Nikki Rowe
Judge
United Kingdom
Nikki is a fully qualified Diploma Brewer and Beer Sommelier and has worked in the Brewing Industry since 1997, starting her career at Young's in Wandsworth and then onto Budweiser in Mortlake. She is currently Brewing Team Leader at Hall
.. and Woodhouse in Dorset and regularly judge for SIBA and Great Taste. This will be her second time judging at the World Beer Awards.Read more..Show less.. Anthony Gladman
Judge
United Kingdom
Anthony Gladman is an award winning drinks writer from London. He writes about beer, cider and spirits, crafting memorable stories which reveal how drinks can connect us to a particular place, time or person. He is a qualified Beer Sommelier
.. and international competition judge. He has WSET L2 Spirits and is training to become a Cider Pommelier.
Read more..Show less.. Bryan Betts
Judge
United Kingdom
Bryan Betts is an experienced writer, journalist, blogger and occasional broadcaster, and a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers who has been reporting on the drinks world for many years. Currently London-based but formerly resident in Germany, he
.. is a CAMRA and IBD-trained beer judge and taster who has judged in various competitions for more than a decade.Read more..Show less.. Andreas Håkansson
Judge
Spain
Andreas has a Ph.D. in Engineering. He abandoned his engineering career to start his own brewery together with his wife in 2015. He is now owner of Sáez & Son, a top-rated flavour forward brewery in Spain. He is Certified
.. BJCP judge as well as Certified Cicerone.Read more..Show less.. Stuart Howe
Judge
United Kingdom
Stuart has 25 years’ brewing experience and has degrees in Brewing and Distilling and Quality Management. His beers have won World's Best Lager, World's Best Pale Ale, World's Best Abbey Ale and World's Best Spiced Beer along with many other
.. international awards. Stuart is a professionally trained sensory panel leader and analyst and has judged the World Beer Awards for the last 14 years. He is currently Technical Development Manager for the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and is responsible for the institute’s educational material on technical brewing and sensory analysis.Read more..Show less.. 
Francesca Morbidelli
Judge
Italy
In 2006, I founded the Beer Tasting and Homebrewers’ Association “La Pinta Medicea” with some friends (located in Florence). At that time, the Italian beer scene was rather desolate, we were the first ones in Florence (and there were very
.. few of us in Italy) to organize homebrewing lessons, meetings, as well as other events (dinners, tastings, markets, public presentations and online articles), all aimed at publicizing and spreading the Italian craft beer culture.
Over the past ten years, I have attended any tasting courses that were available (or possible) in Italy: MoBI, Unionbirrai, Slow Food, Fermento Birra and even at our Pinta Medicea when we had guest teachers. I attended the lessons of the best beer experts in Italy: Lorenzo “Kuaska” Dabove, Flavio Boero, Leonardo di Vincenzo, Agostino Arioli.
Since 2008 I have been running a pretty popular website about “quality beer culture”: www.pintamedicea.com. I am probably the first Italian female beer blogger. I write and edit all the articles and sometimes I translate, too – to name a few, I have worked on the Italian translation of articles written by-or regarding Charlie Papazian, Sam Calagione, Randy Mosher, Lotte Peplow (the current Brewers Association’s Craft Beer Ambrassador in EU), for example. I helped to write the lecture notes/handouts for all Unionbirrai beer education courses. I contributed extensively to writing the lecture notes/handouts for the beer education courses held by Unionbirrai. I have also produced some small reviews for various beer guides, for example the Mobi “Guida ai locali birrari”.
I currently teach beer tasting and beer history/culture, and I have offered several public presentations many times; this is the last one, on April ’22. I have organized many beer courses in Florence for Pinta Medicea, and also for Unionbirrai.
I was hosted at some local tv shows to talk about beer (a really terrible picture).
Every year in August I usually volunteer at the Bière sans Frontières stand at GBBF London, to present Italian craft beers to the English public.
I have been selected and have participated as a judge for many beer competitions since 2008/2009, thus acquiring the necessary expertise to take part to any future events on a wider scale. I’ve been a judge 11 times at Unionbirrai‘s competition Birra dell’Anno, (and Birra dell’Anno Winter Edition) plus at dozens of other homebrewing competitions, including: Una Birra in Versilia, Il Villaggio della Birra (many times), IGA Beer Challenge, Birra Dell’Anno Winter Edition, Cerevisia–contest of artisanal beers from Trentino, some stages of the Italian MoBI championship and many others. Moreover I was summoned by the American Brewers Association to judge at the World Beer Cup 2020, which was supposed to take place in San Antonio (Texas) in April 2020. Unfortunately it was canceled because of the pandemic; I am so sorry it would have been a great honor to be a part of the jury. In 2022 I was a judge in the national beer competition Premio Cerevisia 2022, organized by the University of Perugia.Read more..Show less.. Noel Sanchez
Judge
France
Panamanian based in Paris, France. Certified Cicerone®?, BJCP Certified Judge, Doemens Biersommelier and Beer Specialist from diplomats at Universidad de Alicante and KU Leuven. Throughout the years he has been selected as a judge for major beer competitions held
.. in 15 countries including the US, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, Brazil and Mexico. Professionally he has been involved in all kinds of craft beer related ventures: from brewing, retail, marketing, media and events to running sensory trainings, tastings, pairings and teaching at beer institutes in Latin America.Read more..Show less.. Diego Pompele
Judge
Italy
Diego is an importer and supplier of beers. He received his beer somelier diploma in 2004 at theDoemens Akadiemie in Germany. Over the years he has judged at a number of national and international competitions.
Stephan Hilbrandt
Judge
Germany
Stephan Hilbrandt won the 5th World Championship of Beer Sommeliers in September 2017. He is a passionate home brewer since 2012 and a beer sommelier since 2015. Apart from judging in different international beer competitions he gives tastings, moderates beer-accompanied
.. menus or helps interested people to enter the world of home brewing.Read more..Show less.. Marcos Praça
Judge
Portugal
Doemens Academy certified Biersommelier, International Beer Judge (Barcelona Beer Challenge, France Bière Challenge, Brussels Beer Challenge), Former teacher for Food&Beer Pairing at Senac Gastronomy University (Brazil) with 10 years of experience working for Craft Breweries in roles as Marketing and
.. Sales Manager (Domestic and International).Read more..Show less.. Jonas Andersson
Judge
Sweden
Co-founder of Slottskällans Brewery Sweden and former Bord Member Stallhagens Brewery Åland. Beer Writer, Beer Blogger and founder of Pilsner.nu. Beer Judge at Brussel Beer Challenge, Birra Dell'Anno, Councours de Lyon, European Beer Star, Stockholm Beer Festival, Uppsala Beer
.. FestivalRead more..Show less.. Timothy O'Rourke
Judge
United Kingdom
As a qualified Master Brewer for the last 50 years he has worked with Multinational and Craft Breweries from around the world. He is a Beer Sommelier and Co-founder of the Beer Academy as well as a Certified Cicerone. He
.. has been involved as a panellist setting up expert flavour panels and judging International Beer Competitions. A prolific technical Beer Writer with over 250 published articles and Technical Editor for a number of Brewing Magazines.Read more..Show less.. Ian Garrett
Judge
United Kingdom
CAMRA member and volunteer for over 40 years. For several years i was responsible for the International Beer Bar, BSF, at GBBF organising tutored tastings and establishing The Michael Jackson Award for American Cask Beer competition. I have been an
.. active judge at local, regional and national CAMRA events as well as judging at SIBA regional & National competitions.Read more..Show less.. Korbinian Kundmueller
Judge
Germany
Even though tasting or brewing beers is not his main profession, as a native of Bamberg, communicating this wonderful beverage is a "Herzensangelegenheit" for him. For the past six years, he has been a guide for city tours and breweries,
.. as well as helping out at various beer events.Read more..Show less.. Christine Cryne
Judge
United Kingdom
Christine loves educating people about beer, whether through tutored beer tastings or training, which covers both enthusiasts and the trade including pubs and breweries.
She is a member of the Guild of Beer Writers, a Master Trainer and an accredited
.. European Beer Consumers Union beer judge, judging at a variety of competitions such as for Wetherspoons, SIBA and the Austrian Beer Challenge as well as chairing judging panels at CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain Awards, World Beer Awards and the International Beer Challenge.
Her tutored tastings include venues as diverse as the Tower of London and the Farmers Club and at events such as the BBC Good Food Show, Great British Beer Festival, Ludlow Food Festival, Danske's Copenhagen Beer Festival as well as a number of pubs, bottle shops and beer festivals.
Christine has also been a member of the Whisky Society for several years.
Read more..Show less.. Jay Brooks
Chair of Judges
United States
John Holl
Chair of Judges
United States
Isabelle Netto
Judge
Canada
Iz Netto is a microbiologist M.Sc. and graduate of the Niagara College Brewmaster program. She has worked on a variety of sensory research projects involving yeasts and bacteria, and most notably worked to develop Escarpment Labs' "Lacto 2.0" souring blend.
..
Iz has presented on beer R&D and other fermentation topics at conferences, workshops, webinars and podcasts, and continues to work on collaborative projects with breweries across Ontario.Read more..Show less.. Robin LeBlanc
Judge
Canada
Robin LeBlanc is a beer columnist, owner of the award-winning craft beer site The Thirsty Wench, author of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide, and co-host of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide The Podcast. She has appeared on TV, radio, and
.. newspapers preaching the gospel of good beer. She lives in Toronto.Read more..Show less.. John Tyler
Judge
Canada
John Tyler is an award-winning home brewer and National level BJCP judge. Recently retired from the LCBO, John held responsibility for the Imported and Out of Province beer and cider purchases for the retail store network.
Prior to joining
.. the LCBO John worked in multiple roles in the food sector of the CPG industry. John has been home brewing for 25 years and enjoys teaching how-to-brew classes and style discovery tasting sessions in the local home brew community. He enjoys experimenting with cheese and beer to discover the next great pairing match.
Read more..Show less.. Jesse Vallins
Judge
Canada
Scarborough native Jesse Vallins is the executive chef at Barberian’s Steak House in Toronto and has spent over 25 years cooking in some of the city’s best restaurants. Not just a chef, but also a lifetime student of the beverage
.. world, Jesse is an Advanced Cicerone, a BJCP certified beer and mead judge, and a certified sommelier.
When he’s not working at the restaurant or dorking out on drinks, Jesse teaches and develops curriculum at Toronto’s George Brown College and contributes content to Food & Drink Magazine.Read more..Show less.. Josh Rubin
Judge
Canada
Josh Rubin has been writing about beer since 2006, and was the beer columnist for Canada’s biggest newspaper, the Toronto Star, for 12 years.
He has judged at regional beer competitions and contributed several entries to the award-winning Oxford Companion to
.. Beer, including the Canadian national entry. He has also been a judge at the World Whiskies, the World Cider Awards and has made numerous broadcast appearances to speak about beer and spirits.
Josh has written extensively about the changing alcohol retailing landscape in Canada. When he's not sipping beer, he's been known to enjoy a well-made Sazerac.
Read more..Show less.. Lauren Richard
Judge
Canada
Lauren Richard is an Advanced Cicerone® and Certified BJCP judge. She curates beer programs, provides staff education, conducts food pairing events and beer dinners, as well as works with festivals to elevate the on and off-site drinking experience. Lauren is
.. also a proficient vocalist and voice actor, singing in a country western band and lending her voice to children's animation and videogames around the world.
Read more..Show less.. Tara Luxmore
Judge
Canada
Tara Luxmore is a Certified Cicerone, Certified Beer Judge and freelance writer for publications like Toronto Life and Food & Drink. Together with her real-life sis Crystal, Tara runs the Beer Sisters, where they lead corporate and private tastings, speak
.. at festivals across North America, and consult with brands. Follow the sisters on @beersisters on Instagram & facebook, and www.beersisters.com
Read more..Show less.. Crystal Luxmore
Judge
Canada
Crystal Luxmore is a certified Cicerone, professional beer and cider judge, and a seasoned journalist. Together with her sister, Tara, she runs The Beer Sisters where the duo lead tutored tastings and create stellar events for corporate clients and major
.. festivals in Canada and the US Crystal writes about libations for The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, LCBO’s Food & Drink, Beer Advocate and MASH magazines. She has appeared as a beer expert on CTV, Global TV, CBC radio, and on Good Morning Texas. There is nothing she likes more than talking about beer — except drinking it.Read more..Show less.. Patrick Thomson
Judge
Canada
Toronto native and leading beer sommelier, Pat Thomson is Beverage Manager at WVRST, one of the city's most respected craft beer bars. Pat's passion, expertise, and detailed knowledge of beer has led him to judge annual brewing competitions. Known for
.. his international palate, Pat regularly consults with breweries and is also a partner in Communal Merchants, an agency dedicated to importing the world’s best ciders to Ontario.Read more..Show less.. Alvaro Perez
Judge
Spain
Member of the Spanish Association of Beer Sommelier (AEBSCC)
BJCP Certified Judge
Beer Cicerone level 1
Head of table at the Barcelona Beer Challenge since its second edition
As a Judge I'm quite used to the dynamics of different types of
.. Beer Contests I also own a Beer Tasting company (catarcerveza.com) since 2015 in which I do tastings for both large companies (Heineken, MSM, etc.) and Craft Beer.
Read more..Show less.. Claire Bullen
Judge
United Kingdom
Claire Bullen is an award-winning beer writer, editor, and author. Her first cookbook, The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, was published in 2019 and won Best Beer Book at the North American Guild of Beer Writers
.. Awards. Claire is also the Editor-in-Chief at Good Beer Hunting, one of the web's leading beer publications. Additionally, she is a beer columnist at Imbibe Magazine and for London bottle shop Hop Burns & Black.Read more..Show less.. Federico Lantscher
Judge
United Kingdom
Federico Lantschner has worked in the brewing industry as a brewer for 6 years and has been in love with beer and the craft for much longer. He is particularly interested in the culinary aspect of beer and its relationship
.. with food and aromas. Federico graduated as a Brewmaster from the VLB institute of brewing and malting from Berlin, he is currently working as a Senior Brewer at Brewdog and training to become a Master Cicerone.Read more..Show less.. Jonny Tyson
Judge
United Kingdom
Jonny Tyson, AKA The Beer Wrangler, is a Beer Educator and beer sommelier with a hospitality industry background.
Having run specialist beer and wine stores and a craft beer bar and restaurant in Vancouver, Canada, Jonny returned to the UK
.. to become a full time beer educator, developing the BPET (Beer Professional Education & Training) program. He now teaches at and co-owns The South London Wine School, where beer is given the same love and respect as wine!
Jonny was the first Advanced Cicerone in Europe and develops training, hosts beer events and writes about beer. Jonny co-founded and runs the Guild of Beer Sommeliers - highlighting the importance of trained beer professionals in the wider industry. Jonny is also a sommelier and WSET wine educator and uses his experience to showcase beer at a fine-dining table alongside wine.
Read more..Show less.. Judith Boyle
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Judith Boyle is an accredited Beer Sommelier with the Institute of Brewers and Distillers, beer journalist and award winning member of the British Guild of Beer writers. She is a beverage lecture in the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
.. and is passionate about all aspects of beer and beer education.
Read more..Show less.. Paul Davies
Judge
Paul is the founder of AleHunters, a beer event business based in London. He is also a certified Cicerone®, accredited Beer Sommelier and international beer judge.
He hosts training courses for pub companies in the UK and writes regularly for
.. the Brewers Journal in the UK and Canada.Read more..Show less.. Stefano Moraschini
Judge
Italy
Qualified beer and cheese taster. Tutor and teacher in craft beer training courses. Beer pairing expert. As beer judge: "Birra dell'anno" 2021 & 2022 (Italy); "Frankfurt International Trophy" 2022 (Germany). Web publisher, content & digital creator.
Tom Pears
Judge
United Kingdom
Tom Pears developed his love for beer whilst at University down in Kent. He has since worked in the beer industry for a number of years. Recently as a contributor to online publications such as Ferment and Euronews. He also
.. runs a dedicated beer Instagram account @tom_tappd.
Read more..Show less.. Gabriele Bertucci
Judge
United Kingdom
I am an award-winning contemporary communicator and a drink industry professional, with over a decade of experience in the FMCG and hospitality industries, working in multicultural environments. I am the founder of What's In The Glass? (drinks-led marketing & communication
.. agency), an Accredited Sommelier by The Beer & Cider Academy and a member of The British Guild of Beer Writers.
Read more..Show less.. Catherine Webber
Judge
United Kingdom
Having been a beer fan for many years, Catherine moved into roles in the drinks world in 2019. She recently joined Attic Brew Co in Birmingham as their Business Development Manager.
Catherine has judged homebrew, SIBA and local competitions and is
.. currently studying for her Certified Cicerone qualification.
She is also the founder of Brum Beer Babs (as ladies' beer group) in Birmingham.Read more..Show less.. Susan Boyle
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Susan Boyle is a drinks consultant, researcher, and performer. An award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, Susan presents beers on TV and radio and has hosted tastings at Imbibe Live London, the Oxford Symposium on Food and
.. Cookery and a host of music, arts and food festivals. Currently pursuing a PhD, Susan has worked with the British Museum to brew a beer supported by ancient Egyptian archaeological evidence and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Susan has recently developed an education programme to promote Irish spirits internationally for Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board)Read more..Show less.. Chris Elston
Judge
United Kingdom
Chris Elston is a member of The British Guild of Beer Writers and has been writing a beer blog for the last five years. He won an award for beer and travel writing in 2017 and is also an
.. ambassador for St Austell's Proper Job. Chris lives in Devon with his wife Laura and son Ace.Read more..Show less.. Christian Finz
Judge
Austria
For the past 15 years, Christian has been working in the beer industry all over the planet. In 2016 Christian graduated with the Beer sommelier Diploma from Doemens in Munich. Since early 2019, Christian is the mastermind behind Craft Beer
.. International.
Read more..Show less.. Daniel Moscosco
Judge
Chile
Founder and head brewer in Bodega ERGO (beers and cider), BJCP judge of beer and mead. Formerly worked in wine industry as oenolyst assistant, now brewing Grape Ales, Barrel Aged, Funky and Experimental beverages.
Francisco González
Judge
Chile
"IIngeniero en Alimentos de la Universidad de Chile, Magister en Microbiología y Fermentaciones de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, España, Juez internacional Certified BJCP desde 2014 y Consultor cervecero.
Hace 24 años que participa en diversos paneles sensoriales en las
.. áreas de alimentos, vinos y cervezas, además de participar como juez en numerosas competencias a nivel nacional, tales como Copa Garage UC, Copa Minicervecería, Copa Valpo, Chilebrues 2019, 2020 y 2021, Kross Home Brew Day 2019, e internacionales como Copa Cervezas de América, Copa Cervezas de Argentina 2018 y World Beer Awards 2019 y 2021
El 2014 funda Micro Cervecería Pudú"
Read more..Show less.. Francisco Saldias
Judge
Chile
Chemical Engineer, with degree in microbrewery, BJCP since 2014, participated in several competitions in South America, home brew and partner of a Small Taste Business
Jeff Evans
Judge
United Kingdom
Jeff has been writing professionally about beer for more than 30 years, with books including the Good Bottled Beer Guide and So You Want to Be a Beer Expert?, as well as eight years as Editor of CAMRA's national Good
.. Beer Guide.
Read more..Show less.. John Westlake
Judge
John is an award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and an accredited Beer Sommelier who has visited over 150 countries where beer is brewed and enjoyed.
Jorge Thiermann
Judge
Chile
I am passionate about the wonderful world of fermentables and destilation, mostly Beer,. Homebrewer since 2014, BJCP Certified Judge, Beer Pub owner and teacher in ACAS (Academia Cervecera de Análisis Sensorial) in the Sensorial Analysis department. Love to drink, taste,
.. evaluate, serve, discuss and laugh about and around beers!
Read more..Show less.. Leonardo Caiafa
Judge
Chile
Agronomist in formation, dedicated to the brewing industry for 12 years in various areas of the production process, including packaging, cellar and brewhouse. GCB by the IBD of England and BJCP judge, have judged in several beer competitions, including Copa
.. Cervezas de America, Concurso Brasileiro de Cervejas, the Word Beer Awards and the World Beer Cup.
Read more..Show less.. Manuel Orellana
Judge
Chile
Marius Fischer
Judge
Germany
Marius Fischer is a brewing and beverage technologist from southern Germany. As a certified beer sommelier, he gives tastings for companies and private individuals. Through hobby brewing he lives his passion beer. 2022 will be the second time at the
.. World Beer Awards for him.
Read more..Show less.. Meinhard Wicht
Judge
Germany
Meinhard Wicht has been working with beer and in the beer industry for many years.
For him beer is not a job, but a passion. He started his professional career at the VLB Berlin studying brew technology, continued as a salesman
.. for different beer brew companies and completed his passion by graduating as Diplom Biersommelier at Doemens. 2011 he started his own business „ProBierKult“ and is hosting beer tastings and consulting business partners.
Read more..Show less.. Patrick Schäfer
Judge
Germany
Pedro Bustos
Judge
Chile
Vicepresidente de asociación de cerveceros caceros de chile (chilebruers) en periodo 2017-2019, juez de cerveza bjcp, actualmente head brewer en cervecería muster
Roger Protz
Judge
Roger Protz is a leading international beer writer. He is the former editor of the Good Beer Guide and the author of more than 20 books on the subject. He travels widely in the search for good beer and has
.. given talks in many countries, including Friends of the Smithsonian in Washington DC and Beer Expo in Melbourne, Australia. His website is www.protzonbeer.co.ukRead more..Show less.. Shane McNamara
Judge
Australia
Shane is a Master Cicerone and also holds a Master's degree in Brewing Science from the University of Nottingham. He has previously worked as a brewer and was formerly the Senior Technical Officer at the Institute of Brewing & Distilling
.. (IBD). Shane now helps drive innovation and quality for AB InBev - the world's largest brewer. With a passion for beer and food, Shane is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and regularly contributes to publications around the world and judging in beer competitions.
Read more..Show less.. Victor Jimenez Ayres
Judge
Chile
Doemens Biersommelier, Certified Cicerone(r) and BJCP Beer and Mead Judge, Bartender and Bar Sommelier. I´ve been in the industry for the last 8 years, mainly in the hospitality area and sensory analysis. I currently work as a teacher at ACAS
.. (Beer Academy of Sensory Analysis), CRBS (Costa Rica Beer School) and Brewmart (Peru), and as a consultant and trainer in various breweries and beer bars.
Read more..Show less.. Jochen Hillbrandt
Judge
Germany
Beer sommelier since 2015, based in Berlin. Judging for the WBA in 2018,2019 and 2020. Bastian Leikeim
Judge
Germany
Bastian Leikeim is the 5th generation of the brewer family Leikeim and owner of the award winning Altenburg Brewery.
He is a certified beer sommelier and was participant of the 6th World Championship of Beer Sommeliers in Italy and will be
.. a participant of the 7th Championship in Munich in 2022. He's judging at several beer awards.Read more..Show less.. Adrian Tierney-Jones
Chair of Judges
United Kingdom
Award-winning journalist whose work appears in the Daily Telegraph, All About Beer, Beer, Original Gravity (of which he is also editor), Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Imbibe amongst many others.
His books include Great British Pubs, Britain’s Beer Revolution (co-written
.. with Roger Protz), the beer anthology Beer, In So Many Words and a new book, The Seven Moods of Craft Beer. He is general editor of 1001 Beers To Try Before You Die and contributor to various others. He is the chair of judges at the World Beer Awards and also a judge at several other competitions worldwide. Expert taster and talker on the world of beer.
Read more..Show less.. 
Carsten Helmholdt
Judge
Germany
In 2015 I started to homebrew and brewed my own beers at home I become addicted to real good quality beers and started to educate myself more about making beers and the brewing process as long as different styles and
.. history of beer.
In 2016 I jointed to the local homebrewers Association "Braufreunde Berlin". I became more experienced about tasting homebrewed beers of the locals and started to like judging beers. I also started writing articles for theBraufreunde, even if I would never call myself a journalist.
