around the world to share knowledge, elevate beer quality, and inspire one another.