In 2017 I visited my first seminar and had even more patient about tasting and judging beers on the private and semi-professional homebrew side.
In 2018 I overtook the leadership of the association and started to organize local homebrew competitions. I also took more patience about tasting beers and our monthly local homebrew meetups.
Part of being the leader of the biggest homebrewers association in Berlin is also, to stay InTouch with the local breweries, so i am really well connected in the beer scene of berlin and their own characteristic beers.
In 2019 I started to judge my first competition for our local homebrew Association. I also got my hands on one of the first tickets for the BJCP tasting exam in Germany and become a BJCP judge.
Read more..Show less.. Thomas Vogel
Judge
Germany
Thomas Vogel, founder and CEO of the »Das Bier!« Brausysteme GmbH since 2003, has developed the brands „Dein Bier selbstgebraut“, „Braukoenig“ and „One2Clean“ and their products. (www.das-bier.com) He also has established a platform for selling and distributing craft beer (www.bier-spezialitaeten.de).
..
Since 2010 he maintains the „Grafschafter Brauschule“ (www.brauschule.de)
Since 2007 he is certified Beer Sommelier and has been the first Beer Sommelier in North Germany, During 2008 and 2012 he was member of the managing board of the International Association of Certified Beer Sommeliers.
For 14 years now, he took part in more than 28 national, European and international beer competitions as a Judge as well as a Table Captain.
He is co-author of the well-known and official „Beer Color Chart“ (www.bierfarbkarte.eu), which is used as the official reference in several European and international beer competitions in the meanwhile.Read more..Show less.. Aline Kluge
Judge
Germany
Aline is from Saxony and a pediatrics's nurse. Beer is her passion, which is why she has decided to become a qualified beer judge. Balancing family live with a busy job, still leaves time to enjoy craft
.. beers and developing her skills set.
Read more..Show less.. Patricia Diniz Fischer
Judge
Germany
Patrícia Diniz Fischer, graduated as a Master in Chemical Engineering at the Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal. Joined the VLB in 2010 to lead the Project Laboratory of the department for Brewing and Beverage Science and Applications, responsible for quality
.. control analysis for research purposes. After adding more and more sensory related questions, she took over the leadership of the Sensory Team of the VLB, centralizing all the sensory related work and the teaching activities at the institute.
Sensory expert for Beer and Beer-mix beverages, certified by the DLG (German Agricultural Society) e.V.. Participated as a beer judge in international competitions, including the „VII Brazilian Beer Contest”, organized by Science of Beer Institute in Brasil, “World Beer Awards 2019“ in Germany and “Concurso Internacional de Cervezas Artesanas (CICA) 2021” in Spain.Read more..Show less.. Mareike Hasenbeck
Judge
Germany
Mareike Hasenbeck is a freelance journalist and one of the first craft beer bloggers in Germany with feinerhopfen.com. As a beer sommelier, sensory expert for beer and member of the Institute of Masters of Beer, she is an international beer
.. judge. She also won the bronze medal at the German Beer Sommelier Championship in November 2021, qualifying her for the World Championship that year.
Read more..Show less.. Christian Leibig
Judge
Germany
Christian is the sales manager for Müllerbräu. He has been a beer sommelier since 2011 and hasalready been a judge at the World Beer Award, Meininger Beer Award and Selection. Frank Christian
Judge
Germany
Frank Christian is a PhD biochemist by training and an avid homebrewer, with a passion for researching beer styles and developing recipes. He is the first National rank BJCP-certified beer judge in Germany.
Frank got into brewing his own beer in
.. 2012 while living in Glasgow, Scotland, and went on to win multiple awards with his beers (e.g. overall winner of the IBD Scottish homebrew competition 2013). He now lives and brews in Aachen, Germany, is the co-founder and organiser of the monthly homebrew meetup of Aachener Hobbybrauer as well as an active member of Kölner Bierhistoriker e.V. homebrew clubs. He also organises and runs BJCP exams, off-flavour trainings and homebrewing workshops.
Read more..Show less.. Patrick Murphy
Judge
Germany
Patrick Murphy is a certified Doemens Beer Sommelier and owner/operator of "Bambeerg", which gives historic brewery & beer tours of Bamberg and Franconia. He can usually be found hiking or taking the bicycle to the various breweries and beer
.. gardens in the area around Bamberg, Germany!Read more..Show less.. Christian Dekant
Judge
Germany
After working for a Berlin Craft Brewery he began studying brewing science at the TU Berlin. Christian graduated as a master brewer at the TU Munich. Now he works as an editor for the trade magazine BRAUWELT. So far he
.. has been a juror at various national beer competitions, and he is participating in the World Beer Cup for the second time as a juror.Read more..Show less.. Jeremy Swainson
Judge
United Kingdom
Jeremy Swainson is the Head Brewer at Utopian, an award winning lager focused brewery in Mid-Devon, established in 2018. His passion for lager brewing traditions and techniques developed early on during his apprenticeship at Privatbrauerei Bolten, Germany’s oldest Alt beer
.. brewery. He went on to earn his Brewmasters at the Doemens Academy in Munich and then spent two years with the highly successful Camden Town Brewery in London.Read more..Show less.. Omer Basha
Judge
Israel
Omer Basha is a PhD biochemist by training and a home-brewer, a BJCP Master Beer Judge, and the Europe, Middle East and Africa regional representative in the BJCP.
Omer started brewing in 2008 while studying for his undergraduate degree and won
.. several medals for his beers. He now lives in Beer Sheva. Israel, is a co-founder of the first and largest home-brewing club in the Israel. He also organizes and proctors BJCP beer, mead and cider tasting exams, judging courses, off-flavor workshops, home brewing classes in the region and has an active YouTube channel about beer, mead and cider evaluation.Read more..Show less.. Will Simmons
Judge
United Kingdom
Bill runs a beer consultancy working with small premium craft brewers, after spending many years working for quality regional breweries such as Samuel Smith, Batemans, Caledonian, Ruddles and Fullers.
He is also an international Beer Judge. World Beer
.. Cup, World Beer Awards, GABF, Chinese Craft Beer Awards, IBC, Greek Beer Awards and Brazil Beer Cup are amongst some of the competitions he has judged. Bill has judged for many years at the Quality Food Awards not only on beer but also on the Food side where he is now a judge at the World Steak Challenge held annually.
Bill is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and has written features for the Chinese Craft Beer magazine One More. He also contributes to several trade features.Read more..Show less.. John Porter
Judge
United Kingdom
John Porter has more than 30 years’ experience as a food and drink writer and journalist, and is accredited as a Beer Sommelier by the Beer & Cider Academy. He is co-director of PR consultancy ShielPorter Communications. John has hosted
.. beer tastings, seminars and beer & food matching sessions at a wide range of industry, corporate and consumer events. John’s varied food & drink judging experience spans everything from the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the International Beer Challenge to the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year and Britain’s Best Pub Sausage. www.apieandapint.com
Read more..Show less.. Glyn Roberts
Judge
United Kingdom
Now a professional photographer, I spent 28 years working in the beer industry; my jobs ranged from being a part-time barman to part-owning and operating a brewpub. I have been judging beers for more than decade now and it's always
.. a pleasure to judge the World Beer Awards.Read more..Show less.. Constantin Foertner
Judge
Germany
Constantin is an educated brewer from Bamberg. Holding his brewmaster since 2003, he has been a beer somelier since 2018. He currently is brewmaster at the Braumanufaktur Weyermann®, Bamberg and has judged at a number of global competitions.
" Michael Friedrich
Judge
Germany
Michael Friedrich has a master’s degree in Brewing with more than 30 years of experience, and is manager of Stonewood Braumanufaktur. Since 2014, he is a beer sommelier with special interest for beer tastings. At the World Cup of Beer
.. Sommeliers 2019, the third place went to Michael for his exciting presentation.Read more..Show less.. Nigel Sadler
Judge
United Kingdom
Started brewing as a second career after the financial crisis of 2009. Went on to qualify with the Institute of Brewing & Distilling in malting, brewing and distilling and became a Beer Academy Beer Sommelier in 2011. Was SIBA Vice-Chair
.. from 2013-2015 and Regional Chair of IBD Southern Section 2016-2018. Became a Cask Marque Assessor in 2015. Have judged a range of competitions from National to International level since 2010.Read more..Show less.. Laura Hadland
Judge
United Kingdom
Laura records the stories of communities, producers and the history of food & drink around the world. She is a freelance writer and photographer, and her book 50 Years of CAMRA was named Best UK Beer Book 2022 by Gourmand
.. International.
Laura runs a creative agency called Thirst Media, supporting and amplifying small businesses like restaurants, winemakers and breweries. She hosts tastings of beers, wines and spirits for hundreds of guests each year.
She has been working in the industry for nearly 10 years and regularly judges drinks in all categories for the likes of the Guild of Fine Food, People's Choice, CAMRA and Which? along with a range of drinks marketing awards.Read more..Show less.. Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. Glynn Davis
Judge
United Kingdom
Business journalist covering the food and drink industries including beer as editor of Beer Insider. Frequent judge of international beer competitions and co-owner of Bohem Brewery in North London. Cheryl Cade
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Cheryl is a Beer Sommelier, a member of the British Guild Of Beer Writers and oversees the World Beer Bar for Norwich Beer Festival. She is a qualified trainer for CAMRA and the Academy of Cheese delivering a range of
.. their courses.
As well as being a highly experienced judge across a range of competitions, Cheryl runs award-winning food and drink tours around Belgium and East Anglia.
Read more..Show less.. John Porter
Table Captain
United Kingdom
John Porter has more than 30 years’ experience as a food and drink writer and journalist, and is accredited as a Beer Sommelier by the Beer & Cider Academy. He is co-director of PR consultancy ShielPorter Communications. John has hosted
.. beer tastings, seminars and beer & food matching sessions at a wide range of industry, corporate and consumer events. John’s varied food & drink judging experience spans everything from the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the International Beer Challenge to the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year and Britain’s Best Pub Sausage. www.apieandapint.com
Read more..Show less.. Steve Williams
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Steve Williams is a serial beer and travel blogger and is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.
He has been judging at beer competitions for more than 20 years. Jeff Evans
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Jeff has been writing professionally about beer for more than 30 years, with books including the Good Bottled Beer Guide and So You Want to Be a Beer Expert?, as well as eight years as Editor of CAMRA's national Good
.. Beer Guide.
Read more..Show less.. Paul Davies
Table Captain
Paul is the founder of AleHunters, a beer event business based in London. He is also a certified Cicerone®, accredited Beer Sommelier and international beer judge.
He hosts training courses for pub companies in the UK and writes regularly for
.. the Brewers Journal in the UK and Canada.Read more..Show less.. Will Simmons
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Bill runs a beer consultancy working with small premium craft brewers, after spending many years working for quality regional breweries such as Samuel Smith, Batemans, Caledonian, Ruddles and Fullers.
He is also an international Beer Judge. World Beer
.. Cup, World Beer Awards, GABF, Chinese Craft Beer Awards, IBC, Greek Beer Awards and Brazil Beer Cup are amongst some of the competitions he has judged. Bill has judged for many years at the Quality Food Awards not only on beer but also on the Food side where he is now a judge at the World Steak Challenge held annually.
Bill is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and has written features for the Chinese Craft Beer magazine One More. He also contributes to several trade features.Read more..Show less.. Jessica Mason
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Jessica Mason aka Drinks Maven – is a passionate drinks writer and champion for the industry accruing 12 years experience in the trade. Mason writes for a range of magazines, from trade to consumer across all drinks categories (beer, cider,
.. wine, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks & RTDs) traversing styles from business digests and trends reports through to tasting notes, reviews and impassioned thought pieces. She is also an events and conference presenter, consultant, a home brewer as well as a contributing author to beer and whisky books. She is extremely committed to getting good drinks into places in need of range diversity and inspiration and is also very good at maintaining that her glass is half full.Read more..Show less.. Lotte Peplow
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Lotte Peplow is the Brewers Association’s American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe. The Brewers Association (BA) is a trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers. Her role is to identify opportunities for international expansion of American craft
.. beer by educating trade, media and consumers about the quality and diversity of products offered by the American craft beer industry.
She is a Certified Cicerone and an accredited Beer Sommelier who writes about beer, judges beer, brews beer, conducts talks and tastings on beer, organises events and is a dedicated beer and food pairing advocate. She is based in London, UK.Read more..Show less.. Martyn Cornell
Table Captain
United Kingdom
‘Britain’s leading expert on the history of beer styles and a judge at beer competitions from Brazil to Hong Kong." Susan Boyle
Table Captain
Republic of Ireland
Susan Boyle is a drinks consultant, researcher, and performer. An award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, Susan presents beers on TV and radio and has hosted tastings at Imbibe Live London, the Oxford Symposium on Food and
.. Cookery and a host of music, arts and food festivals. Currently pursuing a PhD, Susan has worked with the British Museum to brew a beer supported by ancient Egyptian archaeological evidence and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Susan has recently developed an education programme to promote Irish spirits internationally for Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board)Read more..Show less.. Anthony Gladman
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Anthony Gladman is an award winning drinks writer from London. He writes about beer, cider and spirits, crafting memorable stories which reveal how drinks can connect us to a particular place, time or person. He is a qualified Beer Sommelier
.. and international competition judge. He has WSET L2 Spirits and is training to become a Cider Pommelier.
Read more..Show less.. Claire Bullen
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Claire Bullen is an award-winning beer writer, editor, and author. Her first cookbook, The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, was published in 2019 and won Best Beer Book at the North American Guild of Beer Writers
.. Awards. Claire is also the Editor-in-Chief at Good Beer Hunting, one of the web's leading beer publications. Additionally, she is a beer columnist at Imbibe Magazine and for London bottle shop Hop Burns & Black.Read more..Show less.. Emma Inch
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Emma Inch is a former British Beer Writer of the Year. She's a writer and audio creator based in Brighton on the south coast of England. Emma writes about beer for the the national and international beer press and is
.. the producer and presenter of the award-winning podcast, Fermentation Beer & Brewing Radio. Emma gained her General Certificate in Brewing from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in 2015. She is a prize-winning home-brewer and has also brewed one-off collaborations with commercial breweries. She is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.Read more..Show less.. Tim Hampson
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Tim Hampson is an award-wining journalist and broadcaster. He is author of many books including the Haynes Whisky Manual. Glyn Roberts
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Now a professional photographer, I spent 28 years working in the beer industry; my jobs ranged from being a part-time barman to part-owning and operating a brewpub. I have been judging beers for more than decade now and it's always
.. a pleasure to judge the World Beer Awards.Read more..Show less.. Nick Moyle
Judge
United Kingdom
Nick Moyle is a drinks writer, blogger and home brewer based in Somerset, England. He writes for the Independent, Reader’s Digest and Esquire along with several specialist and regional magazines. As one half of the Two Thirsty Gardeners he runs
.. booze-making demos, tasting sessions and judging at various events and is co-author of the books Brew it Yourself and Wild Tea.Read more..Show less.. Rebecca Pate
Judge
United Kingdom
Rebecca Pate (Bex) is an accredited beer sommelier who works as a freelance copywriter and content marketing manager. She's based in East London and has worked with some of London's biggest craft breweries, supporting them with content marketing, digital marketing
.. and events. She was nominated as Best Young Beer Writer in 2018 and for Beer Citizen Communicator in 2017 by the British Guild of Beer Writers for her blog, Brewing East
Read more..Show less.. Mario De Luca
Judge
Spain
Mario Medina De Luca (aka Treque) is a mexican engineer living in Barcelona with a gastronomic tourism master degree focused on didactic and beer tourism, master in beer styles by Siebel, Beer Sommelier by Doemens-Siebel, certified BJCP judge and Cicerone
.. CBS. 10 years experience Beer entrepreneur and former "youtubeer". Member of The Guild of Beer Sommeliers & Asociación Española de Beer Sommeliers y Catadores de Cerveza.Read more..Show less.. Chris Elston
Judge
United Kingdom
Chris Elston is a member of The British Guild of Beer Writers and has been writing a beer blog for the last five years. He won an award for beer and travel writing in 2017 and is also an
.. ambassador for St Austell's Proper Job. Chris lives in Devon with his wife Laura and son Ace.Read more..Show less.. Stuart Howe
Judge
United Kingdom
Stuart has 25 years’ brewing experience and has degrees in Brewing and Distilling and Quality Management. His beers have won World's Best Lager, World's Best Pale Ale, World's Best Abbey Ale and World's Best Spiced Beer along with many other
.. international awards. Stuart is a professionally trained sensory panel leader and analyst and has judged the World Beer Awards for the last 14 years. He is currently Technical Development Manager for the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and is responsible for the institute’s educational material on technical brewing and sensory analysis.Read more..Show less.. Martyn Railton
Judge
United Kingdom
“Martyn established Speciality Beer importer, distributor and brand builder Euroboozer back in 2003 when the beer landscape was a baron place in the UK. With over 17 years in the beer industry, visiting breweries and wineries all over the world,
.. working with some of the best brewers and breweries, contributed to many beer books, conducted tastings, food pairings and beer dinners in a couple of languages and judged for 11 years, Martyn is still as passionate today about getting better beer into the hands of the drinker as ever.”Read more..Show less.. Glynn Davis
Judge
United Kingdom
Business journalist covering the food and drink industries including beer as editor of Beer Insider. Frequent judge of international beer competitions and co-owner of Bohem Brewery in North London. Shane McNamara
Judge
Australia
Shane is a Master Cicerone and also holds a Master's degree in Brewing Science from the University of Nottingham. He has previously worked as a brewer and was formerly the Senior Technical Officer at the Institute of Brewing & Distilling
.. (IBD). Shane now helps drive innovation and quality for AB InBev - the world's largest brewer. With a passion for beer and food, Shane is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and regularly contributes to publications around the world and judging in beer competitions.
Read more..Show less.. Jerry Barlett
Judge
United Kingdom
Jerry is a freelance writer, editor, and author. He co-authored "30-Second Beer", published in March 2019 with five of the UK's best-known beer writers. Awarded for his blog at maltjerry.com by the British Guild of Beer Writers, Jerry writes about
.. beer, food, and whisky.Read more..Show less.. Malin Norman
Judge
United Kingdom
Malin Norman is a Certified Cicerone®, a certified beer sommelier, and an international beer judge.
She is a freelance writer and editor, a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers as well as the North American Guild of Beer
.. Writers.Read more..Show less.. Terry Leung
Judge
United Kingdom
Terry Leung is a whisky and beer specialist. He worked at Milroy’s of Soho, one of the oldest whisky shop in London with decades of history. In 2014, he completed the Campaign for Real Ale (the “CAMRA”) tasting training and
.. is currently on the London regional tasting panel and one of the judges at the world beer award. After working as a whisky ambassador for Scotch Malt Whisky Society, hosting various whisky tastings and food paring events, he is currently working for the whisky lounge, hosting their whisky blending workshops and whisky tastings, and supporting at their Whisky Weekenders events. Throughout the years, he built up relationships with whisky distilleries in Scotland to look for rare and interesting whisky.
Read more..Show less.. Natalya Watson
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Natalya Watson is a Beer Sommelier and Advanced Cicerone® passionate about sharing her knowledge of beer with others. She regularly teaches at the Beer & Cider Academy, judges at beer competitions, and produces and hosts the podcast Beer with Nat.
.. Her debut book, Beer: Taste the Evolution in 50 Styles was published by Kyle Books in March 2020.Read more..Show less.. Frances Brace
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Consultant with extensive experience in the pub, beer and ingredient industries. Her company, Red Flame Communications, specialises in these vibrant sectors.
Director of the British Guild of Beer Writers; first head of communications for Greene King; only female director of
.. Cask Marque in its 20 years; beer judge; intricately involved with Cask Ale Week, Cask Report, City of Ale. Has played a key role in helping save historic village pubs. Creator of brewery visitor centre and numerous events to position beer as natural, flavoursome, exciting – and relevant.
A marketing and PR strategist with a love of beer and creator of beer stories through words, pictures, presentations and experiences.
Read more..Show less.. Dan Sandy
Judge
United Kingdom
After running Kill The Cat in London for 6 years Dan now resides in Lewes, East Sussex where he operates his beer tours and tastings business: 'That’s The Beer Talking'. An Advanced Cicerone®, Dan also runs sensory training for
.. breweries, pub co’s and industry professionals between scouring the South Coast looking for the perfect pint of Harvey’s.Read more..Show less.. Lana Svitankova
Judge
United Kingdom
Lana Svitankova is a Certified Cicerone, BJCP Judge, member of The British Guild of Beer Writers and a translator. Steve Lamond
Judge
United Kingdom
"Steve is a drinks writer based in Northern Ireland with a particular interest in cheese & beer pairings, cider and drinks history. He is cider officer for Beoir, Ireland's beer consumer organisation and blogs at beersiveknown.com" Simon Williams
Judge
United Kingdom
Simon began his beer journey in 2011 by accidentally creating a little movement of likeminded modern beer lovers when he started The Campaign For Really Good Beer blog.
He continues to be enthralled by beer and enjoys a good “discussion”.
He is
.. a British Guild of Beer Writers member, an award winning blogger and still manages to make music with various indie ensembles.
Read more..Show less.. Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. John Westlake
Judge
John is an award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and an accredited Beer Sommelier who has visited over 150 countries where beer is brewed and enjoyed.
Des de Moor
Judge
United Kingdom
Des de Moor is one of the UK's leading beer experts and author of award-winning books Cask: The real story of Britain's unique beer culture and London's Best Beer, Pubs and Bars.
He curates tours and tutored tastings and has
.. judged beer in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and the USA as well as the UK.
Des is UK compiler for The Pocket Beer Book and a regular contributor to beer publications and websites.Read more..Show less.. Jethro Holman
Judge
United Kingdom
Jethro is the Beer Sensory Manager at Fourpure Brewing in Bermondsey, specialising in off-flavour identification and the training of tasters to attend Fourpure’s daily acceptance and descriptive profiling tasting sessions which he runs. He has been in the South East
.. London craft beer scene for 8 years and has judged in beer competitions nationally and internationallyRead more..Show less.. Ian Garrett
Judge
United Kingdom
CAMRA member and volunteer for over 40 years. For several years i was responsible for the International Beer Bar, BSF, at GBBF organising tutored tastings and establishing The Michael Jackson Award for American Cask Beer competition. I have been an
.. active judge at local, regional and national CAMRA events as well as judging at SIBA regional & National competitions.Read more..Show less.. Diego Pompele
Judge
Italy
Diego is an importer and supplier of beers. He received his beer somelier diploma in 2004 at theDoemens Akadiemie in Germany. Over the years he has judged at a number of national and international competitions.
Daisy Turnell
Judge
United Kingdom
Daisy Turnell is a freelance beer marketing consultant, having worked in the hospitality and brewing industry for the past 20 years.
She currently advises breweries in the UK and beyond on all aspects of marketing and making real connections with
.. beer lovers, and runs the Craft Beer Newcastle website to share information about the craft beer scene in the North East of England.
Read more..Show less.. Roger Protz
Judge
Roger Protz is a leading international beer writer. He is the former editor of the Good Beer Guide and the author of more than 20 books on the subject. He travels widely in the search for good beer and has
.. given talks in many countries, including Friends of the Smithsonian in Washington DC and Beer Expo in Melbourne, Australia. His website is www.protzonbeer.co.ukRead more..Show less.. Peter Alexander
Judge
United Kingdom
Peter is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and Chairman for over 20 years, of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA. He edits the branch magazine More Beer and has written about beer for several trade publications. He
.. has judged beer for CAMRA, SIBA and the International Beer Challenge. Since 2007, Peter has also written the popular Tandleman’s Beer Blog.Read more..Show less.. Richard Yarnell
Judge
United Kingdom
Richard Yarnell has worked for Mitchells & Butlers for over a decade, helping to guide beer and cider category strategy across all of Mitchells & Butlers retail brands. He qualified as a Beer Sommelier in 2014 and has twice
.. judged at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, making his judging debut at the World Beer Cup in Nashville in 2018.Read more..Show less.. Robin LeBlanc
Table Captain
Canada
Robin LeBlanc is a beer columnist, owner of the award-winning craft beer site The Thirsty Wench, author of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide, and co-host of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide The Podcast. She has appeared on TV, radio, and
.. newspapers preaching the gospel of good beer. She lives in Toronto.Read more..Show less.. Josh Rubin
Table Captain
Canada
Josh Rubin has been writing about beer since 2006, and was the beer columnist for Canada’s biggest newspaper, the Toronto Star, for 12 years.
He has judged at regional beer competitions and contributed several entries to the award-winning Oxford Companion to
.. Beer, including the Canadian national entry. He has also been a judge at the World Whiskies, the World Cider Awards and has made numerous broadcast appearances to speak about beer and spirits.
Josh has written extensively about the changing alcohol retailing landscape in Canada. When he's not sipping beer, he's been known to enjoy a well-made Sazerac.
Read more..Show less.. Crystal Luxmore
Table Captain
Canada
Crystal Luxmore is a certified Cicerone, professional beer and cider judge, and a seasoned journalist. Together with her sister, Tara, she runs The Beer Sisters where the duo lead tutored tastings and create stellar events for corporate clients and major
.. festivals in Canada and the US Crystal writes about libations for The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, LCBO’s Food & Drink, Beer Advocate and MASH magazines. She has appeared as a beer expert on CTV, Global TV, CBC radio, and on Good Morning Texas. There is nothing she likes more than talking about beer — except drinking it.Read more..Show less.. Lauren Richard
Table Captain
Canada
Lauren Richard is an Advanced Cicerone® and Certified BJCP judge. She curates beer programs, provides staff education, conducts food pairing events and beer dinners, as well as works with festivals to elevate the on and off-site drinking experience. Lauren is
.. also a proficient vocalist and voice actor, singing in a country western band and lending her voice to children's animation and videogames around the world.
Read more..Show less.. David Ort
Table Captain
Canada
David is a Toronto-based beer, food, and travel writer. He regularly contributes to Canadian publications and his first book, The Canadian Craft Beer Cookbook was published in 2013. Outside of beer and writing, his pursuits include perfecting his wood-fired pizza
.. recipe and chasing his Brittany spaniel, Berkeley, through the woods.Read more..Show less.. John Tyler
Judge
Canada
John Tyler is an award-winning home brewer and National level BJCP judge. Recently retired from the LCBO, John held responsibility for the Imported and Out of Province beer and cider purchases for the retail store network.
Prior to joining
.. the LCBO John worked in multiple roles in the food sector of the CPG industry. John has been home brewing for 25 years and enjoys teaching how-to-brew classes and style discovery tasting sessions in the local home brew community. He enjoys experimenting with cheese and beer to discover the next great pairing match.
Read more..Show less.. Jesse Vallins
Judge
Canada
Scarborough native Jesse Vallins is the executive chef at Barberian’s Steak House in Toronto and has spent over 25 years cooking in some of the city’s best restaurants. Not just a chef, but also a lifetime student of the beverage
.. world, Jesse is an Advanced Cicerone, a BJCP certified beer and mead judge, and a certified sommelier.
When he’s not working at the restaurant or dorking out on drinks, Jesse teaches and develops curriculum at Toronto’s George Brown College and contributes content to Food & Drink Magazine.Read more..Show less.. Tara Luxmore
Judge
Canada
Tara Luxmore is a Certified Cicerone, Certified Beer Judge and freelance writer for publications like Toronto Life and Food & Drink. Together with her real-life sis Crystal, Tara runs the Beer Sisters, where they lead corporate and private tastings, speak
.. at festivals across North America, and consult with brands. Follow the sisters on @beersisters on Instagram & facebook, and www.beersisters.com
Read more..Show less.. 
Gary Gillman
Judge
Canada
Gary Gillman is a well-known, Toronto-based blogger on beer, and also covers many topics in spirits and food. He also contributes regularly to the journal Brewery History, based in UK, and other journals.
He established his blog, www.beeretseq.com, in 2015
.. following years of private study and travel. Formerly a business lawyer, he now devotes full-time to writing and speaking on these topics. He recently addressed the Annual Beer Culture Summit of the Chicago Brewseum, speaking on mini-breweries installed on German trans-Atlantic liners in the 1920s.
Gary was recently short-listed in two categories (pubs and self-published) for the 2022 Awards of the British Guild of Beer Writers. Awards are announced November 23.
Gary has judged for many years for World Drinks Awards in beer, gin, and vodka. While interested in all drinks, he focuses on beer, whiskies, and spirits, in general.
He was invited to judge as well in the newly-established Canada Beer Cup (was not able to attend, but hopefully next year).
Apart from the aforesaid Guild, Gary belongs to numerous professional bodies and associations including Canadian Brewerianist, Culinary Historians of Canada, and Rural Women’s Studies Association
Read more..Show less.. Christian Leibig
Judge
Germany
Christian is the sales manager for Müllerbräu. He has been a beer sommelier since 2011 and hasalready been a judge at the World Beer Award, Meininger Beer Award and Selection. Daniel Koening
Judge
Germany
Daniel Koening is a German-based, Düsseldorf-born and raised (Altbier!), studied Graphic-Designer turned qualified Brewer & Malster, working at the moment as the lead brewer for HEIDENPETERs Brewery in Berlin - Kreuzberg. He is a Certified Cicerone® Candidate, BJCP qualified beer
.. judge candidate and still a home-brewer since 2012. Daniel loves reading up all things beer history and science, enjoys talking to people about our global beer culture and it is always happy to sit in front of some proper Rauchbier to contemplate about Life
Read more..Show less.. Daniel Stenglein
Judge
Germany
Daniel Stenglein is a passionate beer enthusiast grown up in Bamberg. As homebrewer and administrator of the biggest homebrewer facebook group of Germany ('hobbybrauer') he is always active on several levels in the beer scene.
Besides his main job as
.. engineer he is a freelance seminar leader for brewing courses and sensory tastings.Read more..Show less.. Frank Christian
Judge
Germany
Frank Christian is a PhD biochemist by training and an avid homebrewer, with a passion for researching beer styles and developing recipes. He is the first National rank BJCP-certified beer judge in Germany.
Frank got into brewing his own beer in
.. 2012 while living in Glasgow, Scotland, and went on to win multiple awards with his beers (e.g. overall winner of the IBD Scottish homebrew competition 2013). He now lives and brews in Aachen, Germany, is the co-founder and organiser of the monthly homebrew meetup of Aachener Hobbybrauer as well as an active member of Kölner Bierhistoriker e.V. homebrew clubs. He also organises and runs BJCP exams, off-flavour trainings and homebrewing workshops.
Read more..Show less.. Thomas Vogel
Judge
Germany
Thomas Vogel, founder and CEO of the »Das Bier!« Brausysteme GmbH since 2003, has developed the brands „Dein Bier selbstgebraut“, „Braukoenig“ and „One2Clean“ and their products. (www.das-bier.com) He also has established a platform for selling and distributing craft beer (www.bier-spezialitaeten.de).
..
Since 2010 he maintains the „Grafschafter Brauschule“ (www.brauschule.de)
Since 2007 he is certified Beer Sommelier and has been the first Beer Sommelier in North Germany, During 2008 and 2012 he was member of the managing board of the International Association of Certified Beer Sommeliers.
For 14 years now, he took part in more than 28 national, European and international beer competitions as a Judge as well as a Table Captain.
He is co-author of the well-known and official „Beer Color Chart“ (www.bierfarbkarte.eu), which is used as the official reference in several European and international beer competitions in the meanwhile.Read more..Show less.. Meinhard Wicht
Judge
Germany
Meinhard Wicht has been working with beer and in the beer industry for many years.
For him beer is not a job, but a passion. He started his professional career at the VLB Berlin studying brew technology, continued as a salesman
.. for different beer brew companies and completed his passion by graduating as Diplom Biersommelier at Doemens. 2011 he started his own business „ProBierKult“ and is hosting beer tastings and consulting business partners.
Read more..Show less.. Nigel Tarn
Judge
A freelance journalist, beer writer and full time marketeer working in sales and marketing roles for micro brewers and global giants.
Katrien Bruyland
Table Captain
Belgium
Jonny Tyson
Judge
United Kingdom
Jonny Tyson, AKA The Beer Wrangler, is a Beer Educator and beer sommelier with a hospitality industry background.
Having run specialist beer and wine stores and a craft beer bar and restaurant in Vancouver, Canada, Jonny returned to the UK
.. to become a full time beer educator, developing the BPET (Beer Professional Education & Training) program. He now teaches at and co-owns The South London Wine School, where beer is given the same love and respect as wine!
Jonny was the first Advanced Cicerone in Europe and develops training, hosts beer events and writes about beer. Jonny co-founded and runs the Guild of Beer Sommeliers - highlighting the importance of trained beer professionals in the wider industry. Jonny is also a sommelier and WSET wine educator and uses his experience to showcase beer at a fine-dining table alongside wine.
Read more..Show less.. Artur Napiórkowski
Judge
Poland
"Artur Napiórkowski - one of the most experienced beer judges in Poland, certified by Polish Homebrewers Association and BJCP. He writes to Piwowar Magazine and as a freelancer works mainly for Maryensztadt Brewery and Bevie LTD. He is also a
.. co-owner of newly founded creative agency focused on craft breweries - thirst.pl"Read more..Show less.. Neil Walker
Judge
United Kingdom
Neil is a journalist and beer sommelier, Head of Comms at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and a Director of the British Guild of Beer Writers. Erica Campbell
Judge
Canada
Erica Campbell is the co-founder and co-owner of The Society of Beer Drinking Ladies, North America's largest woman and beer organization. She has worked in sales and marketing at Ontario craft breweries for the past 9 or so years and
.. has taught at both the Niagara College's Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Course and the Prud'Homme Beer Education Program. Just coming off maternity leave, she has an 11 month old daughter, a chef partner and has lived in Toronto for the past 11 years.Read more..Show less.. Leah Kitagawa
Judge
Canada
Leah is a freelance copywriter who writes monthly beer articles for C'est What and Society of Beer Drinking Ladies. She is also the bar manager at C'est What. George Milbrant
Judge
Canada
When an early mid-life crisis hit, he founded C’est What at the age of twenty-seven. Opened with a mandate of "true local flavour”, it was the first establishment of any kind to offer local craft beer and wine exclusively. As
.. a result a whole new generation of restaurateurs grew up knowing that local was not only good but financially viableRead more..Show less.. Isabelle Netto
Judge
Canada
Iz Netto is a microbiologist M.Sc. and graduate of the Niagara College Brewmaster program. She has worked on a variety of sensory research projects involving yeasts and bacteria, and most notably worked to develop Escarpment Labs' "Lacto 2.0" souring blend.
..
Iz has presented on beer R&D and other fermentation topics at conferences, workshops, webinars and podcasts, and continues to work on collaborative projects with breweries across Ontario.Read more..Show less.. Joan Villar-I-Marti (aka 'Birraire')
Table Captain
Spain
Joan Villar-i-Martí (aka 'Birraire') is a Catalan beer writer, consultant and judge. He writes mainly in specialised media, is the author of Birraire's Newsletter on Substack, co-author of Guía de Cerveses de Catalunya (2013) and part of the Barcelona Beer
.. Festival crew.Read more..Show less.. Patrick Murphy
Judge
Germany
Patrick Murphy is a certified Doemens Beer Sommelier and owner/operator of "Bambeerg", which gives historic brewery & beer tours of Bamberg and Franconia. He can usually be found hiking or taking the bicycle to the various breweries and beer
.. gardens in the area around Bamberg, Germany!Read more..Show less.. Stephan Hilbrandt
Judge
Germany
Stephan Hilbrandt won the 5th World Championship of Beer Sommeliers in September 2017. He is a passionate home brewer since 2012 and a beer sommelier since 2015. Apart from judging in different international beer competitions he gives tastings, moderates beer-accompanied
.. menus or helps interested people to enter the world of home brewing.Read more..Show less.. Mareike Hasenbeck
Judge
Germany
Mareike Hasenbeck is a freelance journalist and one of the first craft beer bloggers in Germany with feinerhopfen.com. As a beer sommelier, sensory expert for beer and member of the Institute of Masters of Beer, she is an international beer
.. judge. She also won the bronze medal at the German Beer Sommelier Championship in November 2021, qualifying her for the World Championship that year.
Read more..Show less.. John Keeling
Judge
United Kingdom
Retired former Brewing Director of Fullers, now enjoying life and lunches where possible Kay Tassilo Pauli
Judge
Germany
Carsten Eger
Judge
Germany
Education as a Brewing engineer in Weihenstephan
Working at the chair of Brewing Technology II in Weihenstephan
Working at Becks, Interbrew, Inbev, AB-Inbev
Since 2016 Brewmaster at Union Brauerei Bremen
Katharina Reinhardt
Judge
Germany
Katharina studied brewing and beverage science at the Technical University of Berlin and started her occupational career at the Altenburger Brewery in Altenburg in 2016. She is master brewer and responsible for production and quality of the Altenburger beers since
.. that.Read more..Show less.. Carsten Helmholdt
Judge
Germany
In 2015 I started to homebrew and brewed my own beers at home I become addicted to real good quality beers and started to educate myself more about making beers and the brewing process as long as different styles and
.. history of beer.
In 2016 I jointed to the local homebrewers Association "Braufreunde Berlin". I became more experienced about tasting homebrewed beers of the locals and started to like judging beers. I also started writing articles for theBraufreunde, even if I would never call myself a journalist.
In 2017 I visited my first seminar and had even more patient about tasting and judging beers on the private and semi-professional homebrew side.
In 2018 I overtook the leadership of the association and started to organize local homebrew competitions. I also took more patience about tasting beers and our monthly local homebrew meetups.
Part of being the leader of the biggest homebrewers association in Berlin is also, to stay InTouch with the local breweries, so i am really well connected in the beer scene of berlin and their own characteristic beers.
In 2019 I started to judge my first competition for our local homebrew Association. I also got my hands on one of the first tickets for the BJCP tasting exam in Germany and become a BJCP judge.
Read more..Show less.. Jens Zimmermann
Judge
Germany
Jens Zimmermann aus Sachsen ist seit 2014 ein von Doemens zertifizierter Biersommelier. Er leitet die Sektion Deutschland Ost, im Verband der Diplom Biersommeliers e.V.. Bei verschieden Verkostungswettbewerben ist er in der Jury tätig. Seine riesige Begeisterung für das Kulturgut Bier
.. münden in sehr vielen Aktivitäten. Dafür hat er eine eigene Plattform, www.biergenial.de. Offen ist er für interessante neue Projekte rund um die Biervielfalt. Bei ihm liegen Beruf und Passion sehr nah beieinander. Seit 1991 als Verkäufer für Brauereien in der Gastronomie unterwegs.Read more..Show less.. Michael Friedrich
Judge
Germany
Michael Friedrich has a master’s degree in Brewing with more than 30 years of experience, and is manager of Stonewood Braumanufaktur. Since 2014, he is a beer sommelier with special interest for beer tastings. At the World Cup of Beer
.. Sommeliers 2019, the third place went to Michael for his exciting presentation.Read more..Show less.. David Lee
Judge
Canada
By day, a picture editor and rights and clearances specialist, but at all other times, a food and drinks enthusiast. Currently a program committee member of the Terroir Symposium (http://www.terroirsymposium.com) and organizer of The Beer Social, a regular gathering of
.. beer industry professionals. Previously a judge for the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance Awards.Read more..Show less.. Christian Goldeman
Judge
Germany
Chris is a beer writer, international beer sommelier and home brewer from Stuttgart, germany. He founded one of the biggest german beer blogs called kraftbier0711.de in 2017. Since that time beer is a passion to him and a part of
.. his life next to his family and main profession as a UI/UX specialist.Read more..Show less.. Don Burgess
Judge
United Kingdom
Don Burgess has been in the industry for over 30 years, working in the Craft/Micro sector.
Don with his brewery, Freeminer, he pioneered the concept of cloudy beers (Shakemantle Ginger Ale, GBBF Speciality winner) and commercial small pack, in the 1990s,
.. pushing hop levels and pioneering IPAs as we know them today (Trafalgar listed by Michael Jackson as a World Top 200 beer, and award winner at the "Beauty of Hops").
Having won many awards over a wide range of styles, he has also judged in National awards in the UK, USA, and Japan.
During lockdown, he also has found time to come second in the Global "Muddy Chef" online cookery competition.
Read more..Show less.. Dunja Karabash
Judge
Germany
In love with beer shortly after the milk bottle. Professional in the beer business since 2006 and a fine nose as a Doemens beer sommelier since 2010. Now managing director of Biertraum GmbH, an e-commerce company with various online shops
.. for beers and breweries.Read more..Show less.. Jason Tremblay
Judge
Canada
Jason Tremblay is an award-winning brewer and founder of Shacklands Brewing in Toronto. He’s currently looking forward to brewing in-person collabs, including another much-anticipated durian beer. Fergal Murray
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Fergal Murray's career as the Guinness Master Brewer has been extraordinary. It has taken him across the globe and secured his reputation as a leader in the brewing industry. His contribution had a significant impact on the growth of the
.. Guinness brand across multiple platforms. There is no real comparison in the world of brewing to the experience of learning the science, art, and craft of brewing, which has been handed down over the generations, at St James's Gate Brewery. Fergal, as a custodian of the immense brewing knowledge and craft, brought these skills to his role as Guinness Global Brand Ambassador to drive growth in the Guinness brand.Read more..Show less.. Pete Brown
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Pete Brown is a British author, journalist, broadcaster and consultant specialising in food and drink, especially the fun parts like beer and cider.
He writes for newspapers and magazines around the world and is a regular contributor to BBC Radio
.. 4’s Food Programme. He was named British Beer Writer of the Year in 2009, 2012 and 2016.
Read more..Show less.. Ady Floyd
Judge
Canada
Ady Floyd is a Certified Beer Specialist, graduating from George Brown College in 2021. Ady has worked at the trend research firm, Trend Hunter for the past six years and draws on that background to create a trend-based newsletter, Just
.. Beer Banter. She publishes via LinkedIn and uses Instagram (@JustBeerBanter) to post beer tasting notes of new and traditional brewsRead more..Show less.. Bryan Betts
Judge
United Kingdom
Bryan Betts is an experienced writer, journalist, blogger and occasional broadcaster, and a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers who has been reporting on the drinks world for many years. Currently London-based but formerly resident in Germany, he
.. is a CAMRA and IBD-trained beer judge and taster who has judged in various competitions for more than a decade.Read more..Show less.. Aidan Sweeney
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Travel allowed Aidan Sweeney to really develop his appreciation and knowledge of beer. As a beer advocate, he is passionate about expanding consumer appreciation for well-made beer. Besides judging at national and international beer completions, he is frequently called upon
.. to talk on beer in the media. He has provided advice and insights to businesses in the retail and brewing sectors. More generally, as a public affairs expert, he specialises in areas of enterprise policy, with a focus on encouraging start-ups.Read more..Show less.. Nikki Rowe
Judge
United Kingdom
Nikki is a fully qualified Diploma Brewer and Beer Sommelier and has worked in the Brewing Industry since 1997, starting her career at Young's in Wandsworth and then onto Budweiser in Mortlake. She is currently Brewing Team Leader at Hall
.. and Woodhouse in Dorset and regularly judge for SIBA and Great Taste. This will be her second time judging at the World Beer Awards.Read more..Show less.. Christine Cryne
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Christine loves educating people about beer, whether through tutored beer tastings or training, which covers both enthusiasts and the trade including pubs and breweries.
She is a member of the Guild of Beer Writers, a Master Trainer and an accredited
.. European Beer Consumers Union beer judge, judging at a variety of competitions such as for Wetherspoons, SIBA and the Austrian Beer Challenge as well as chairing judging panels at CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain Awards, World Beer Awards and the International Beer Challenge.
Her tutored tastings include venues as diverse as the Tower of London and the Farmers Club and at events such as the BBC Good Food Show, Great British Beer Festival, Ludlow Food Festival, Danske's Copenhagen Beer Festival as well as a number of pubs, bottle shops and beer festivals.
Christine has also been a member of the Whisky Society for several years.
Read more..Show less.. Bastian Leikeim
Judge
Germany
Bastian Leikeim is the 5th generation of the brewer family Leikeim and owner of the award winning Altenburg Brewery.
He is a certified beer sommelier and was participant of the 6th World Championship of Beer Sommeliers in Italy and will be
.. a participant of the 7th Championship in Munich in 2022. He's judging at several beer awards.Read more..Show less.. Francesca Slattery
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Francesca Slattery is an IBD Accredited Beer Sommelier with years of competitive beer judging and sensory experience under her belt. Working professionally in the craft brewing industry in the UK and Ireland since 2015, roles in breweries have included sales,
.. export, account management, events and tastings, brewery tours, communications and branding. An insatiable passion for bringing new people to beer is coupled with a commitment to making events and training top quality and fun.Read more..Show less.. Jessica Malteza
Judge
Mexico
FOUNDER AND HEAD BREWER OF MALTEZA BREWERY, BEER SOMMELIÈRE, INTERNATIONAL BEER AND MEAD JUDGE, BEER SEEVER. SHE HAS GIVEN LECTURES, CONSULTANCIES AND CRAFT BEER COURSES. SHE HAS JUDGED SINCE 2014 IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BEER COMPETITIONS (USA, MEXICO, SOUTHAMERICA,
.. JAPAN). FOUNDER AND COORDINATOR OF 'ADELITAS' THE FIRST FEMALE GROUP FOR MEXICAN WOMEN IN BEER INDUSTRY. SHE HAS WON THE MEXICAN AWARD FOR FEMALE BREWER 2019.Read more..Show less.. Ben Lockwood
Judge
United Kingdom
Julie O'Grady
Judge
United Kingdom
Julie is the co-owner of Liverpool based Neptune Brewery, which she has been running for 6 years with her husband.
Her main role is Head of Sales and Events, but she also brews occasionally.
Julie is passionate about good beer and spreading
.. the word that beer is for all. Alongside her work in the brewery, she is also the founder of inclusive social and beer education group, Ladies that Beer. Founded in 2015, the group’s aim is to educate and support women interested in beer or who work within in the beer industry, through social and education events and brew days.
Read more..Show less.. Carlos de la Barra
Judge
Spain
With a background in food science and over a decade of international winemaking, Carlos brings knowledge and passion for all things related to flavour, food, and booze. Carlos thinks that by relying on the knowledge of manufacturers for their food
.. and beverage, people’s choices around what they eat and drink are a political act. He joined the team at Omnipollo in August 2018 to help them change the perception of beer — forever.Read more..Show less.. George Keeble
Judge
After several years running Soho Whisky Club in London, George made the switch into whisky production in 2018 and currently works as a distiller at New World Whisky Distillery in Melbourne, Australia. He also runs a whisky cask brokering business. Tim Forbes
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Forbes is a freelance drinks writer based in Tuscany. Tim has been in the drinks trade since 1998, working for Oddbins, The Whisky Exchange, Waitrose and Majestic Wines. He has been writing and judging for numerous publications
.. and international spirits competitions since 2008.Read more..Show less.. Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. Anne-Sophie Bigot
Judge
France
Anne-Sophie, better known as The Whisky Lady, is a whisky influencer (blogger, consultant & writer). She also runs her own specialist whisky bar in Toulouse (France), The Hopscotch Pub & Brewery. Colin Hampden-White
Judge
United Kingdom
Colin is a presenter on The Three Drinkers on Amazon Prime, Chairman of the Circle of Wine Writers and a Keeper of the Quaich. Having started his career at the Scotsman, he worked at The Times and FT, and became
.. the founding editor of Whisky quarterly magazine.
In his spare time, he is a fine art photographer working with Condé Nast and is represented by the Rebecca Hossack gallery in London. He has exhibited all over the world including the National Portrait Gallery. He has won the Louis Roederer Award for Artistry and the Born Digital award for photography.
Read more..Show less.. 
Mark Jennings
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark Jennings consults to the spirits industry on marketing and investment.
He is a passionate advocate of well-made spirits and has led tastings across the world. He founded the world’s first cocktails at home delivery service, described by Dick Bradsell, the
.. creator of the Espresso Martini, as “The best idea I’ve heard in years”. He is also a commentator on spirits and cocktails on television and in print, as well as judging for the International Wine and Spirits Competition, the Spirits Masters and the World Whisky Awards.
Raised in Scotland, his love of whisky took a surprisingly long time to flourish. It became part of his career when working with Pernod Ricard, and is now firmly part of his identity as an honorary Ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. His second love is all things agave-based.
Of all his achievements, perhaps the proudest is having a cocktail named after him: the Mark of Respect, which became a signature serve for Teeling Irish Whiskey.Read more..Show less.. Claire Tesh
Judge
Scotland
I’ve been in the drinks industry for several years beginning in sales and marketing for a start-up distillery and as an ambassador for an independent bottler before moving into my current role as European Brand Ambassador for Angus Dundee Distillers.
.. I’m currently studying my General Certificate in Distilling.Read more..Show less.. Andy Flatt
Judge
Scotland
Andrew Flatt is an independent whisky writer and reviewer based in Inverness. He writes for and edits his own personal website AmateurDrammer.com, regularly writes for The Press & Journal newspaper as well as contributing to many other online and print
.. publications.
Read more..Show less.. Chris White
Judge
Scotland
Dr. Christopher White is the Editor of Edinburgh Whisky Blog, an award-winning, influential whisky website. He is also the Auctioneer at Royal Mile Whisky Auctions and is the founder, and former General Manager, of the award-winning Usquabae Whisky Bar in
.. Edinburgh.Read more..Show less.. Tim Hampson
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Hampson is an award-wining journalist and broadcaster. He is author of many books including the Haynes Whisky Manual. Craig Wilson
Judge
Scotland
Dr Craig Wilson is a Master Blender for Diageo, responsible for the Mortlach, Dufftown and Singleton ranges and a variety of high-end single malts and single cask offerings. Pavlos Koumparos
Judge
Cyprus
Pavlos is a passionate collector and drinker of whiskies and part of the Cyprus Whisky Association. Alongside he is also the brand champion for Tomatin in Cyprus. He has attended, participated in and organised many different events, in Cyprus
.. and abroad. Over the past four years he has worked with whisky as well as other premium spirits.Read more..Show less.. Greg Dillon
Judge
United Kingdom
Greg, as well as undertaking NPD projects with whisky brands is a brand strategy consultant working with brands big and small within the spirits industry to define, fix, build and grown their brands. He also authors GreatDrams.com and has recently
.. released a series of single cask limited edition independently bottled whiskies under the GreatDrams brand.Read more..Show less.. Gregor Hannah
Judge
Scotland
Gregor founded the independent bottling company Hannah Whisky Merchants in 2012 selling rare, single casks through the brand Lady of the Glen. He has won support through the Prince's Trust and Scottish Edge, and was awarded ‘Best Spirit' at the
.. Scotsman Food and Drink Awards 2019.Read more..Show less.. Tom Morton
Judge
United Kingdom
Tom Morton has been writing, talking and occasionally singing about whisky for 30 years, since the publication of his seminal whisky travelogue (later a radio and TV series) Spirit of Adventure. He has since published the acclaimed 'single malt thriller'
.. A Whisky in Monsterville and co-authored (with Rob Allanson and Ken Hamilton) the 'ultimate blending pilgrimage' book Journey's Blend. He contributes to whisky publications around the world. Recently published to widespread acclaim is the best-selling ‘Shetland - Cooking on the Edge of the World’ written with Tom’s son James.Read more..Show less.. George Michie
Judge
United Kingdom
Following an acting career spanning 10 long years George Michie eventually decided he ought to be paid for drinking so much. George is now Manager of Soho Whisky Club, a private members club specialising in whisky and cigars in the
.. heart of London.Read more..Show less.. Mark Newton
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark is a co-editor of Malt, one of the most popular whisky websites in the world. He is Head of Communications for Waterford Distillery in Ireland, and Renegade Rum Distillery in Grenada. Previously he was a taster for Whisky Magazine. Bernhard Schäfer
Judge
Germany
Bernhard started his professional spirit career behind a cocktail bar 1985, during his studies of sociology. Some years later he began giving lectures on different spirits, mainly whisky. This is where he received the highest accolades as he became
.. 'Keeper of the Quaich' in 1996, and a 'Master of the Quaich' in 2007. He is a co-founder of ENSE (European Network of Spirit Experts). He became a Member of the Gin Guild in 2016.
Since 1997 Bernhard is a panel Member at different Spirit Competitions in Europe, and since 2010 in the US. He became a proud member of RumXP 2012. His friends say of him,: “I would once like to pass holidays as what you are calling work”Read more..Show less.. Lydia Rose
Judge
United Kingdom
My name is Lydia, I am 25 and work in Black Parrot Bar. I started bartending in 2017 and since then grown a passion for spirits, Rum in particular! I currently work behind the bar as well as host weekly
.. Masterclasses and planning our events. I have never been a judge before so I'm really looking forward to being part of the judging team this year!Read more..Show less.. Rupert Wheeler
Judge
United Kingdom
Rupert was managing editor of Whisky Magazine from 2014-2017. He has now moved to Orkney where he works part time as a tour guide and running tasting events at Highland Park Distillery. He also continues to run a small publishing
.. company specialising in drink related books.Read more..Show less.. Euan Campbell
Judge
Scotland
Euan caught the whisky bug whilst working in a whisky shop during university. Following graduation, he moved to Edinburgh and began working at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society late 2008. He’s held the position of Spirits Manager since
.. 2016 and oversees the purchasing and quality of the SMWS maturing cask inventory.Read more..Show less.. Marcus Rudek
Judge
Germany
For Marcus Rudek, noble distillates, their makers and their stories have long been a matter of the heart. As a trained brandy sommelier and active malt ambassador, the
Bavarian is constantly out and about to introduce interested connoisseurs at trade
.. fairs, seminars and tastings to the unique and plentiful variety of flavours in brandies that are produced with great expertise and dedication in the many craft distilleries, be it whisky, gin or fruit brandies. In addition, he also contributes his knowledge as a juror at various spirits awards and tries to get more attention to craft spirits with his "Meisterbrenner" platformRead more..Show less.. Felipe Schrieberg
Judge
United Kingdom
Felipe is the co-founder of The Rhythm and Booze Project, a musical duo combining whisky tasting experiences with live music. He also writes about whisky, and is a senior contributor for Forbes.com in addition to other publications. Nicola Young
Judge
One half of WhiskyBoys.com and ambassador for SMWS my passion for Whisky comes from my Dad. Based just outside Glasgow, as a whisky duo we are involved in various Whisky tastings, festivals, writings and reviews. We tirelessly spread
.. love and knowledge of our national drink to anyone and everyone who'll listen.Read more..Show less.. Jason B. Standing
Judge
United Kingdom
Since starting Whisky Squad in London 8 years ago and launching the Dramboree whisky weekend, Jason's frequented and worked at whisky festivals, tastings, and bars across the UK and Europe, spreading his enthusiasm for helping people find whiskies they love.
.. Jason is not a whisky blogger, however he does have a collection of distinctive hats and trousers.
Read more..Show less.. Mike Aikman
Judge
Scotland
Mike is co-owner of Edinburgh bars Bramble, Lucky Liquor Co & The Last Word, as well as Bramble Whisky Co, which bottles single casks of Scotch Whisky. Ron Eldad
Judge
Israel
Ron Eldad has a huge passion for whisky. Since 2016 he's the Production Manager at Milk & honey, Israel's 1st. whisky distillery. Tasted hundreds of distillates in the making and expertise in blind tastings. Gal Kalkshtein
Judge
Israel
Gal Kalkshtein is the owner and founder of the M&H distillery, Israel's first whisky distillery.
Gal is a high-tech serial entrepreneur with a great passion for whisky.
Gal turned his whisky vision into reality after opening Israel's first whisky distillery and since
.. then, has become known as the pioneer and leader of Israel's whisky Industry.
Read more..Show less.. Jessica Lomas
Judge
Scotland
Jess has been in the whisky business for over 10 years, starting in retail then working at a leading whisky auction and now opening the European and UK branch of independent bottlers, Single Cask Nation. She specialises in the glamorous
.. world of whisky logistics, earning her the title ‘Queen of the Boxes’. Jess also hosts regular whisky tastings in Glasgow and internationally on her travels.Read more..Show less.. Steven Kersley
Judge
Scotland
Master Distiller at BrewDog Distilling Co. Steven has worked in the distilling industry for over a decade. He is currently distilling different styles of whisky, rum and gin and vodka from scratch at one of Scotland’s most unique
.. distilleries.Read more..Show less.. Steven Shand
Judge
Scotland
I currently work as the blender and brand manager for Wemyss Malts focusing on whisky development, whisky blending, branding and marketing, so basically if you see a Wemyss Malts bottle, I work from the liquid development, quality control, blending and
.. right through to the creation label and carton.
Previously to Wemyss Malts I worked as a sales and marketing consultant for several Scottish craft spirits and managed a pop up whisky shop on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh called Castlehill Whisky. I previously worked for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society for 4 years as the manager and coordinator of all the external members tastings, brand ambassador based at The Vaults, the home of SMWS.
Read more..Show less.. Tomer Goren
Judge
Israel
Tomer Goren has a distilling experience of more than 14 years and is the Head Distiller of The Milk & Honey Distillery in Israel since its establishment in 2014. He also runs Whisky Live in Israel and holds many
.. lectures and masterclasses about whisky, among consulting to bars and restaurants, and judging in whisky competitions. Tomer also owns and runs an independent-bottling company.
Read more..Show less.. Rob Allanson
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark Bylok
Judge
Canada
Mark Bylok is a whisky author (The Whisky Cabinet), podcaster (The Whisky Topic), publisher of whisky.buzz, and speaker on the topic of all things whisky. His first book, published in 2013, became a best seller on Amazon and the podcast
.. is a top whisky podcast in the world. Mark loves to geek out about whisky, and has succeeded in bringing in the geeky details of the whisky world in a more approachable manner. In his personal life, Mark is happily married to his wife Nicole, with twin toddler girls, and twin collie dogs.Read more..Show less.. Josh Rubin
Judge
Canada
Josh Rubin has been writing about beer since 2006, and was the beer columnist for Canada’s biggest newspaper, the Toronto Star, for 12 years.
He has judged at regional beer competitions and contributed several entries to the award-winning Oxford Companion to
.. Beer, including the Canadian national entry. He has also been a judge at the World Whiskies, the World Cider Awards and has made numerous broadcast appearances to speak about beer and spirits.
Josh has written extensively about the changing alcohol retailing landscape in Canada. When he's not sipping beer, he's been known to enjoy a well-made Sazerac.
Read more..Show less.. Justin Koury
Judge
United States
CEO, Founder of Bevfluence a beverage consulting and content community specializing in helping producers build a better future. 20+ years culinary, wine, whiskey, hospitality and consulting experience. He has an MBA with focus in Hospitality Tourism. His website
.. Wizard Of Whiskey has covered the wine and spirits industry with a podcast since 2012.Read more..Show less.. Marcy Rudershausen
Judge
United States
Marcy is the Founder of Raise A Dram Consulting LLC. She was inducted into Keepers of the Quaich in 2010 and is a founding member of Keepers of The Quaich USA Chapter. Ms. Rudershausen has been working in the whisky
.. industry for over 20 years educating consumers and sales teams on the finer points of whisky conducting her whisky outreach in both English and Spanish. In addition to leading whisky tastings, seminars and hosting whisky pairing dinners in the US she has also presented across South, Central and North America.Read more..Show less.. Derek Brown
Judge
United States
Derek Brown is a spirits and cocktail expert, consultant, owner of 2017 Spirited Award winning “Best American Cocktail Bar” Columbia Room, and author of Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World, published by Rizzoli April 2019. He
.. is also Chief Spirits Advisor to the National Archives Foundation and advocate for the role great drinks can have in bringing us together. in 2019, Washington Post critic Tom Sietsema named him one of the fifteen trailblazers since 2000 that have made Washington, D.C. a better place to eat (and drink).Read more..Show less.. Reid Bechtle
Judge
United States
Reid has had an active interest in whiskey and spirits for the past 35 years. In 2010 he founded 1789b, a private bourbon group modeled after a Havana cigar group he started in the late 1980’s. 1789b was one of
.. the early participants in the acquisition on high quality bourbon when few people were interested in purchasing hand-picked barrels. To date the 1789b group has acquired over 170 barrels of bourbon and over 190 total barrels of spirits including rye whiskey, Armagnac, American brandy and most recently American rum. Reid’s current interest is in single grain Scotch whisky which he feels is under appreciated and undervalued.
Reid has been an independent business consultant for the past 30 years with a focus on business turnarounds. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Read more..Show less.. Paul Feig
Judge
United States
Paul Feig is a multi-talented creator working successfully as a filmmaker, writer, producer, and author whose films Bridesmaids, Spy, A Simple Favor and others have grossed well over one billion dollars worldwide. Additionally, in 2018 Mr. Feig began his
.. quest to create the perfect gin and through the process of perfecting the spirit, Artingstall’s Brilliant London Dry Gin was born.Read more..Show less.. 
Sam Carter
Judge
United Kingdom
Sam Carter has been an Ambassador for Bombay Sapphire since early 2009. His role incorporates spreading the good word about the ever-expanding gin category, the creative world of Bombay Sapphire, its sustainable production process and the bright, fresh, uplifting cocktails
.. it provides. During his 24+ years within the drinks industry, Sam has developed a great passion & wealth of knowledge through his classical & molecular training at a vast array of 5 Star hotels & Michelin stared restaurants between London, Nottinghamshire and as far afield as Sydney, Australia. Sam is globally regarded as a leading authority on the subject of gin & gin cocktails. He is now currently based full time at the Home of Bombay – The Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire, England where he hosts VIP guests such as advanced trade, press, distributors, agencies, Bacardi Stakeholders & Board Members from right across the world. He also coaches & ‘ginspires’ all other internal Bacardi employees & external Brand Ambassadors, and is instrumental on all things innovation be it cocktails or future liquids. Sam is most proud of playing a key team role in the development and launch of BACARDI’s most innovative super premium gin liquid – Star of Bombay which won best London Dry Gin in the 2016 IWSC awards. Sam lives locally to the distillery in Hampshire with his wife Angela & two young girls - Penny & Lucy. Sam lives by this all-inspiring quote by Albert Einstein… "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere”.Read more..Show less.. David T Smith
Chair of Judges
United Kingdom
David T Smith is an independent spirits consultant who’s been working in the industry for over a decade. He has consulted on gin projects across six continents and written numerous books on the subject of gin, including ‘The Craft of
.. Gin’, ‘Gin Tonica’, ‘The Gin Dictionary’ and, most recently, ‘The Craft Gin Guide’.
David also regularly speaks at a number of international conferences, including: The Gin Guild’s Ginposium, the American Distilling Institute’s annual conference, and the London Craft Distilling Expo.
Read more..Show less.. Arthur Nägele
Judge
Switzerland
Arthur Nägele was introduced to spirits at an early age by his father in his own distillery, and has been greatly involved in the industry ever since. Following his education in hospitality management, he was invited to become a member
.. of the Wädenswil Sensory Evaluation Group in Switzerland where he trained as a spirits judge.
Nägele now works as an independent spirits educator and consultant, and is a founding member of the Spirituosenakademie which provides training for the wine and spirits industries. He is a member of the Gin Guild and were appointed to join the Council of Whiskey Masters Inaugural Advisory Board in 2019
Read more..Show less.. Eric Zandona
Judge
United States
Eric Zandona is a writer, consultant, spirit judge, and the Director of Spirits Information for the American Distilling Institute. Since entering the spirits industry in 2011, he has authored, edited and contributed to six books on distilled spirits written for
.. Distiller, and Gin magazines, and created the spirits blog EZdrinking.com.Read more..Show less.. Justin Koury
Judge
United States
CEO, Founder of Bevfluence a beverage consulting and content community specializing in helping producers build a better future. 20+ years culinary, wine, whiskey, hospitality and consulting experience. He has an MBA with focus in Hospitality Tourism. His website
.. Wizard Of Whiskey has covered the wine and spirits industry with a podcast since 2012.Read more..Show less.. Tomas Cisty
Judge
United Kingdom
Tomas Cisty, bar manager at London’s leading luxury private members’ business club, 12 Hay Hill, is a true expert when it comes to mixing spirits and creating unique cocktail concepts. Czech-born started his career in London at Ceviche, and later
.. landed a job at Duck & Waffle, to broaden his cocktail knowledge and passion for spirits. Tomas comes with a wealth of vodka experience, and his current vodka menu at 12 Hay Hill ranks within the best in Mayfair. Tomas is the winner of Sassy Cidre Grand Prize 2019 and Peter Spanton Cocktail Competition 2018, and he holds WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits. He also currently serves as the Brand Ambassador for The Wrecking Coast Distillery. One of the Tomas’s recent successes include the nomination for the IMBIBE Specialist Drinks List of the Year 2020.Read more..Show less.. Sigrid Klein
Judge
Germany
Since 1991 Mixologist. Barmeisterin, Hotelmeisterin, since 2020 Edelbrandsommelière.
1991 Winner International Martini Grand Prix – between then and 2017 many more prizes at national and international cocktail competitions, 2016 2nd winner German Cocktail Competition, Barmanager at Gelbes Haus Nuremberg
Moderation of
.. Gin and Cocktail seminars
Initiator of High Spirits Society, Nurembergs first Ladies Whisky Club
Read more..Show less.. Barry McCaughley
Judge
United Kingdom
Barry has 20 years experience in the beverage and hospitality industries. In that time, he has owned an Italian wine import agency, led a number of high profile food and beverage events and consulted on over 20 bar and restaurant
.. concepts including - Freakscene, Black Roe, Muriel's Kitchen, Hankies, Nirvana, Kim Chee and Chotto Matte where he made Finalist in Wine List of the year in 2013. Barry is also a fully certified Sake Sommelier and achieved a runners up spot in World Sake Sommelier of the Year in 2016.
Currently, he can be found leading his 3 businesses; the Japanese beverage consultancy Kaiju Drinks, restaurant group Morso and coffee shop and gelato concept, Bru. He maintains his passion for wine, beer and spirits, judging a number of international beverage competitions, specialising in Italian wine, Agave spirits, Sake, Asian spirits and Gin.
Read more..Show less.. Bernadette Pamplin
Judge
United Kingdom
After working in a gin bar, I began writing www.undertheginfluence.com back in April 2015. I fell deeply in love with gin, particularly its history and the stories associated with each bottle, although I quickly developed and interest in the incredible
.. complexities of botanicals, distilling processes and serves. Having worked previously as a Brand Ambassador, I still take great pleasure in writing Under the Ginfluence, and regularly for Gin Magazine, Gin and Rum Festival and soon the Craft Distilling Expo. I love judging too. Judging Gin of the Year, the World Gin Awards, Spirits Business Masters, American Distilling Institutes Judging of Craft Spirits 19 in San Francisco and most recently IWSC. I thrive on what is a constantly evolving and very friendly industry. There is always something new to learn, and gin to enjoy.Read more..Show less.. Branko Drljaca
Judge
Germany
Branko is originally from Novi Grad, Bosnia & Herzegowina. Now living in Worms he has a bachelor in chemical technology and operations and works with BASF. He is a qualified Edelbrandsommelier and has a LWG Sensori certificate for distilled
.. spirits, amongst other accolades.Read more..Show less.. Clayton Hartley
Judge
United Kingdom
Clayton Hartley runs The Candlelight Club, a pop-up Prohibition-themed speakeasy club, and has a drinks blog, The Institute for Alcoholic Experimentation. Emma Stokes
Judge
United Kingdom
Emma Stokes, aka Gin Monkey has become a widely respected expert on the subject of white spirits. Her book The Periodic Table of Cocktails has received rave reviews, and her Gin Rummy deck of cards is already on its second
.. print run, having launched in March this year. Emma is also the prime mover behind World Gin Day, uniting gin lovers across the world in their love of the juniper-flavoured spirit. With an impressive social media presence and a regular judge in cocktail competitions, Gin Monkey loves to work the occasional bar shift in between keeping all the other plates spinning.Read more..Show less.. Felicity Murray
Judge
United Kingdom
Felicity has moved from early beginnings as a designer to writing about fashion, beauty and home interiors for women’s lifestyle magazines, then to editing specialist business magazines. Her love of good food, fine wines and spirits eventually led her to
.. editing magazines for the wine and spirits trade and, in so doing, learning about the production and complex taste profiles of different alcoholic beverages. She has been the editor of Drinks International, founder and editor in chief of TheDrinksReport.com, and contributing (taste) editor for Gin Magazine. She passed the WSET Intermediate, Advanced and Professional Spirits courses with Merit and Distinction, and has an Armagnac Diploma with Credit. In 2007, she was awarded Gin Taster of the Year by the then Gin and Vodka Association. Felicity is truly excited by today’s gin renaissance - her favourite tipple has always been gin, ever since she became of legal drinking age.Read more..Show less.. Ivan Abrahamsen
Judge
Norway
Ivan Abrahamsen is a graduate master of Food Science. He worked a few years with food research before he started in the spirit industry.
Food and drink have always been one of Ivan's great interests. Insight into the science and
.. technology of how ingredients and processes affect the sensory properties of food and beverages, has evolved into a passion for spirits.
Ivan has more than 15 years of experience in the development, distillation and blending of spirits. Through his previous roles as R&D director and Master Blender for the largest spirit company in Norway, he has been responsible for the development, distillation and blending of products within many categories, such as aquavit, whisky, cognac, vodka, bitters, gin and liqueurs. He is now acting as general manager and Maser Blender for Rebel Spirits
Read more..Show less.. 
Jane Peyton
Judge
United Kingdom
Jane Peyton is an award-winning beer sommelier, drinks educator, Pommelier, writer, broadcaster, pub expert, and public speaker. She is the founder of the School of Booze – a drinks consultancy, training, and corporate events production company.
Jane
.. was the UK’s first accredited Pommelier (cider sommelier) and Britain's first Beer Sommelier of the Year. She is the instigator and driving force of the UK’s annual national beer day – Beer Day Britain (June 15th). She is a former Imbibe Magazine Drinks Educator of the Year. For her beer work she was awarded the title Outstanding Individual Achievement in Beer from the Beer & Cider Marketing Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Britain’s All Party Parliamentary Beer Group. She is the Drinks Ambassador for the Love British Food organisation. Jane is the author of eight non-fiction books including ‘Drink: A Tippler’s Miscellany’ and ‘Beer o’ Clock’.
Her accreditation and certificates are from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and the Beer & Cider Academy.
Jane’s favourite place to be is in the pub drinking with friends.
Read more..Show less.. Judith Boyle
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Judith Boyle is an accredited Beer Sommelier with the Institute of Brewers and Distillers, beer journalist and award winning member of the British Guild of Beer writers. She is a beverage lecture in the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
.. and is passionate about all aspects of beer and beer education.
Read more..Show less.. 
Julia Nourney
Judge
Germany
Julia is an international spirits consultant and contract blender helping distilleries to improve their quality, develop new products, and adapt their portfolio to current market demands. Her special fields are whisk(e)y, brandy, fruit spirits and gin.
With her roots in Germany
.. and Switzerland, she has gathered profound experience in both old world traditions and new world production techniques for more than 25 years. Julia is an author, co-author, and translator of various books, as well as an esteemed judge of several international spirits competitions in Europe, Asia and the United States.
Over the last decade she consulted for numerous distilleries around the globe to develop gin recipes which have been highly awarded in international competitions. She became a member of the Gin Guild in 2019.
Julia upholds a close relationship with the American Distilling Institute and is a regular guest speaker at their annual conferences as well as the Gin Summit. She also gives lectures at the Craft Distilling Expo in London at which she was awarded for her ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Craft Distilling Business’ in 2018.
Read more..Show less.. Marcus Rudek
Judge
Germany
For Marcus Rudek, noble distillates, their makers and their stories have long been a matter of the heart. As a trained brandy sommelier and active malt ambassador, the
Bavarian is constantly out and about to introduce interested connoisseurs at trade
.. fairs, seminars and tastings to the unique and plentiful variety of flavours in brandies that are produced with great expertise and dedication in the many craft distilleries, be it whisky, gin or fruit brandies. In addition, he also contributes his knowledge as a juror at various spirits awards and tries to get more attention to craft spirits with his "Meisterbrenner" platformRead more..Show less.. Meme Toor
Judge
United Kingdom
Having discovered gin recently, on account of a serendipitous encounter with heartbreak, Meme has recently risen to the fore as one of the leading UK gin bloggers and a leading name in domestic creative cocktail experimentation. Whilst not
.. mixing, matching, shaking and creating, Meme works hard on making people look beautiful as a makeup artist.Read more..Show less.. Salvatore Damiano
Judge
United Kingdom
“Wine and Sprits consultant and today President of the UKBG Salvatore has contribute to raise knowledge on service standards and attention towards the international Bar community” Sarah Miller
Judge
United Kingdom
Acclaimed as one of the UK's top gin bloggers, Sarah Miller is the founder of Gin A Ding Ding which launched in 2016. Having joined the panels for Craft Distilling Expo’s Gin of the Year, The Gin Guide Awards and
.. the International Wine and Spirit Competition, in addition to the World Gin Awards, Sarah is an experienced and enthusiastic spirits judge. Sarah also hosts the popular social media challenge #GinADayMay, which aims to promote the gin industry and unite the gin community, and writes for The Gin Magazine.
Read more..Show less.. Wolfgang Merkel
Judge
Germany
Wolfgang holds a diploma in business administration and economics, is a consultant for distilleries and an experienced enthusiast for tastings. His interest and passion for spirits led him to become a sommelier for Spirit's certified by the Bavarian state government.
.. In addition, Wolfgang is also a certified ambassador for beer. In 2019 he was a juror at the Franconian Spirits Awards. He is a member of the Bavarian Sommelier Association.Read more..Show less.. Ian Wisniewski
Judge
United Kingdom
Ian Wisniewski is a freelance drinks writer and broadcaster covering spirits. He contributes to various titles, including Whisky Magazine, Malt Whisky Yearbook and Gin Magazine, and is the author of ELEVEN books, including THE WHISKY DICTIONARY. He regularly presents tastings
.. and classes, while also a regular visitor at distilleries in order to learn more.Read more..Show less.. Caroline Childerley
Judge
Australia
Best known as 'The Gin Queen', founder and editor of Australia’s largest website devoted to gin, Caroline has a unique position in the spirits industry. She is the Australian Ambassador for World Gin Day, has featured in the ‘Top 100
.. most-influential in 2015, 2017 and 2019’ in Australian Bartender Magazine, and is a founding partner in Junipalooza Melbourne and Sydney.
Caroline is a respected Spirits Judge and has judged at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, Tasting Australia, and most recently the American Distilling Institute. In 2017, she became the first Australian to be welcomed into global industry body, The Gin Guild. In 2020 she was awarded Gin Communicator of the Year at the Icons of Gin Awards in London.
Read more..Show less.. Felix Nourney
Judge
Germany
Felix Nourney is a young, enthusiastic gin distiller and consultant. Having done work mostly in Ireland he specialises in getting new distilleries off the ground, helping with production and product development of their first spirit. He has also set up
.. a gin school and gives tastings and seminars on the topic.Read more..Show less.. Johannes Anleiter
Judge
Germany
Johannes is 34 years old and produces and manages his own distillery. He is a qualified distiller and Edelbrandsommelier and has been judging for a number of competitions over the years.
Susanne Erlwein
Judge
Germany
Susanne is a trained and qualified distiller who, since 2015 runs and manages her own distillery.
Claudia Lang
Judge
Germany
Claudia has been an enthusiastic distiller for over 15 years and completed her training as Edelbrandsommelier in 2018. She currently trains to be a state approved distiller. Sam Carter
Judge
United Kingdom
Sam Carter has been an Ambassador for Bombay Sapphire since early 2009. His role incorporates spreading the good word about the ever-expanding gin category, the creative world of Bombay Sapphire, its sustainable production process and the bright, fresh, uplifting cocktails
.. it provides. During his 24+ years within the drinks industry, Sam has developed a great passion & wealth of knowledge through his classical & molecular training at a vast array of 5 Star hotels & Michelin stared restaurants between London, Nottinghamshire and as far afield as Sydney, Australia. Sam is globally regarded as a leading authority on the subject of gin & gin cocktails. He is now currently based full time at the Home of Bombay – The Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire, England where he hosts VIP guests such as advanced trade, press, distributors, agencies, Bacardi Stakeholders & Board Members from right across the world. He also coaches & ‘ginspires’ all other internal Bacardi employees & external Brand Ambassadors, and is instrumental on all things innovation be it cocktails or future liquids. Sam is most proud of playing a key team role in the development and launch of BACARDI’s most innovative super premium gin liquid – Star of Bombay which won best London Dry Gin in the 2016 IWSC awards. Sam lives locally to the distillery in Hampshire with his wife Angela & two young girls - Penny & Lucy. Sam lives by this all-inspiring quote by Albert Einstein… "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere”.Read more..Show less.. Clayton Hartley
Judge
United Kingdom
Clayton Hartley runs The Candlelight Club, a pop-up Prohibition-themed speakeasy club, and has a drinks blog, The Institute for Alcoholic Experimentation. Katie Hughes
Judge
United Kingdom
Gin is just one of Katie's passions, however she loves to drink it, cook with it, make cocktails, as well as writing about it! You can find out about all of Katie's passions on her blog What's Katie Doing? Katie
.. likes to encourage everyone she comes across to try gin and has been known to host tastings at the day job, with the aim of converting people. Katie has also judged the Craft Distilling Expo's Gin of the Year awards.Read more..Show less.. Bernadette Pamplin
Judge
United Kingdom
After working in a gin bar, I began writing www.undertheginfluence.com back in April 2015. I fell deeply in love with gin, particularly its history and the stories associated with each bottle, although I quickly developed and interest in the incredible
.. complexities of botanicals, distilling processes and serves. Having worked previously as a Brand Ambassador, I still take great pleasure in writing Under the Ginfluence, and regularly for Gin Magazine, Gin and Rum Festival and soon the Craft Distilling Expo. I love judging too. Judging Gin of the Year, the World Gin Awards, Spirits Business Masters, American Distilling Institutes Judging of Craft Spirits 19 in San Francisco and most recently IWSC. I thrive on what is a constantly evolving and very friendly industry. There is always something new to learn, and gin to enjoy.Read more..Show less.. Emma Stokes
Judge
United Kingdom
Emma Stokes, aka Gin Monkey has become a widely respected expert on the subject of white spirits. Her book The Periodic Table of Cocktails has received rave reviews, and her Gin Rummy deck of cards is already on its second
.. print run, having launched in March this year. Emma is also the prime mover behind World Gin Day, uniting gin lovers across the world in their love of the juniper-flavoured spirit. With an impressive social media presence and a regular judge in cocktail competitions, Gin Monkey loves to work the occasional bar shift in between keeping all the other plates spinning.Read more..Show less.. David T Smith
Chair of Judges
United Kingdom
David T Smith is an independent spirits consultant who’s been working in the industry for over a decade. He has consulted on gin projects across six continents and written numerous books on the subject of gin, including ‘The Craft of
.. Gin’, ‘Gin Tonica’, ‘The Gin Dictionary’ and, most recently, ‘The Craft Gin Guide’.
David also regularly speaks at a number of international conferences, including: The Gin Guild’s Ginposium, the American Distilling Institute’s annual conference, and the London Craft Distilling Expo.
Read more..Show less.. Stephen Beaumont
Judge
Canada
Stephen Beaumont has been covering beer internationally for over thirty years from his base in Toronto, Canada. He has authored and co-authored 15 works, including three editions of The World Atlas of Beer and three editions of The Pocket Beer
.. Book, both with Tim Webb, as well as his own Beer & Food Companion.
He contributes regularly to a number of publications in Canada, the United States and Great Britain, and travels widely researching beer breweries around the world, judging in international competitions and speaking about beer to audiences both small and large.
Read more..Show less.. Felicity Murray
Judge
United Kingdom
Felicity has moved from early beginnings as a designer to writing about fashion, beauty and home interiors for women’s lifestyle magazines, then to editing specialist business magazines. Her love of good food, fine wines and spirits eventually led her to
.. editing magazines for the wine and spirits trade and, in so doing, learning about the production and complex taste profiles of different alcoholic beverages. She has been the editor of Drinks International, founder and editor in chief of TheDrinksReport.com, and contributing (taste) editor for Gin Magazine. She passed the WSET Intermediate, Advanced and Professional Spirits courses with Merit and Distinction, and has an Armagnac Diploma with Credit. In 2007, she was awarded Gin Taster of the Year by the then Gin and Vodka Association. Felicity is truly excited by today’s gin renaissance - her favourite tipple has always been gin, ever since she became of legal drinking age.Read more..Show less.. Christine Sismondo
Judge
Canada
A National Magazine Award-winning writer, Christine Sismondo has been covering spirits and cocktails for the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Quench and other publications for twenty years. She’s also the author of America Walks into a Bar: A History of
.. Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies and Grog Shops; Prohibition, a six-part podcast series Wondery’s American History Tellers and, most recently, co-author of Canadian Spirits: The Essential Cross-Country Guide to Distilleries, Their Spirits and Where to Imbibe Them, written with Stephen Beaumont. She lives in Toronto, Canada.Read more..Show less.. Nicole Hassoun
Judge
United States
Nicole Hassoun is a Master Distiller of Gin, and owner of a craft cocktail catering company. She has won many prestigious awards in the beverage industry, including World's Best Navy Gin 2018 from World Gin Awards, and Best Bartender in
.. DC 2014. Nicole is extremely passionate about gin; and the history, culture, and future of the spirit.Read more..Show less.. Mark Gander
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark has worked in drinks media for three years and successfully project managed Think Gin before moving to Imbibe, where he sources gin brands from all over the world to showcase to the UK trade at Imbibe Live. Ian Wisniewski
Judge
United Kingdom
Ian Wisniewski is a freelance drinks writer and broadcaster covering spirits. He contributes to various titles, including Whisky Magazine, Malt Whisky Yearbook and Gin Magazine, and is the author of ELEVEN books, including THE WHISKY DICTIONARY. He regularly presents tastings
.. and classes, while also a regular visitor at distilleries in order to learn more.Read more..Show less.. Natasha Bahrami
Judge
United States
Natasha Bahrami is the owner of The Gin Room, a gin centric bar in Saint Louis, MO. She is dedicated to teaching and creating robust education platforms through The Gin World, a company created to help elevate the category of
.. gin in cities domestically and abroad.Read more..Show less.. 
Stephen Gould
Judge
United States
Mr. Gould is currently the Proprietor and Master Distiller at Golden Moon Distillery, located in Golden Colorado. He is also the master distiller (one of two) for a large Irish whiskey distillery in County Kildare, Ireland.
Mr. Gould has been distilling
.. off and on for over 29 years. He is a member of the Board of the Colorado Distiller’s Guild, a small distillery member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and a member of the American Craft Spirit Association (ACSA). He is the first American ever named a Warden of London’s Gin Guild. He is also the only American Distiller to currently be a Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Distillers, one of City of London’s Livery Companies, dating from the reign of King Charles I (and arguably the oldest professional distillers’ guild on the planet).
Mr. Gould lectures and teaches courses on distillation, including use of botanicals in the production of gin, liquors and liqueurs, production of brandies and whiskies, craft-distillery start-ups and the history of spirits. He has lectured and taught classes for the American Distilling Institute, the London Craft Distillers Expo, various chapters of the United States Bartenders Guild, Tales of the Cocktail and a variety of other professional organizations. He also lectures on beverage fermentation and distillation at the Colorado School of Mines. He consults and provides tailored training for distilleries in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He also writes for several industry trade publications, including Distiller Magazine and Artisan Spirit Magazine.
Mr. Gould is an experienced whiskey and spirits Judge, judging in a variety of spirits competitions in the United States and Europe each year, including the International Wine and Spirits Competition and the World Gin Awards.
He is also involved in legislative issues related to the spirits industry at the State and Federal levels, is responsible for Government Affairs as a board member of the Colorado Distillers Guild and is a member of the American Craft Spirits Association’s Legislative Committee. He is also on the Craft Advisory Board for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
As a spirits industry expert he is regularly called upon by media outlets, including TIME Magazine, The New York Times and CNN, among others, to speak to issues related to the American spirits industry’s growth, trends and international trade issues.
Read more..Show less.. James Goggin
Judge
United Kingdom
James Goggin leads UK sales for Empirical Spirits, the category defying flavor company founded by noma alums in Copenhagen.
Prior to joining Empirical, James was the Brand Advocacy Manager for Maverick Drinks where he led the learning and development for the
.. entire Maverick team. James counts 2016 Icons of Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year among his many accolades. Originally from Ireland, James has spent time behind the bar in New Zealand, as head bartender at Happiness Forgets in London, and competed in various cocktail competitions worldwide.
Read more..Show less.. Sarah Miller
Judge
United Kingdom
Acclaimed as one of the UK's top gin bloggers, Sarah Miller is the founder of Gin A Ding Ding which launched in 2016. Having joined the panels for Craft Distilling Expo’s Gin of the Year, The Gin Guide Awards and
.. the International Wine and Spirit Competition, in addition to the World Gin Awards, Sarah is an experienced and enthusiastic spirits judge. Sarah also hosts the popular social media challenge #GinADayMay, which aims to promote the gin industry and unite the gin community, and writes for The Gin Magazine.
Read more..Show less.. Thijs Klaverstijn
Judge
Netherlands
Thijs Klaverstijn is an independent drinks writer from The Netherlands, writing for numerous international outlets, including Gin Magazine, Scotchwhisky.com and Distiller, while also sharing his thoughts on his personal blog, Words of Whisky. Vanessa Piromallo
Judge
Italy
Vanessa Piromallo has always enjoyed a good cocktail. Her other passion is writing. Putting the two together, she started writing about gin in 2014. She's the founder and Editor in chief of ilGin.it, the most read Italian website about Gin&Tonic,
.. and a consultant for gin producers. Her missions are to spread the culture of gin in Italy and to make Italian gins known in the world.Read more..Show less.. Bernhard Schäfer
Judge
Germany
Bernhard started his professional spirit career behind a cocktail bar 1985, during his studies of sociology. Some years later he began giving lectures on different spirits, mainly whisky. This is where he received the highest accolades as he became
.. 'Keeper of the Quaich' in 1996, and a 'Master of the Quaich' in 2007. He is a co-founder of ENSE (European Network of Spirit Experts). He became a Member of the Gin Guild in 2016.
Since 1997 Bernhard is a panel Member at different Spirit Competitions in Europe, and since 2010 in the US. He became a proud member of RumXP 2012. His friends say of him,: “I would once like to pass holidays as what you are calling work”Read more..Show less.. Kristiane Sherry
Judge
United Kingdom
Kristiane Sherry is the editor at Master of Malt, the multi-award-winning drinks eCommerce platform. She adores whisky, gin, Tequila, cocktails (pretty much anything delicious and spirited!), and loves geeking out at distilleries around the world. She has written about drinks
.. since 2011 and has judged at numerous competitions, including the American Distilling Institute's Judging of Craft Spirits, The Global Spirits Masters and the World Gin Awards. She is an accredited WSET Spirits Educator and jointly leads the internal spirits training at Master of Malt parent, Atom Group. Kristiane is a former editor of The Spirits Business, a leading global trade title, and has been featured as an industry commentator in The Spectator, The Grocer, RedOnline, and on BBC Radio 5 Live. When she’s not immersed in the world of spirits, she can be found trail running across the stunning South Downs, or curled up with her cats and a dram.
Read more..Show less.. Felix Nourney
Judge
Germany
Felix Nourney is a young, enthusiastic gin distiller and consultant. Having done work mostly in Ireland he specialises in getting new distilleries off the ground, helping with production and product development of their first spirit. He has also set up
.. a gin school and gives tastings and seminars on the topic.Read more..Show less.. Karen Walker
Judge
United Kingdom
Karen Walker is a highly experienced, accomplished and well-respected marketing consultant with global exposure, specialising in the spirits industry. Karen has predominantly been immersed in Scotch Whisky throughout her 25 years in the industry, however throughout the last 10
.. years has directed the marketing of one of the UK’s fastest growing super premium gins, and this is where Karen’s gin passion started and continues to grow with the growth of the category!Read more..Show less.. Julia Nourney
Judge
Germany
Julia is an international spirits consultant and contract blender helping distilleries to improve their quality, develop new products, and adapt their portfolio to current market demands. Her special fields are whisk(e)y, brandy, fruit spirits and gin.
With her roots in Germany
.. and Switzerland, she has gathered profound experience in both old world traditions and new world production techniques for more than 25 years. Julia is an author, co-author, and translator of various books, as well as an esteemed judge of several international spirits competitions in Europe, Asia and the United States.
Over the last decade she consulted for numerous distilleries around the globe to develop gin recipes which have been highly awarded in international competitions. She became a member of the Gin Guild in 2019.
Julia upholds a close relationship with the American Distilling Institute and is a regular guest speaker at their annual conferences as well as the Gin Summit. She also gives lectures at the Craft Distilling Expo in London at which she was awarded for her ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Craft Distilling Business’ in 2018.
Read more..Show less.. Tobias Gorn
Judge
United Kingdom
Tobias ‘Toby’ Gorn is an international wine, spirit and cigar specialist writer and consultant. As a Scotch Malt Whisky Society veteran and ex-head sommelier for Michelin star awarded establishments, he gained a good understanding of unique premium drinks. Over the
.. last decade, Toby has dedicated his main attention to fine wine, rare spirits, exciting liqueurs and cigars. He enjoys judging for most of the main drinks competitions and is a panel chair judge with many. He is also an enthusiastic clay pigeon shooter, official shooting instructor, coach and referee based in the UK.Read more..Show less.. Jason Thomson
Judge
Scotland
"Jason Campbell Thomson has been working in the drinks industry for well over a decade. Over the years he has worked in some of Scotland's most praised whisky establishments and has written for many well-known publications." Christoffer Hallstrom
Judge
Scotland
Christoffer originally hails from Sweden, but has made Scotland his home after studying in Glasgow. This year he helped to establish Glasgow’s newest auction house with The Whisky Shop after working in the auction/retail sector for more than 7 years.
.. He has been hosting whisky tastings since 2015, sharing his passion with whisky fans from all over the world.Read more..Show less.. Meme Toor
Judge
United Kingdom
Having discovered gin recently, on account of a serendipitous encounter with heartbreak, Meme has recently risen to the fore as one of the leading UK gin bloggers and a leading name in domestic creative cocktail experimentation. Whilst not
.. mixing, matching, shaking and creating, Meme works hard on making people look beautiful as a makeup artist.Read more..Show less.. Maggie Kimberl
Judge
United States
Maggie Kimberl is a columnist at American Whiskey Magazine who considers herself geographically blessed to be living in the epicentre of Bourbon, Louisville, Kentucky. When she’s not digging up Bourbon stories old and new, you can find her browsing the
.. record store with her kids, or tending to her home-grown tomatoes. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @LouGirl502.Read more..Show less.. Steve Bashore
Judge
United States
Steve Bashore is the Director of Historic Trades at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and is a traditional miller and distiller. He oversees a staff of historic interpreters that tell the story of George Washington’s farming and entrepreneurial endeavours.
.. Steve comes to spirits through grain milling, having run traditional water powered mills for 26 years. Steve manages Washington’s Farm, Blacksmith Shop, Distillery and Gristmill. In the water powered Gristmill grain is ground into products for sale and use in restaurants. All the grain for whiskey production is also ground in the mill. At the Distillery spirits are made using 18th century methods, to include running five wood fired pot stills. The spirits Steve produces with his staff include: rye whiskey, single malt whisky, rum, bourbon, apple brandy and peach brandy.Read more..Show less.. Marcy Rudershausen
Judge
United States
Marcy is the Founder of Raise A Dram Consulting LLC. She was inducted into Keepers of the Quaich in 2010 and is a founding member of Keepers of The Quaich USA Chapter. Ms. Rudershausen has been working in the whisky
.. industry for over 20 years educating consumers and sales teams on the finer points of whisky conducting her whisky outreach in both English and Spanish. In addition to leading whisky tastings, seminars and hosting whisky pairing dinners in the US she has also presented across South, Central and North America.Read more..Show less.. Blair Phillips
Judge
Canada
Blair is a lifestyles and spirits writer who specialises in Canadian whisky. In addition to being the Canadian Contributing Editor for Whisky Magazine, he reviews Canadian spirits for Distiller. He also contributes to newspapers and magazines and is on the
.. jury for both the World Whisky Awards and the Canadian Whisky Awards. Blair was the Canadian columnist for DrinkingMadeEasy.com during the TV show’s three year run. He currently lives in Toronto Canada.Read more..Show less.. Mark Bylok
Judge
Canada
Mark Bylok is a whisky author (The Whisky Cabinet), podcaster (The Whisky Topic), publisher of whisky.buzz, and speaker on the topic of all things whisky. His first book, published in 2013, became a best seller on Amazon and the podcast
.. is a top whisky podcast in the world. Mark loves to geek out about whisky, and has succeeded in bringing in the geeky details of the whisky world in a more approachable manner. In his personal life, Mark is happily married to his wife Nicole, with twin toddler girls, and twin collie dogs.Read more..Show less.. Josh Rubin
Judge
Canada
Josh Rubin has been writing about beer since 2006, and was the beer columnist for Canada’s biggest newspaper, the Toronto Star, for 12 years.
He has judged at regional beer competitions and contributed several entries to the award-winning Oxford Companion to
.. Beer, including the Canadian national entry. He has also been a judge at the World Whiskies, the World Cider Awards and has made numerous broadcast appearances to speak about beer and spirits.
Josh has written extensively about the changing alcohol retailing landscape in Canada. When he's not sipping beer, he's been known to enjoy a well-made Sazerac.
Read more..Show less.. Donna & David Wolff
Judge
Canada
Donna and David Wolff opened The Caledonian Whisky Bar in Toronto in 2010.Donna hails from Huntly Aberdeenshire and Davis from Toronto. The Caledonian boast about over 350 Single Malts and hosts numerous Tasting events.Both have been judges for The Workd
.. Whisky Awards for the past 3 years.Read more..Show less.. Chris Goodrum
Judge
United Kingdom
I started at wine and spirits retailer Gauntleys of Nottingham in 2000. Since then I have grown our spirits selection into a unique and eclectic collection. Since 2007 I have been a judge for the Independent Bottlers Challenge and the
.. World Whisky/ Drinks Awards since 2012. I also have a weekly YouTube channel called the Good Dram Show.Read more..Show less.. Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. Derek Brown
Judge
United States
Derek Brown is a spirits and cocktail expert, consultant, owner of 2017 Spirited Award winning “Best American Cocktail Bar” Columbia Room, and author of Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World, published by Rizzoli April 2019. He
.. is also Chief Spirits Advisor to the National Archives Foundation and advocate for the role great drinks can have in bringing us together. in 2019, Washington Post critic Tom Sietsema named him one of the fifteen trailblazers since 2000 that have made Washington, D.C. a better place to eat (and drink).Read more..Show less.. Tom Morton
Judge
United Kingdom
Tom Morton has been writing, talking and occasionally singing about whisky for 30 years, since the publication of his seminal whisky travelogue (later a radio and TV series) Spirit of Adventure. He has since published the acclaimed 'single malt thriller'
.. A Whisky in Monsterville and co-authored (with Rob Allanson and Ken Hamilton) the 'ultimate blending pilgrimage' book Journey's Blend. He contributes to whisky publications around the world. Recently published to widespread acclaim is the best-selling ‘Shetland - Cooking on the Edge of the World’ written with Tom’s son James.Read more..Show less.. Jason B. Standing
Judge
United Kingdom
Since starting Whisky Squad in London 8 years ago and launching the Dramboree whisky weekend, Jason's frequented and worked at whisky festivals, tastings, and bars across the UK and Europe, spreading his enthusiasm for helping people find whiskies they love.
.. Jason is not a whisky blogger, however he does have a collection of distinctive hats and trousers.
Read more..Show less.. Greg Dillon
Judge
United Kingdom
Greg, as well as undertaking NPD projects with whisky brands is a brand strategy consultant working with brands big and small within the spirits industry to define, fix, build and grown their brands. He also authors GreatDrams.com and has recently
.. released a series of single cask limited edition independently bottled whiskies under the GreatDrams brand.Read more..Show less.. Sandeep Arora
Judge
India
Sandeep Arora is India`s pioneering Premium Spirits & Whisky Ambassador who introduced India to the art & appreciation of Luxury Spirits and Rare Whisky Collection in 2003. Sandeep is the Director of Spiritual Luxury Living, India`s Premiere Spirits Consultancy &
.. Advisory Service & Co-Founder of Cask Spirit Marketing LLP, Asia`s Youngest Spirits Marketing Company.Read more..Show less.. Jaroslaw Buss
Judge
Poland
Jaroslaw owns Tudor House Ltd, a company that started importing and distributing whisky in 2004. He has been writing about whisky since and organizes presentations, tasting for on, off trade as well as for private clients.
He has one of the
.. biggest Facebook groups of 22k whisky lovers and has been organizing Whisky Live Warsaw since 2015. He travels around the world, visiting distilleries to be up to date with all current happenings in the Whisky Industry.
Read more..Show less.. Bernhard Schäfer
Judge
Germany
Bernhard started his professional spirit career behind a cocktail bar 1985, during his studies of sociology. Some years later he began giving lectures on different spirits, mainly whisky. This is where he received the highest accolades as he became
.. 'Keeper of the Quaich' in 1996, and a 'Master of the Quaich' in 2007. He is a co-founder of ENSE (European Network of Spirit Experts). He became a Member of the Gin Guild in 2016.
Since 1997 Bernhard is a panel Member at different Spirit Competitions in Europe, and since 2010 in the US. He became a proud member of RumXP 2012. His friends say of him,: “I would once like to pass holidays as what you are calling work”Read more..Show less.. Jordan Wicker
Judge
United States
Jordan Wicker is the co-creator and host of the home-bartending podcast, Speaking Easy Podcast. Speaking Easy has 107 published episodes on topics as general as “How to stock a homebar,” but his favorites have been the interviews with bourbon and
.. whisky historians, producers, and critics. The show has had more than 8,000 listeners per month before an extended break from recording. Living and working in D.C., he often jokes that Speaking Easy—a hobby—is how he relates back to his family in Kentucky where whiskey conversations are an everyday occurrence. He hopes to have new episodes recorded soon, but has stayed connected to the whiskey world by volunteering at George Washington's Distillery at Mount Vernon during its distilling runs, hunting for "dusties" around D.C., and making rye-cognac Vieux Carré cocktails at home.Read more..Show less.. Steven Shand
Judge
Scotland
I currently work as the blender and brand manager for Wemyss Malts focusing on whisky development, whisky blending, branding and marketing, so basically if you see a Wemyss Malts bottle, I work from the liquid development, quality control, blending and
.. right through to the creation label and carton.
Previously to Wemyss Malts I worked as a sales and marketing consultant for several Scottish craft spirits and managed a pop up whisky shop on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh called Castlehill Whisky. I previously worked for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society for 4 years as the manager and coordinator of all the external members tastings, brand ambassador based at The Vaults, the home of SMWS.
Read more..Show less.. Christoffer Hallstrom
Judge
Scotland
Christoffer originally hails from Sweden, but has made Scotland his home after studying in Glasgow. This year he helped to establish Glasgow’s newest auction house with The Whisky Shop after working in the auction/retail sector for more than 7 years.
.. He has been hosting whisky tastings since 2015, sharing his passion with whisky fans from all over the world.Read more..Show less.. Steven Kersley
Judge
Scotland
Master Distiller at BrewDog Distilling Co. Steven has worked in the distilling industry for over a decade. He is currently distilling different styles of whisky, rum and gin and vodka from scratch at one of Scotland’s most unique
.. distilleries.Read more..Show less.. Audrey Reid
Judge
United States
Audrey Reid is a Gastronomical Chemist and Founder of Imbibe Solutions, an independent laboratory that works with craft alcohol businesses to supplement and enrich their quality control programs. Her goal is to provide small craftsmen with beneficial, quantifiable data so
.. they can be competitive in the growing marketplace.Read more..Show less.. Greg Gilbert
Judge
United States
Greg Gilbert has been a collector of whiskies for the better part 15 years and in the last 10 years he has led or participated in over 200 barrel selections of whiskey, rum and Armagnac. Greg has been featured
.. in the Wall Street Journal, Wine Enthusiast Magazine and other spirts related periodicals.Read more..Show less.. Robin Russell
Judge
Scotland
Robin is the owner of Robbie’s Drams Whisky Merchants and has a deep knowledge of whisky having worked in the industry since 1984.
Responsible for one of the UKs first Independent whisky festivals back in 2003 and still going strong on
.. an annual basis.
He sits on many judging panels and has been an Ambassador for various distilleries due to his passion and enthusiasm for whisky.
Enjoys a quiet dram to himself or surrounded by friends and family.
Read more..Show less.. Sébastien Cady
Judge
Singapore
A passionate who fell in love with Scottish whisky on his first trip to the country over 10 years ago, Sebastien Cady teaches the art of tasting and the history of Whisky for La Maison Du Whisky in Singapore. Claire Tesh
Judge
Scotland
I’ve been in the drinks industry for several years beginning in sales and marketing for a start-up distillery and as an ambassador for an independent bottler before moving into my current role as European Brand Ambassador for Angus Dundee Distillers.
.. I’m currently studying my General Certificate in Distilling.Read more..Show less.. Robin Laing
Judge
United Kingdom
Robin Laing is a whisky writer/musician/entertainer (5 whisky books; 5 whisky CDs). He is also a tasting panel chair and note writer for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. www.robinlaing.com Tim Hampson
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Hampson is an award-wining journalist and broadcaster. He is author of many books including the Haynes Whisky Manual. Felipe Schrieberg
Judge
United Kingdom
Felipe is the co-founder of The Rhythm and Booze Project, a musical duo combining whisky tasting experiences with live music. He also writes about whisky, and is a senior contributor for Forbes.com in addition to other publications. Jessica Lomas
Judge
Scotland
Jess has been in the whisky business for over 10 years, starting in retail then working at a leading whisky auction and now opening the European and UK branch of independent bottlers, Single Cask Nation. She specialises in the glamorous
.. world of whisky logistics, earning her the title ‘Queen of the Boxes’. Jess also hosts regular whisky tastings in Glasgow and internationally on her travels.Read more..Show less.. Mark Davidson
Judge
Scotland
“ Mark Davidson is originally from Speyside but for the last 20 years He has worked with whisky in Edinburgh. Initially he was behind the bar at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Vaults venue then after that followed a
.. 15 year stint as manager at Wm Cadenheads Canongate shop. He is now in his 5th year as manager at Royal Mile Whiskies’ High Street outlet. Alongside his work in retail Davidson has for many years hosted regular, private and corporate tastings under the banner Jolly Toper Tastings. Every Scottish distillery operating between 1970 and 2000 has appeared at these 1000+ tastings over the years. About 4000 different whiskies have been poured in this time to approximately 20,000 attendees equating to roughly 100,000 drams poured. He also quite likes numbers!”?Read more..Show less.. Nicola Young
Judge
One half of WhiskyBoys.com and ambassador for SMWS my passion for Whisky comes from my Dad. Based just outside Glasgow, as a whisky duo we are involved in various Whisky tastings, festivals, writings and reviews. We tirelessly spread
.. love and knowledge of our national drink to anyone and everyone who'll listen.Read more..Show less.. Tim Forbes
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Forbes is a freelance drinks writer based in Tuscany. Tim has been in the drinks trade since 1998, working for Oddbins, The Whisky Exchange, Waitrose and Majestic Wines. He has been writing and judging for numerous publications
.. and international spirits competitions since 2008.Read more..Show less.. Gal Kalkshtein
Judge
Israel
Gal Kalkshtein is the owner and founder of the M&H distillery, Israel's first whisky distillery.
Gal is a high-tech serial entrepreneur with a great passion for whisky.
Gal turned his whisky vision into reality after opening Israel's first whisky distillery and since
.. then, has become known as the pioneer and leader of Israel's whisky Industry.
Read more..Show less.. Craig Wilson
Judge
Scotland
Dr Craig Wilson is a Master Blender for Diageo, responsible for the Mortlach, Dufftown and Singleton ranges and a variety of high-end single malts and single cask offerings. George Michie
Judge
United Kingdom
Following an acting career spanning 10 long years George Michie eventually decided he ought to be paid for drinking so much. George is now Manager of Soho Whisky Club, a private members club specialising in whisky and cigars in the
.. heart of London.Read more..Show less.. Anne-Sophie Bigot
Judge
France
Anne-Sophie, better known as The Whisky Lady, is a whisky influencer (blogger, consultant & writer). She also runs her own specialist whisky bar in Toulouse (France), The Hopscotch Pub & Brewery. Mike Aikman
Judge
Scotland
Mike is co-owner of Edinburgh bars Bramble, Lucky Liquor Co & The Last Word, as well as Bramble Whisky Co, which bottles single casks of Scotch Whisky. Stephen Marshall
Judge
Scotland
Director of The Gothenburg Experiment, a drinks specialist consultancy, brewer and owner of East Neuk Organic Brewing & Distilling Ltd. 10 years with John Dewar & Sons, a few years chairing the SMWS tasting panel, some other years with Oddbins,
.. Keeper of the Quaich, Triassic Tusk. He was also awarded as Icon of Whisky Scotland 2015.Read more..Show less.. Ryan Chetiyawardana
Judge
United Kingdom
Award-winning, internationally renowned mixologist Mr Lyan has been involved in several of the World’s best bars for over fifteen years. Recognised for his cutting-edge innovation, he sets the trends within the drinks world. His worldwide venues include Lyaness, Cub, Super
.. Lyan and Silver Lyan - which is opening in Washington D.C early 2020.Read more..Show less.. Andy Flatt
Judge
Scotland
Andrew Flatt is an independent whisky writer and reviewer based in Inverness. He writes for and edits his own personal website AmateurDrammer.com, regularly writes for The Press & Journal newspaper as well as contributing to many other online and print
.. publications.
Read more..Show less.. Tom Alexander
Judge
Canada
Tom is a dedicated and passionate whisky enthusiast, and has been collecting and investing in rare whiskies for almost ten years. He has contributed more than 500 reviews to Connosr (a social whisky site) and has travelled extensively through regions
.. such as Speyside, Islay and Kentucky. Educated in spirit appreciation at George Brown College, he has been a fixture at whisky auctions in Toronto and New York and loves sharing his knowledge (and sometimes bottles!) through both formal and informal tastings.Read more..Show less.. Becky Offringa
Judge
Netherlands
Becky is Hans’ muse and editor but also a qualified female whisky professional and taster in her own right. She takes care of the editing and layout of her husband’s books and regularly provides photography for books and
.. articles. Holding a university degree in marine biology, she is a licensed real estate agent and former Vice President of a commerical real estate company. Under the name The Whisky Couple, Hans and Becky conduct whisky nosing & tasting sessions for corporate events, restaurants, hotels, business clubs and whisky festivals. The Whisky Couple works as translators/editors and photographers for the whisky industry at large.Read more..Show less.. Euan Campbell
Judge
Scotland
Euan caught the whisky bug whilst working in a whisky shop during university. Following graduation, he moved to Edinburgh and began working at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society late 2008. He’s held the position of Spirits Manager since
.. 2016 and oversees the purchasing and quality of the SMWS maturing cask inventory.Read more..Show less.. Angus MacRaild
Judge
Scotland
Angus MacRaild is a writer and consultant based in Edinburgh who specialises in rare and older style Scottish whiskies. With a background in whisky auctioneering and an extensive historical tasting experience, Angus is considered one of the leading authorities in
.. his field. He contributes regularly to Whiskyfun and co-organises the Whisky Show Old & Rare.Read more..Show less.. John Laurie
Judge
Scotland
Demetris Vrontis
Judge
Cyprus
Dr Demetris Vrontis, is a University Professor in Business Management. He is the co-founder and co-president of The Cyprus Whisky Association established in 2014. He is a whisky connoisseur, enthusiast and collector since 1995 and participated in hundreds of whisky
.. tasting events around the world. Further information regarding Prof. Vrontis can be found at: http://unic.academia.edu/DemetrisVrontisRead more..Show less.. Costas Sariyiannis
Judge
Cyprus
Costas works for the Cyprus Police and is placed at the European Union and International Police Cooperation Directorate.
He is the co-founder and co-president of The Cyprus Whisky Association established in 2014 and a whisky connoisseur, enthusiast and
.. collector since 1998. He has held and participated in hundreds of whisky tasting events around the world.
Read more..Show less.. Pavlos Koumparos
Judge
Cyprus
Pavlos is a passionate collector and drinker of whiskies and part of the Cyprus Whisky Association. Alongside he is also the brand champion for Tomatin in Cyprus. He has attended, participated in and organised many different events, in Cyprus
.. and abroad. Over the past four years he has worked with whisky as well as other premium spirits.Read more..Show less.. Julie Christie
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Having worked in the Scottish whisky industry for four years and a further two years with Irish whiskey, my experience ranges from being a tour guide of Deanston Distillery to Marketing Manager of the Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin. I
.. have hosted many tastings, written about whisk(e)y and also organised Whiskey Live Dublin and the Irish Whiskey Awards.Read more..Show less.. Chris White
Judge
Scotland
Dr. Christopher White is the Editor of Edinburgh Whisky Blog, an award-winning, influential whisky website. He is also the Auctioneer at Royal Mile Whisky Auctions and is the founder, and former General Manager, of the award-winning Usquabae Whisky Bar in
.. Edinburgh.Read more..Show less.. Edward Bates
Judge
United Kingdom
Edward runs Distilled London, a spirits industry consultancy. He has a wealth of experience built up over more than three decades. His interest in spirits stems from a school visit to Cognac, which has turned into a passion for
.. all distilled products. His acknowledged expertise is utilised by a number of brands, also working as a spirits writer and educator.Read more..Show less.. Šarunas Cesna
Judge
Lithuania
Sarunas studied to become a librarian and a journalist, yet ended up managing two bars and co-owning a third one. Six years ago the ‘Piano Man’ bar sparked his love for whisky, a few years later ‘Cocktail bar Alchemikas’ became
.. his mixing playground. His bar is his library.Read more..Show less.. Gregor Hannah
Judge
Scotland
Gregor founded the independent bottling company Hannah Whisky Merchants in 2012 selling rare, single casks through the brand Lady of the Glen. He has won support through the Prince's Trust and Scottish Edge, and was awarded ‘Best Spirit' at the
.. Scotsman Food and Drink Awards 2019.Read more..Show less.. Gavin D Smith
Judge
United Kingdom
The author and co-author of nearly 30 whisky-related titles, Gavin contributes to many specialist publications around the world and is Contributing Editor Scotland for Whisky Magazine and a Keeper of the Quaich. He has been a full-time writer for more
.. than 20 years and currently lives in the Scottish Borders. His most recent publication is as co-author of The World of Whisky (2019).Read more..Show less.. George Keeble
Judge
After several years running Soho Whisky Club in London, George made the switch into whisky production in 2018 and currently works as a distiller at New World Whisky Distillery in Melbourne, Australia. He also runs a whisky cask brokering business. Tomer Goren
Judge
Israel
Tomer Goren has a distilling experience of more than 14 years and is the Head Distiller of The Milk & Honey Distillery in Israel since its establishment in 2014. He also runs Whisky Live in Israel and holds many
.. lectures and masterclasses about whisky, among consulting to bars and restaurants, and judging in whisky competitions. Tomer also owns and runs an independent-bottling company.
Read more..Show less.. Mark Jennings
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark Jennings consults to the spirits industry on marketing and investment.
He is a passionate advocate of well-made spirits and has led tastings across the world. He founded the world’s first cocktails at home delivery service, described by Dick Bradsell, the
.. creator of the Espresso Martini, as “The best idea I’ve heard in years”. He is also a commentator on spirits and cocktails on television and in print, as well as judging for the International Wine and Spirits Competition, the Spirits Masters and the World Whisky Awards.
Raised in Scotland, his love of whisky took a surprisingly long time to flourish. It became part of his career when working with Pernod Ricard, and is now firmly part of his identity as an honorary Ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. His second love is all things agave-based.
Of all his achievements, perhaps the proudest is having a cocktail named after him: the Mark of Respect, which became a signature serve for Teeling Irish Whiskey.Read more..Show less.. Duncan Ross
Judge
United Kingdom
Working in Drinks Retail for 25 years, managing locations such as World of Whiskies, Milroy's, Royal Mile Whiskies and my current employer The Whisky Exchange, Bit of a geek on whisky and always quizzing staff about the industry.
.. You never get bored with the diversity in whisky, great people great product both home and international.Read more..Show less.. Andrew Laing
Judge
Scotland
Immersed in the world of scotch whisky from a young age, Andrew founded independent bottler Edition Spirits in 2009, before going onto join the family firm of Hunter Laing in 2013. When not visiting clients in North America or Asia,
.. Andrew can be found showing customers around the company’s new Islay distillery Ardnahoe.Read more..Show less.. Alastair Higgins
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Approximately 25 years experience in the whisk(e)y business. Since 2003 I have been at the Celtic Whiskey Shop where I help choose casks for our Celtic Cask ranges. Scott Laing
Judge
Scotland
Scott is a director of the family business Hunter Laing & Co Ltd, and has been with the company since it started in 2013. Although his normal remit is sales and marketing, in recent years he has been focusing on
.. the construction of Ardnahoe Distillery, the first distillery to be owned by the familyRead more..Show less.. Mark Angus
Judge
Scotland
Lying at the heart of the Gordon & MacPhail Retail shop is the Whisky Room – dubbed by many “An Aladdin’s Cave” of Scotch Whisky. Retail Manager Mark is the public face and champion of the multi award winning
.. Retail shop and its iconic Whisky Room – a must visit for any whisky enthusiasts around the world. The shop is a must visit, 5 star, destination and Mark ensures that the experience lives up to the expectation.Read more..Show less.. Reid Bechtle
Judge
United States
Reid has had an active interest in whiskey and spirits for the past 35 years. In 2010 he founded 1789b, a private bourbon group modeled after a Havana cigar group he started in the late 1980’s. 1789b was one of
.. the early participants in the acquisition on high quality bourbon when few people were interested in purchasing hand-picked barrels. To date the 1789b group has acquired over 170 barrels of bourbon and over 190 total barrels of spirits including rye whiskey, Armagnac, American brandy and most recently American rum. Reid’s current interest is in single grain Scotch whisky which he feels is under appreciated and undervalued.
Reid has been an independent business consultant for the past 30 years with a focus on business turnarounds. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Read more..Show less.. Jason Thomson
Judge
Scotland
"Jason Campbell Thomson has been working in the drinks industry for well over a decade. Over the years he has worked in some of Scotland's most praised whisky establishments and has written for many well-known publications." Emmet Murphy
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Emmet Murphy is an Irish drinks ambassador and drinks judge previously highly commended as Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the year in the Icons of Whiskies Awards 2017.
Emmet is the trade manager for Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dublin - Single
.. Outlet Retailer of the year 2019 and organizers of Whiskey Live Dublin.
Emmet is also co-owner of the Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded restaurant Circa in Terenure, Dublin
Read more..Show less.. Colin Hampden-White
Judge
United Kingdom
Colin is a presenter on The Three Drinkers on Amazon Prime, Chairman of the Circle of Wine Writers and a Keeper of the Quaich. Having started his career at the Scotsman, he worked at The Times and FT, and became
.. the founding editor of Whisky quarterly magazine.
In his spare time, he is a fine art photographer working with Condé Nast and is represented by the Rebecca Hossack gallery in London. He has exhibited all over the world including the National Portrait Gallery. He has won the Louis Roederer Award for Artistry and the Born Digital award for photography.
Read more..Show less.. Ron Eldad
Judge
Israel
Ron Eldad has a huge passion for whisky. Since 2016 he's the Production Manager at Milk & honey, Israel's 1st. whisky distillery. Tasted hundreds of distillates in the making and expertise in blind tastings. Hans Offringa
Judge
Netherlands
Established author, internationally renowned media expert and whisky connoisseur; studied English and Business Journalism.He started his whisky quest at the age of 18 and has been trained by many whisky experts in the industry, among whom Michael Jackson (†), Charles
.. MacLean and Jim Rutledge (Four Roses). Hans has written and translated many books and articles on this subject over the years, as well as visited hundreds of distilleries worldwide. He is also the European Contributing Editor of Whisky Magazine and proud to be a Kentucky Colonel, Lifetime Ambassador of the Spirit of Speyside Festival and a Keeper of the Quaich.Read more..Show less.. Brandon Buza
Judge
United States
Brandon Buza is a San Francisco-based fermentation geek with a passion for thoughtfully crafted alcohol ranging from whiskey to wine. He is a whiskey enthusiast traveling to Kentucky on multiple occasions and has been collecting rare whiskies for nearly 10
.. years. Brandon is new to judging whiskey however has judged and/or chaired other major domestic and international food and craft beverage competitions. Currently he is focused on the growing use of heirloom grains in whiskey.Read more..Show less.. Daniel Koening
Judge
Germany
Daniel Koening is a German-based, Düsseldorf-born and raised (Altbier!), studied Graphic-Designer turned qualified Brewer & Malster, working at the moment as the lead brewer for HEIDENPETERs Brewery in Berlin - Kreuzberg. He is a Certified Cicerone® Candidate, BJCP qualified beer
.. judge candidate and still a home-brewer since 2012. Daniel loves reading up all things beer history and science, enjoys talking to people about our global beer culture and it is always happy to sit in front of some proper Rauchbier to contemplate about Life
Read more..Show less.. Robin LeBlanc
Table Captain
Canada
Robin LeBlanc is a beer columnist, owner of the award-winning craft beer site The Thirsty Wench, author of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide, and co-host of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide The Podcast. She has appeared on TV, radio, and
.. newspapers preaching the gospel of good beer. She lives in Toronto.Read more..Show less.. Judith Boyle
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Judith Boyle is an accredited Beer Sommelier with the Institute of Brewers and Distillers, beer journalist and award winning member of the British Guild of Beer writers. She is a beverage lecture in the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
.. and is passionate about all aspects of beer and beer education.
Read more..Show less.. Tom Pears
Judge
United Kingdom
Tom Pears developed his love for beer whilst at University down in Kent. He has since worked in the beer industry for a number of years. Recently as a contributor to online publications such as Ferment and Euronews. He also
.. runs a dedicated beer Instagram account @tom_tappd.
Read more..Show less.. Peter Alexander
Judge
United Kingdom
Peter is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and Chairman for over 20 years, of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA. He edits the branch magazine More Beer and has written about beer for several trade publications. He
.. has judged beer for CAMRA, SIBA and the International Beer Challenge. Since 2007, Peter has also written the popular Tandleman’s Beer Blog.Read more..Show less.. Fergal Murray
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Fergal Murray's career as the Guinness Master Brewer has been extraordinary. It has taken him across the globe and secured his reputation as a leader in the brewing industry. His contribution had a significant impact on the growth of the
.. Guinness brand across multiple platforms. There is no real comparison in the world of brewing to the experience of learning the science, art, and craft of brewing, which has been handed down over the generations, at St James's Gate Brewery. Fergal, as a custodian of the immense brewing knowledge and craft, brought these skills to his role as Guinness Global Brand Ambassador to drive growth in the Guinness brand.Read more..Show less.. Jules Gray
Table Captain
United Kingdom
An experienced beer trade professional with over ten years in the field. She owns an independent award-winning beer shop and tasting room, Hop Hideout in Sheffield, UK (established 2013). In 2015 she set-up a city-wide beer celebration in her hometown
.. - Sheffield Beer Week. As director she has lead the beer celebration to grow over ten days across 30 plus venues throughout Sheffield; showcasing both local and international breweries. The core strands promote beer and food pairings, community and heritage. In 2018 she launched a new craft beer festival in Sheffield - Indie Beer Feast, attracting over 700 attendees at the one-day event. This grew to two days in 2019 and welcomed over 1,000 beer lovers. She is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, a bookworm, vinyl digger and loving cat owner.
Read more..Show less.. Francesca Slattery
Judge
United Kingdom
Francesca Slattery is an IBD Accredited Beer Sommelier with years of competitive beer judging and sensory experience under her belt. Working professionally in the craft brewing industry in the UK and Ireland since 2015, roles in breweries have included sales,
.. export, account management, events and tastings, brewery tours, communications and branding. An insatiable passion for bringing new people to beer is coupled with a commitment to making events and training top quality and fun.Read more..Show less.. Lana Svitankova
Judge
United Kingdom
Lana Svitankova is a Certified Cicerone, BJCP Judge, member of The British Guild of Beer Writers and a translator. Evan Rail
Table Captain
Czech Republic
Originally from California, Evan Rail writes about beer from his home in Prague, where he has lived for the last twenty years. He is the author of “Good Beer Guide Prague and the Czech Republic” (CAMRA Books) and many newspaper
.. and magazine articles about beer and food in central and eastern Europe.Read more..Show less.. Aline Kluge
Judge
Germany
Aline is from Saxony and a pediatrics's nurse. Beer is her passion, which is why she has decided to become a qualified beer judge. Balancing family live with a busy job, still leaves time to enjoy craft
.. beers and developing her skills set.
Read more..Show less.. Steve Chroscicki
Judge
United Kingdom
Steve Chroscicki was born in London, and has spent more than 20 years in the brewing industry.
Working both for others as head Brewer, and for more than ten years successfully ran his own brewery. Whilst in that role Steve
.. became Regional Director for SIBA ( Society of Independent Brewers). He has judged numerous times for SIBA and at local and regional arenas.
Steve is currently acting as Head Brewer for The City Pub Group”
Read more..Show less.. Patrick Murphy
Judge
Germany
Patrick Murphy is a certified Doemens Beer Sommelier and owner/operator of "Bambeerg", which gives historic brewery & beer tours of Bamberg and Franconia. He can usually be found hiking or taking the bicycle to the various breweries and beer
.. gardens in the area around Bamberg, Germany!Read more..Show less.. Emma Victory
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Emma Victory is an award winning homebrewer and co-founder of Junction Brew Club, established in 2015 (which meets at Battersea Brewery). She has been judging homebrew and commercial beer competitions since 2015 and is a BJCP Certified Beer Judge. As
.. a professional scientist Emma particularly enjoys the technical aspects of brewing and the science of flavour. She writes about beer and brewing on her blog (Crema’s Beer Odyssey) and is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. She may be found serving beer at The Hop Locker and the Kernel taproom.
Read more..Show less.. Fabrizio Decastelli
Judge
Italy
Born and raised in Piedmont, the land of wines, Fabrizio Decastelli denies his roots and fall in love with beers at 16. Since then, he has never stopped studying, traveling and, of course, tasting. Between a sip and another, he
.. got some certifications as Certified Beer Server, Doemens Biersommelier, O.n.a.b. taster and so on, and now is studying for the BJCP exam and for the Certified Cicerone one. On August 2019 he volunteered at Bruxelles beer festival and on September he attended in Biersomelier World Championship with the Italian national team.
Over the years he has organized some tasting sessions and events on beer & cider in his small town, trying as much as possible to make as many people fall in love with beer and his history. His official job is account administrative office for a beer distributor, but his real mission is to fill each glass of his city, with a good beer.
Read more..Show less.. Holger Hahn
Table Captain
Germany
Holger Hahn grew up in a pub from the western Ruhr area (steelwork and miners) with Diesels Alt and König Pilsner and a real beer culture (hard work honest wage).
For him, this culture needs to be preserved and –
.. in times of acceleration – to be celebrated again. It needs quality. Holger Hahn's passion as a beer sommelier is to bring the classics and the craft beers to the beer lover and to arouse interest. It is about expanding the horizon, it is about enjoyment and it is about good food to the love of food beer.
Holger would like to inspire beer lovers to promote the quality of the beer and not to sacrifice this genial food to the commercial. Holger Hahn is a juror, among others, at the World Beer Awards and at a lot of hobby brewer competitions.
Read more..Show less.. Stephan Hilbrandt
Table Captain
Germany
Stephan Hilbrandt won the 5th World Championship of Beer Sommeliers in September 2017. He is a passionate home brewer since 2012 and a beer sommelier since 2015. Apart from judging in different international beer competitions he gives tastings, moderates beer-accompanied
.. menus or helps interested people to enter the world of home brewing.Read more..Show less.. Lauren Richard
Judge
Canada
Lauren Richard is an Advanced Cicerone® and Certified BJCP judge. She curates beer programs, provides staff education, conducts food pairing events and beer dinners, as well as works with festivals to elevate the on and off-site drinking experience. Lauren is
.. also a proficient vocalist and voice actor, singing in a country western band and lending her voice to children's animation and videogames around the world.
Read more..Show less.. John Porter
Table Captain
United Kingdom
John Porter has more than 30 years’ experience as a food and drink writer and journalist, and is accredited as a Beer Sommelier by the Beer & Cider Academy. He is co-director of PR consultancy ShielPorter Communications. John has hosted
.. beer tastings, seminars and beer & food matching sessions at a wide range of industry, corporate and consumer events. John’s varied food & drink judging experience spans everything from the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the International Beer Challenge to the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year and Britain’s Best Pub Sausage. www.apieandapint.com
Read more..Show less.. Meinhard Wicht
Table Captain
Germany
Meinhard Wicht has been working with beer and in the beer industry for many years.
For him beer is not a job, but a passion. He started his professional career at the VLB Berlin studying brew technology, continued as a salesman
.. for different beer brew companies and completed his passion by graduating as Diplom Biersommelier at Doemens. 2011 he started his own business „ProBierKult“ and is hosting beer tastings and consulting business partners.
Read more..Show less.. Tobias Kullmann
Judge
Germany
Tobias has a background in beer sales and is a certified beer sommelier. He is based in Berlin but also worked in the industry as a buyer in Denmark. As a beer writer and photographer he has worked for
.. the German beer magazine Hopfenhelden and he is a regular judge at the World Beer Awards. You can follow his newest updates on instagram @tobekwankenobek
Read more..Show less.. Thomas Vogel
Table Captain
Germany
Thomas Vogel, founder and CEO of the »Das Bier!« Brausysteme GmbH since 2003, has developed the brands „Dein Bier selbstgebraut“, „Braukoenig“ and „One2Clean“ and their products. (www.das-bier.com) He also has established a platform for selling and distributing craft beer (www.bier-spezialitaeten.de).
..
Since 2010 he maintains the „Grafschafter Brauschule“ (www.brauschule.de)
Since 2007 he is certified Beer Sommelier and has been the first Beer Sommelier in North Germany, During 2008 and 2012 he was member of the managing board of the International Association of Certified Beer Sommeliers.
For 14 years now, he took part in more than 28 national, European and international beer competitions as a Judge as well as a Table Captain.
He is co-author of the well-known and official „Beer Color Chart“ (www.bierfarbkarte.eu), which is used as the official reference in several European and international beer competitions in the meanwhile.Read more..Show less.. Frank Christian
Judge
Germany
Frank Christian is a PhD biochemist by training and an avid homebrewer, with a passion for researching beer styles and developing recipes. He is the first National rank BJCP-certified beer judge in Germany.
Frank got into brewing his own beer in
.. 2012 while living in Glasgow, Scotland, and went on to win multiple awards with his beers (e.g. overall winner of the IBD Scottish homebrew competition 2013). He now lives and brews in Aachen, Germany, is the co-founder and organiser of the monthly homebrew meetup of Aachener Hobbybrauer as well as an active member of Kölner Bierhistoriker e.V. homebrew clubs. He also organises and runs BJCP exams, off-flavour trainings and homebrewing workshops.
Read more..Show less.. Rebecca Pate
Judge
United Kingdom
Rebecca Pate (Bex) is an accredited beer sommelier who works as a freelance copywriter and content marketing manager. She's based in East London and has worked with some of London's biggest craft breweries, supporting them with content marketing, digital marketing
.. and events. She was nominated as Best Young Beer Writer in 2018 and for Beer Citizen Communicator in 2017 by the British Guild of Beer Writers for her blog, Brewing East
Read more..Show less.. Steve Lamond
Judge
United Kingdom
"Steve is a drinks writer based in Northern Ireland with a particular interest in cheese & beer pairings, cider and drinks history. He is cider officer for Beoir, Ireland's beer consumer organisation and blogs at beersiveknown.com" Kenneth Ho
Judge
Hong Kong
Kenneth is the co-founder of beer community "Hong Kong Beer Geeks" and board member of "Hong Kong Craft Beer Association", an active member aiming to connect the beer industry with beer drinkers. Dedicated to spreading the craft beer culture, Kenneth
.. has been teaching beer courses, from appreciation, food pairing to Homebrewing. He is also a certified BJCP Judge and co-owner of a local bottleshop "Cave the Beer Point". With his spoiled palate in experience with thousands of good beers, he loves judging which helps connecting all beer lovers around the world.Read more..Show less.. Nicci Peet
Judge
United Kingdom
Nicci is a freelance photographer based in Bristol. Her works looks at issues within the beer industry, primarily diversity and equality. She has worked for national and international publications and breweries. Claire Bullen
Judge
United Kingdom
Claire Bullen is an award-winning beer writer, editor, and author. Her first cookbook, The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, was published in 2019 and won Best Beer Book at the North American Guild of Beer Writers
.. Awards. Claire is also the Editor-in-Chief at Good Beer Hunting, one of the web's leading beer publications. Additionally, she is a beer columnist at Imbibe Magazine and for London bottle shop Hop Burns & Black.Read more..Show less.. Ian Garrett
Judge
United Kingdom
CAMRA member and volunteer for over 40 years. For several years i was responsible for the International Beer Bar, BSF, at GBBF organising tutored tastings and establishing The Michael Jackson Award for American Cask Beer competition. I have been an
.. active judge at local, regional and national CAMRA events as well as judging at SIBA regional & National competitions.Read more..Show less.. Lily Waite
Judge
United Kingdom
Lily Waite is a beer writer, blogger, and member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. She is the Head of Content for We Are Beer and contributes to Good Beer Hunting, and writes the blog Craft Queer. Daniel Stenglein
Judge
Germany
Daniel Stenglein is a passionate beer enthusiast grown up in Bamberg. As homebrewer and administrator of the biggest homebrewer facebook group of Germany ('hobbybrauer') he is always active on several levels in the beer scene.
Besides his main job as
.. engineer he is a freelance seminar leader for brewing courses and sensory tastings.Read more..Show less.. Adrian Tierney-Jones
Global Chair of Judges
United Kingdom
Award-winning journalist whose work appears in the Daily Telegraph, All About Beer, Beer, Original Gravity (of which he is also editor), Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Imbibe amongst many others.
His books include Great British Pubs, Britain’s Beer Revolution (co-written
.. with Roger Protz), the beer anthology Beer, In So Many Words and a new book, The Seven Moods of Craft Beer. He is general editor of 1001 Beers To Try Before You Die and contributor to various others. He is the chair of judges at the World Beer Awards and also a judge at several other competitions worldwide. Expert taster and talker on the world of beer.
Read more..Show less.. Rene Aduan Junior
Brazil Chair of Judges
Brazil
Educated in beer, enology and gastronomy, Rene Adaun Jr began his education in 2000, studying the culinary arts before achieving a masters in pairing wine and food.
He has acted as a sommelier and a beer and gastronomy consultant for
.. more than 20 years as well as a judge for several international beer competitions such as World Beer Cup, World Beer Awards and the South American Beer Cup.
Rene is also a Biologist, holds an MSc in Biotechnology and works on molecular system diagnoses for the quality sector of the food and beverage industry. Since 2012 he has taught sensorial analysis, beer technology and pairing at Doemens Brazil and ESCM.
Read more..Show less.. Stephen Beaumont
Canada Chair of Judges
Canada
Stephen Beaumont has been covering beer internationally for over thirty years from his base in Toronto, Canada. He has authored and co-authored 15 works, including three editions of The World Atlas of Beer and three editions of The Pocket Beer
.. Book, both with Tim Webb, as well as his own Beer & Food Companion.
He contributes regularly to a number of publications in Canada, the United States and Great Britain, and travels widely researching beer breweries around the world, judging in international competitions and speaking about beer to audiences both small and large.
Read more..Show less.. Markus Raupach
Germany Chair of Judges
Germany
Markus Raupach began working as a photographer, journalist and media professional for breweries, hotels and restaurants soon after founding his media agency in 1998. His career in the drinks and hospitality industry lead him to becoming a judge for multiple
.. beer compeitions around the world.
Since 2005, he has published over 50 books, including brewery guides for Franconia, Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia and Berlin, as well as the chronicle of the German Brewers' Association for its 150th anniversary in 2021.
He received multiple industry awards and honours such as the Golden Beer Idea 2015 after founding the German Beer Academy, made an honorary knight in the Brotherhood of Belgian Brewers and was named one of the 50 most important beer personalities by representatives in the German beer industry. He has also been lecturing at the Genussakademie Bayern since 2018.
Read more..Show less.. Matt Curtis
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Matthew is a freelance beer writer, photographer and co-founder of Pellicle Magazine. His work has been published by Ferment, Original Gravity, BEER and Good Beer Hunting among others, and he has been awarded for his work by both the British
.. and North American Guild of Beer Writers. He lives in North London with his partner Dianne and his cat Cricket.
Read more..Show less.. Will Simmons
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Bill runs a beer consultancy working with small premium craft brewers, after spending many years working for quality regional breweries such as Samuel Smith, Batemans, Caledonian, Ruddles and Fullers.
He is also an international Beer Judge. World Beer
.. Cup, World Beer Awards, GABF, Chinese Craft Beer Awards, IBC, Greek Beer Awards and Brazil Beer Cup are amongst some of the competitions he has judged. Bill has judged for many years at the Quality Food Awards not only on beer but also on the Food side where he is now a judge at the World Steak Challenge held annually.
Bill is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and has written features for the Chinese Craft Beer magazine One More. He also contributes to several trade features.Read more..Show less.. Jeff Evans
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Jeff has been writing professionally about beer for more than 30 years, with books including the Good Bottled Beer Guide and So You Want to Be a Beer Expert?, as well as eight years as Editor of CAMRA's national Good
.. Beer Guide.
Read more..Show less.. Jessica Mason
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Jessica Mason aka Drinks Maven – is a passionate drinks writer and champion for the industry accruing 12 years experience in the trade. Mason writes for a range of magazines, from trade to consumer across all drinks categories (beer, cider,
.. wine, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks & RTDs) traversing styles from business digests and trends reports through to tasting notes, reviews and impassioned thought pieces. She is also an events and conference presenter, consultant, a home brewer as well as a contributing author to beer and whisky books. She is extremely committed to getting good drinks into places in need of range diversity and inspiration and is also very good at maintaining that her glass is half full.Read more..Show less.. Susan Boyle
Table Captain
Republic of Ireland
Susan Boyle is a drinks consultant, researcher, and performer. An award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, Susan presents beers on TV and radio and has hosted tastings at Imbibe Live London, the Oxford Symposium on Food and
.. Cookery and a host of music, arts and food festivals. Currently pursuing a PhD, Susan has worked with the British Museum to brew a beer supported by ancient Egyptian archaeological evidence and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Susan has recently developed an education programme to promote Irish spirits internationally for Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board)Read more..Show less.. Glyn Roberts
Judge
United Kingdom
Now a professional photographer, I spent 28 years working in the beer industry; my jobs ranged from being a part-time barman to part-owning and operating a brewpub. I have been judging beers for more than decade now and it's always
.. a pleasure to judge the World Beer Awards.Read more..Show less.. Diego Pompele
Judge
Italy
Diego is an importer and supplier of beers. He received his beer somelier diploma in 2004 at theDoemens Akadiemie in Germany. Over the years he has judged at a number of national and international competitions.
Anthony Gladman
Judge
United Kingdom
Anthony Gladman is an award winning drinks writer from London. He writes about beer, cider and spirits, crafting memorable stories which reveal how drinks can connect us to a particular place, time or person. He is a qualified Beer Sommelier
.. and international competition judge. He has WSET L2 Spirits and is training to become a Cider Pommelier.
Read more..Show less.. Stuart Howe
Judge
United Kingdom
Stuart has 25 years’ brewing experience and has degrees in Brewing and Distilling and Quality Management. His beers have won World's Best Lager, World's Best Pale Ale, World's Best Abbey Ale and World's Best Spiced Beer along with many other
.. international awards. Stuart is a professionally trained sensory panel leader and analyst and has judged the World Beer Awards for the last 14 years. He is currently Technical Development Manager for the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and is responsible for the institute’s educational material on technical brewing and sensory analysis.Read more..Show less.. Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. Des de Moor
Judge
United Kingdom
Des de Moor is one of the UK's leading beer experts and author of award-winning books Cask: The real story of Britain's unique beer culture and London's Best Beer, Pubs and Bars.
He curates tours and tutored tastings and has
.. judged beer in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and the USA as well as the UK.
Des is UK compiler for The Pocket Beer Book and a regular contributor to beer publications and websites.Read more..Show less.. Jerry Barlett
Judge
United Kingdom
Jerry is a freelance writer, editor, and author. He co-authored "30-Second Beer", published in March 2019 with five of the UK's best-known beer writers. Awarded for his blog at maltjerry.com by the British Guild of Beer Writers, Jerry writes about
.. beer, food, and whisky.Read more..Show less.. Shane McNamara
Judge
Australia
Shane is a Master Cicerone and also holds a Master's degree in Brewing Science from the University of Nottingham. He has previously worked as a brewer and was formerly the Senior Technical Officer at the Institute of Brewing & Distilling
.. (IBD). Shane now helps drive innovation and quality for AB InBev - the world's largest brewer. With a passion for beer and food, Shane is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and regularly contributes to publications around the world and judging in beer competitions.
Read more..Show less.. Paul Davies
Judge
Paul is the founder of AleHunters, a beer event business based in London. He is also a certified Cicerone®, accredited Beer Sommelier and international beer judge.
He hosts training courses for pub companies in the UK and writes regularly for
.. the Brewers Journal in the UK and Canada.Read more..Show less.. Colin Johnston
Judge
United Kingdom
Colin currently works as a sales manager in craft brewing and distilling for Crisp Malt. His career spans nearly 10 years across breweries of all sizes and varying roles mostly concentrating on engineering and technical brewing. His passion is seeing
.. small businesses grow and is delighted to join the panel for the first time this year. Colin also judges the business and taste categories for the Scottish Beer Awards.
Read more..Show less.. Kate Hempsall
Judge
United Kingdom
Kate has over 20 years’ experience working in PR & Communications within the hospitality industry. She has championed and promoted many beer brands, focusing on all stages of the brewing process from ingredients to perfect serve. A member of
.. the British Guild of Beer Writers, Kate works extensively with clients across the beer and pub industry through her work as a PR and Communications consultant and contributes to a range of beer tasting and judging events.
Read more..Show less.. Martyn Cornell
Judge
United Kingdom
‘Britain’s leading expert on the history of beer styles and a judge at beer competitions from Brazil to Hong Kong." Simon Williams
Judge
United Kingdom
Simon began his beer journey in 2011 by accidentally creating a little movement of likeminded modern beer lovers when he started The Campaign For Really Good Beer blog.
He continues to be enthralled by beer and enjoys a good “discussion”.
He is
.. a British Guild of Beer Writers member, an award winning blogger and still manages to make music with various indie ensembles.
Read more..Show less.. Lotte Peplow
Judge
United Kingdom
Lotte Peplow is the Brewers Association’s American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe. The Brewers Association (BA) is a trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers. Her role is to identify opportunities for international expansion of American craft
.. beer by educating trade, media and consumers about the quality and diversity of products offered by the American craft beer industry.
She is a Certified Cicerone and an accredited Beer Sommelier who writes about beer, judges beer, brews beer, conducts talks and tastings on beer, organises events and is a dedicated beer and food pairing advocate. She is based in London, UK.Read more..Show less.. Richard Yarnell
Judge
United Kingdom
Richard Yarnell has worked for Mitchells & Butlers for over a decade, helping to guide beer and cider category strategy across all of Mitchells & Butlers retail brands. He qualified as a Beer Sommelier in 2014 and has twice
.. judged at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, making his judging debut at the World Beer Cup in Nashville in 2018.Read more..Show less.. John Westlake
Judge
John is an award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and an accredited Beer Sommelier who has visited over 150 countries where beer is brewed and enjoyed.
Terry Leung
Judge
United Kingdom
Terry Leung is a whisky and beer specialist. He worked at Milroy’s of Soho, one of the oldest whisky shop in London with decades of history. In 2014, he completed the Campaign for Real Ale (the “CAMRA”) tasting training and
.. is currently on the London regional tasting panel and one of the judges at the world beer award. After working as a whisky ambassador for Scotch Malt Whisky Society, hosting various whisky tastings and food paring events, he is currently working for the whisky lounge, hosting their whisky blending workshops and whisky tastings, and supporting at their Whisky Weekenders events. Throughout the years, he built up relationships with whisky distilleries in Scotland to look for rare and interesting whisky.
Read more..Show less.. Natalya Watson
Judge
United Kingdom
Natalya Watson is a Beer Sommelier and Advanced Cicerone® passionate about sharing her knowledge of beer with others. She regularly teaches at the Beer & Cider Academy, judges at beer competitions, and produces and hosts the podcast Beer with Nat.
.. Her debut book, Beer: Taste the Evolution in 50 Styles was published by Kyle Books in March 2020.Read more..Show less.. Chris Elston
Judge
United Kingdom
Chris Elston is a member of The British Guild of Beer Writers and has been writing a beer blog for the last five years. He won an award for beer and travel writing in 2017 and is also an
.. ambassador for St Austell's Proper Job. Chris lives in Devon with his wife Laura and son Ace.Read more..Show less.. Nick Moyle
Judge
United Kingdom
Nick Moyle is a drinks writer, blogger and home brewer based in Somerset, England. He writes for the Independent, Reader’s Digest and Esquire along with several specialist and regional magazines. As one half of the Two Thirsty Gardeners he runs
.. booze-making demos, tasting sessions and judging at various events and is co-author of the books Brew it Yourself and Wild Tea.Read more..Show less.. Jonny Tyson
Judge
United Kingdom
Jonny Tyson, AKA The Beer Wrangler, is a Beer Educator and beer sommelier with a hospitality industry background.
Having run specialist beer and wine stores and a craft beer bar and restaurant in Vancouver, Canada, Jonny returned to the UK
.. to become a full time beer educator, developing the BPET (Beer Professional Education & Training) program. He now teaches at and co-owns The South London Wine School, where beer is given the same love and respect as wine!
Jonny was the first Advanced Cicerone in Europe and develops training, hosts beer events and writes about beer. Jonny co-founded and runs the Guild of Beer Sommeliers - highlighting the importance of trained beer professionals in the wider industry. Jonny is also a sommelier and WSET wine educator and uses his experience to showcase beer at a fine-dining table alongside wine.
Read more..Show less.. Martyn Railton
Judge
United Kingdom
“Martyn established Speciality Beer importer, distributor and brand builder Euroboozer back in 2003 when the beer landscape was a baron place in the UK. With over 17 years in the beer industry, visiting breweries and wineries all over the world,
.. working with some of the best brewers and breweries, contributed to many beer books, conducted tastings, food pairings and beer dinners in a couple of languages and judged for 11 years, Martyn is still as passionate today about getting better beer into the hands of the drinker as ever.”Read more..Show less.. Cheryl Cade
Judge
United Kingdom
Cheryl is a Beer Sommelier, a member of the British Guild Of Beer Writers and oversees the World Beer Bar for Norwich Beer Festival. She is a qualified trainer for CAMRA and the Academy of Cheese delivering a range of
.. their courses.
As well as being a highly experienced judge across a range of competitions, Cheryl runs award-winning food and drink tours around Belgium and East Anglia.
Read more..Show less.. Emma Inch
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Emma Inch is a former British Beer Writer of the Year. She's a writer and audio creator based in Brighton on the south coast of England. Emma writes about beer for the the national and international beer press and is
.. the producer and presenter of the award-winning podcast, Fermentation Beer & Brewing Radio. Emma gained her General Certificate in Brewing from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in 2015. She is a prize-winning home-brewer and has also brewed one-off collaborations with commercial breweries. She is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.Read more..Show less.. Steve Williams
Judge
United Kingdom
Steve Williams is a serial beer and travel blogger and is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.
He has been judging at beer competitions for more than 20 years. Glynn Davis
Judge
United Kingdom
Business journalist covering the food and drink industries including beer as editor of Beer Insider. Frequent judge of international beer competitions and co-owner of Bohem Brewery in North London. Joan Villar-I-Marti (aka 'Birraire')
Table Captain
Spain
Joan Villar-i-Martí (aka 'Birraire') is a Catalan beer writer, consultant and judge. He writes mainly in specialised media, is the author of Birraire's Newsletter on Substack, co-author of Guía de Cerveses de Catalunya (2013) and part of the Barcelona Beer
.. Festival crew.Read more..Show less.. Frances Brace
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Consultant with extensive experience in the pub, beer and ingredient industries. Her company, Red Flame Communications, specialises in these vibrant sectors.
Director of the British Guild of Beer Writers; first head of communications for Greene King; only female director of
.. Cask Marque in its 20 years; beer judge; intricately involved with Cask Ale Week, Cask Report, City of Ale. Has played a key role in helping save historic village pubs. Creator of brewery visitor centre and numerous events to position beer as natural, flavoursome, exciting – and relevant.
A marketing and PR strategist with a love of beer and creator of beer stories through words, pictures, presentations and experiences.
Read more..Show less.. Andy Jenkins
Judge
United Kingdom
Andy Jenkins is a small scale cidermaker at Ganley & Naish cider in based in Kenn, North Somerset. As a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, Andy was interested in the engineer and scientific elements of cider making, with a drive for continual
.. improvement. Taking on the challenge of cider making in his family for over a 100 years, using the fruit his great granddad used.Read more..Show less.. Haritz Rodriguez
Judge
Spain
Haritz Rodriguez, A.K.A Ciderzale, is a Basque cider enthusiast and journalist who works as marketing and internationalization consultant in the tourism and agri-food sectors. He promoted the creation of Ciderlands, the international cider culture and tourism network, and has worked
.. for the Sagardoetxea Basque cider museum. He collaborates with several international cider fairs and competitions such as Sagardo Forum and Cider World Frankfurt. Nowadays he is a marketing advisor at Zapiain Sagardoa, one of the main Basque cider houses. He has also worked for Hawkes (London), Frukt og Sider-Ruta (Norway), Longueville House (Ireland) and Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Company (England) organizing famtrips and tastings and helping in the creation of new products and experiences. Recently he has launched the online store Zukue.com, marketing and positioning cider together with consolidated drinks such as craft beer or wine.Read more..Show less.. Josh Faulkner-Elliott
Judge
United Kingdom
Josh completed his degree in chemistry at Cardiff University. He has always been interested in the science behind plants and fruit growing so it seemed a natural progression for this to become his occupation. He can often be seen on
.. the peaks of the Malvern Hills with his wife and their energetic dog Noodle.Read more..Show less.. Isy Schulz
Judge
United Kingdom
Isy Schulz is a cidermaker at Barleywood Orchard, small scale producers in North Somerset. She's also a vegan chef with a nutrition degree, and founder of the informal networking organisation, Cider Women Susan Boyle
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Susan Boyle is a drinks consultant, researcher, and performer. An award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, Susan presents beers on TV and radio and has hosted tastings at Imbibe Live London, the Oxford Symposium on Food and
.. Cookery and a host of music, arts and food festivals. Currently pursuing a PhD, Susan has worked with the British Museum to brew a beer supported by ancient Egyptian archaeological evidence and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Susan has recently developed an education programme to promote Irish spirits internationally for Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board)Read more..Show less.. Judith Boyle
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Judith Boyle is an accredited Beer Sommelier with the Institute of Brewers and Distillers, beer journalist and award winning member of the British Guild of Beer writers. She is a beverage lecture in the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
.. and is passionate about all aspects of beer and beer education.
Read more..Show less.. Aragorn Szostak
Judge
United Kingdom
Aragorn is currently the cider expert at Hereford Beer House. He has 10 years experience in the Beer and Cider industry and has recently started Core Values Cider as a means to promote great independent ciders from in and around
.. Herefordshire.Read more..Show less.. Cath Potter
Judge
United Kingdom
Cath is a cider enthusiast and drinker of quality ciders. She is a founding member of Manchester Cider Club and of Cider Women and graduated as the first Cider Pommelier in the North West in 2019. She presented at
.. the Hotel and Restaurant Show .Read more..Show less.. Dr. Natalia Wszelaki
Judge
Germany
Natalia Wszelaki a.k.a Cider Explorer is a cider blogger and cider expert, who has years of experience in evaluating and judging cider. Natalia is on a mission to explore cider from all European countries, share an honest opinion on cider,
.. promote cider culture and raise awareness about quality/craft cider.Read more..Show less.. Rod Graham
Judge
United Kingdom
Rod Graham has been selling fine libations to the good people of Glasgow for nineteen years. He currently works at the Good Spirits Co., where his particular interests are cider, Scotch whisky, and Champagne. Susannah Mansfield
Judge
United Kingdom
Susannah Mansfield is the Landlady at The Station House (real ale and cider specialist pub) and Fram Ferment (bottle shop, again specialising in beer and fine cider). She became a Pommelier in October 2019. She loves to introduce people to
.. the world of flavour found in both cider and beer and challenge them to step out of their comfort zone.Read more..Show less.. Clayton Hartley
Judge
United Kingdom
Clayton Hartley runs The Candlelight Club, a pop-up Prohibition-themed speakeasy club, and has a drinks blog, The Institute for Alcoholic Experimentation. Sarah Miller
Judge
United Kingdom
Acclaimed as one of the UK's top gin bloggers, Sarah Miller is the founder of Gin A Ding Ding which launched in 2016. Having joined the panels for Craft Distilling Expo’s Gin of the Year, The Gin Guide Awards and
.. the International Wine and Spirit Competition, in addition to the World Gin Awards, Sarah is an experienced and enthusiastic spirits judge. Sarah also hosts the popular social media challenge #GinADayMay, which aims to promote the gin industry and unite the gin community, and writes for The Gin Magazine.
Read more..Show less.. Nicole Hassoun
Judge
United States
Nicole Hassoun is a Master Distiller of Gin, and owner of a craft cocktail catering company. She has won many prestigious awards in the beverage industry, including World's Best Navy Gin 2018 from World Gin Awards, and Best Bartender in
.. DC 2014. Nicole is extremely passionate about gin; and the history, culture, and future of the spirit.Read more..Show less.. Katie Hughes
Judge
United Kingdom
Gin is just one of Katie's passions, however she loves to drink it, cook with it, make cocktails, as well as writing about it! You can find out about all of Katie's passions on her blog What's Katie Doing? Katie
.. likes to encourage everyone she comes across to try gin and has been known to host tastings at the day job, with the aim of converting people. Katie has also judged the Craft Distilling Expo's Gin of the Year awards.Read more..Show less.. Cherry Constable
Judge
United Kingdom
Cherry Constable is an independent drinks writer, specialising in wine and spirits. She actively engages with consumers on social media, promoting new product launches and sharing her enthusiasm. She writes regular product reviews focusing on the stories behind the brands
.. and contributes to numerous external publications. Cherry hosts a range of talks and masterclasses for both wine and spirits. She holds a Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma and is a Plumpton College alumna. Cherry judges wine and spirits for multiple international competitions.Read more..Show less.. Ian Wisniewski
Judge
United Kingdom
Ian Wisniewski is a freelance drinks writer and broadcaster covering spirits. He contributes to various titles, including Whisky Magazine, Malt Whisky Yearbook and Gin Magazine, and is the author of ELEVEN books, including THE WHISKY DICTIONARY. He regularly presents tastings
.. and classes, while also a regular visitor at distilleries in order to learn more.Read more..Show less.. Thijs Klaverstijn
Judge
Netherlands
Thijs Klaverstijn is an independent drinks writer from The Netherlands, writing for numerous international outlets, including Gin Magazine, Scotchwhisky.com and Distiller, while also sharing his thoughts on his personal blog, Words of Whisky. Kristiane Sherry
Judge
United Kingdom
Kristiane Sherry is the editor at Master of Malt, the multi-award-winning drinks eCommerce platform. She adores whisky, gin, Tequila, cocktails (pretty much anything delicious and spirited!), and loves geeking out at distilleries around the world. She has written about drinks
.. since 2011 and has judged at numerous competitions, including the American Distilling Institute's Judging of Craft Spirits, The Global Spirits Masters and the World Gin Awards. She is an accredited WSET Spirits Educator and jointly leads the internal spirits training at Master of Malt parent, Atom Group. Kristiane is a former editor of The Spirits Business, a leading global trade title, and has been featured as an industry commentator in The Spectator, The Grocer, RedOnline, and on BBC Radio 5 Live. When she’s not immersed in the world of spirits, she can be found trail running across the stunning South Downs, or curled up with her cats and a dram.
Read more..Show less.. Jesse Vallins
Judge
Canada
Scarborough native Jesse Vallins is the executive chef at Barberian’s Steak House in Toronto and has spent over 25 years cooking in some of the city’s best restaurants. Not just a chef, but also a lifetime student of the beverage
.. world, Jesse is an Advanced Cicerone, a BJCP certified beer and mead judge, and a certified sommelier.
When he’s not working at the restaurant or dorking out on drinks, Jesse teaches and develops curriculum at Toronto’s George Brown College and contributes content to Food & Drink Magazine.Read more..Show less.. Mark Gander
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark has worked in drinks media for three years and successfully project managed Think Gin before moving to Imbibe, where he sources gin brands from all over the world to showcase to the UK trade at Imbibe Live. Meme Toor
Judge
United Kingdom
Having discovered gin recently, on account of a serendipitous encounter with heartbreak, Meme has recently risen to the fore as one of the leading UK gin bloggers and a leading name in domestic creative cocktail experimentation. Whilst not
.. mixing, matching, shaking and creating, Meme works hard on making people look beautiful as a makeup artist.Read more..Show less.. Karen Walker
Judge
United Kingdom
Karen Walker is a highly experienced, accomplished and well-respected marketing consultant with global exposure, specialising in the spirits industry. Karen has predominantly been immersed in Scotch Whisky throughout her 25 years in the industry, however throughout the last 10
.. years has directed the marketing of one of the UK’s fastest growing super premium gins, and this is where Karen’s gin passion started and continues to grow with the growth of the category!Read more..Show less.. Sam Carter
Judge
United Kingdom
Sam Carter has been an Ambassador for Bombay Sapphire since early 2009. His role incorporates spreading the good word about the ever-expanding gin category, the creative world of Bombay Sapphire, its sustainable production process and the bright, fresh, uplifting cocktails
.. it provides. During his 24+ years within the drinks industry, Sam has developed a great passion & wealth of knowledge through his classical & molecular training at a vast array of 5 Star hotels & Michelin stared restaurants between London, Nottinghamshire and as far afield as Sydney, Australia. Sam is globally regarded as a leading authority on the subject of gin & gin cocktails. He is now currently based full time at the Home of Bombay – The Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire, England where he hosts VIP guests such as advanced trade, press, distributors, agencies, Bacardi Stakeholders & Board Members from right across the world. He also coaches & ‘ginspires’ all other internal Bacardi employees & external Brand Ambassadors, and is instrumental on all things innovation be it cocktails or future liquids. Sam is most proud of playing a key team role in the development and launch of BACARDI’s most innovative super premium gin liquid – Star of Bombay which won best London Dry Gin in the 2016 IWSC awards. Sam lives locally to the distillery in Hampshire with his wife Angela & two young girls - Penny & Lucy. Sam lives by this all-inspiring quote by Albert Einstein… "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere”.Read more..Show less.. Christine Sismondo
Judge
Canada
A National Magazine Award-winning writer, Christine Sismondo has been covering spirits and cocktails for the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Quench and other publications for twenty years. She’s also the author of America Walks into a Bar: A History of
.. Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies and Grog Shops; Prohibition, a six-part podcast series Wondery’s American History Tellers and, most recently, co-author of Canadian Spirits: The Essential Cross-Country Guide to Distilleries, Their Spirits and Where to Imbibe Them, written with Stephen Beaumont. She lives in Toronto, Canada.Read more..Show less.. Sandy Wood
Judge
United States
Sandy Wood is Co-founder and CEO of One Eight Distilling, the first distillery to make rye whiskey and bourbon in the District of Columbia since Prohibition, as well as the award-winning District Made Ivy City Gin and Barrel Rested Gin. Bernadette Pamplin
Judge
United Kingdom
After working in a gin bar, I began writing www.undertheginfluence.com back in April 2015. I fell deeply in love with gin, particularly its history and the stories associated with each bottle, although I quickly developed and interest in the incredible
.. complexities of botanicals, distilling processes and serves. Having worked previously as a Brand Ambassador, I still take great pleasure in writing Under the Ginfluence, and regularly for Gin Magazine, Gin and Rum Festival and soon the Craft Distilling Expo. I love judging too. Judging Gin of the Year, the World Gin Awards, Spirits Business Masters, American Distilling Institutes Judging of Craft Spirits 19 in San Francisco and most recently IWSC. I thrive on what is a constantly evolving and very friendly industry. There is always something new to learn, and gin to enjoy.Read more..Show less.. Maggie Kimberl
Judge
United States
Maggie Kimberl is a columnist at American Whiskey Magazine who considers herself geographically blessed to be living in the epicentre of Bourbon, Louisville, Kentucky. When she’s not digging up Bourbon stories old and new, you can find her browsing the
.. record store with her kids, or tending to her home-grown tomatoes. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @LouGirl502.Read more..Show less.. Mark Newton
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark is a co-editor of Malt, one of the most popular whisky websites in the world. He is Head of Communications for Waterford Distillery in Ireland, and Renegade Rum Distillery in Grenada. Previously he was a taster for Whisky Magazine. Tim Hampson
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Hampson is an award-wining journalist and broadcaster. He is author of many books including the Haynes Whisky Manual. Jason B. Standing
Judge
United Kingdom
Since starting Whisky Squad in London 8 years ago and launching the Dramboree whisky weekend, Jason's frequented and worked at whisky festivals, tastings, and bars across the UK and Europe, spreading his enthusiasm for helping people find whiskies they love.
.. Jason is not a whisky blogger, however he does have a collection of distinctive hats and trousers.
Read more..Show less.. Greg Dillon
Judge
United Kingdom
Greg, as well as undertaking NPD projects with whisky brands is a brand strategy consultant working with brands big and small within the spirits industry to define, fix, build and grown their brands. He also authors GreatDrams.com and has recently
.. released a series of single cask limited edition independently bottled whiskies under the GreatDrams brand.Read more..Show less.. Demetris Vrontis
Judge
Cyprus
Dr Demetris Vrontis, is a University Professor in Business Management. He is the co-founder and co-president of The Cyprus Whisky Association established in 2014. He is a whisky connoisseur, enthusiast and collector since 1995 and participated in hundreds of whisky
.. tasting events around the world. Further information regarding Prof. Vrontis can be found at: http://unic.academia.edu/DemetrisVrontisRead more..Show less.. Šarunas Cesna
Judge
Lithuania
Sarunas studied to become a librarian and a journalist, yet ended up managing two bars and co-owning a third one. Six years ago the ‘Piano Man’ bar sparked his love for whisky, a few years later ‘Cocktail bar Alchemikas’ became
.. his mixing playground. His bar is his library.Read more..Show less.. Rob Allanson
Chair of Judges
United Kingdom
Charles MacLean
Judge
United Kingdom
Charles MacLean has been writing about Scotch whisky for thirty-six years, and has published seventeen books on the subject. He was described by The Times as “Scotland’s leading whisky expert” in 2014 – which he denies, but hey…
He sits on
.. several judging panels, including that of the International Wine & Spirits Competition, has chaired the nosing panel of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society since 1992, and advises many whisky companies on cask selection and flavour profiling.
He was the founding editor of Whisky Magazine and foreign editor of Whisky (Russia); writes regularly for several international magazines and websites and is a frequent commentator on TV and radio. He was chief presenter of the TV channel www.singlemalt.tv and starred in Ken Loach’s film The Angels Share, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012.
In 2009 he was elected Master of the Quaich, in 2012 won the I.W.S.C.’s ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ and in 2016 was inducted into the Whisky Hall of Fame.
Read more..Show less.. Costas Sariyiannis
Judge
Cyprus
Costas works for the Cyprus Police and is placed at the European Union and International Police Cooperation Directorate.
He is the co-founder and co-president of The Cyprus Whisky Association established in 2014 and a whisky connoisseur, enthusiast and
.. collector since 1998. He has held and participated in hundreds of whisky tasting events around the world.
Read more..Show less.. Anne-Sophie Bigot
Judge
France
Anne-Sophie, better known as The Whisky Lady, is a whisky influencer (blogger, consultant & writer). She also runs her own specialist whisky bar in Toulouse (France), The Hopscotch Pub & Brewery. Tim Forbes
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Forbes is a freelance drinks writer based in Tuscany. Tim has been in the drinks trade since 1998, working for Oddbins, The Whisky Exchange, Waitrose and Majestic Wines. He has been writing and judging for numerous publications
.. and international spirits competitions since 2008.Read more..Show less.. Edward Bates
Judge
United Kingdom
Edward runs Distilled London, a spirits industry consultancy. He has a wealth of experience built up over more than three decades. His interest in spirits stems from a school visit to Cognac, which has turned into a passion for
.. all distilled products. His acknowledged expertise is utilised by a number of brands, also working as a spirits writer and educator.Read more..Show less.. Gary Gillman
Judge
Canada
Gary Gillman is a well-known, Toronto-based blogger on beer, and also covers many topics in spirits and food. He also contributes regularly to the journal Brewery History, based in UK, and other journals.
He established his blog, www.beeretseq.com, in 2015
.. following years of private study and travel. Formerly a business lawyer, he now devotes full-time to writing and speaking on these topics. He recently addressed the Annual Beer Culture Summit of the Chicago Brewseum, speaking on mini-breweries installed on German trans-Atlantic liners in the 1920s.
Gary was recently short-listed in two categories (pubs and self-published) for the 2022 Awards of the British Guild of Beer Writers. Awards are announced November 23.
Gary has judged for many years for World Drinks Awards in beer, gin, and vodka. While interested in all drinks, he focuses on beer, whiskies, and spirits, in general.
He was invited to judge as well in the newly-established Canada Beer Cup (was not able to attend, but hopefully next year).
Apart from the aforesaid Guild, Gary belongs to numerous professional bodies and associations including Canadian Brewerianist, Culinary Historians of Canada, and Rural Women’s Studies Association
Read more..Show less.. Sandeep Arora
Judge
India
Sandeep Arora is India`s pioneering Premium Spirits & Whisky Ambassador who introduced India to the art & appreciation of Luxury Spirits and Rare Whisky Collection in 2003. Sandeep is the Director of Spiritual Luxury Living, India`s Premiere Spirits Consultancy &
.. Advisory Service & Co-Founder of Cask Spirit Marketing LLP, Asia`s Youngest Spirits Marketing Company.Read more..Show less.. Donna & David Wolff
Judges
Canada
Donna and David Wolff opened The Caledonian Whisky Bar in Toronto in 2010.Donna hails from Huntly Aberdeenshire and Davis from Toronto. The Caledonian boast about over 350 Single Malts and hosts numerous Tasting events.Both have been judges for The Workd
.. Whisky Awards for the past 3 years.Read more..Show less.. Jazz Jia
Judge
China
Jazz Jia is a publisher of Whisky Magazine China. He also obtained his “Keeper of The Quaich” in 2017. He has run an international trade company that imports high quality spirits especially whisky to Chinese over 10 years. Meanwhile, he
.. owns an on-line whisky trading platform called “YiKou” which is very popular in China.Read more..Show less.. George Michie
Judge
United Kingdom
Following an acting career spanning 10 long years George Michie eventually decided he ought to be paid for drinking so much. George is now Manager of Soho Whisky Club, a private members club specialising in whisky and cigars in the
.. heart of London.Read more..Show less.. Gavin D Smith
Judge
United Kingdom
The author and co-author of nearly 30 whisky-related titles, Gavin contributes to many specialist publications around the world and is Contributing Editor Scotland for Whisky Magazine and a Keeper of the Quaich. He has been a full-time writer for more
.. than 20 years and currently lives in the Scottish Borders. His most recent publication is as co-author of The World of Whisky (2019).Read more..Show less.. Christopher Coates
Judge
United Kingdom
Possessing a long-standing passion for whisky, Christopher Coates has been working for Paragraph Ltd, publisher of Whisky Magazine, since 2013 and in 2016 was appointed as Scotch editor. He is also managing editor of the travel and history publication Scotland
.. Magazine, and a publishing manager on the Paragraph leadership team.Read more..Show less.. Pavlos Koumparos
Judge
Cyprus
Pavlos is a passionate collector and drinker of whiskies and part of the Cyprus Whisky Association. Alongside he is also the brand champion for Tomatin in Cyprus. He has attended, participated in and organised many different events, in Cyprus
.. and abroad. Over the past four years he has worked with whisky as well as other premium spirits.Read more..Show less.. Marcy Rudershausen
Judge
United States
Marcy is the Founder of Raise A Dram Consulting LLC. She was inducted into Keepers of the Quaich in 2010 and is a founding member of Keepers of The Quaich USA Chapter. Ms. Rudershausen has been working in the whisky
.. industry for over 20 years educating consumers and sales teams on the finer points of whisky conducting her whisky outreach in both English and Spanish. In addition to leading whisky tastings, seminars and hosting whisky pairing dinners in the US she has also presented across South, Central and North America.Read more..Show less.. Rupert Wheeler
Judge
United Kingdom
Rupert was managing editor of Whisky Magazine from 2014-2017. He has now moved to Orkney where he works part time as a tour guide and running tasting events at Highland Park Distillery. He also continues to run a small publishing
.. company specialising in drink related books.Read more..Show less.. Franchi Ferla
Judges
United Kingdom
Simon and Franchi’s love of whisky started in a basement bar in London over 18 years ago, not long after they co-founded Simply Whisky, their whisky tasting events and media business. The ensuing years have seen Simply Whisky travel the
.. globe, focusing on the pure enjoyment of whisk(e)y, its history and lore, all the while extolling the virtues to mind, body and soul that we all know it endows. Hosting tasting events for royalty, politicians, rock stars, movie stars, sport stars and the Basildon Whisky Club to name but a few, their mission remains to convert people to whisky one pair of lips at a time!Read more..Show less.. Steve Bashore
Judge
United States
Steve Bashore is the Director of Historic Trades at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and is a traditional miller and distiller. He oversees a staff of historic interpreters that tell the story of George Washington’s farming and entrepreneurial endeavours.
.. Steve comes to spirits through grain milling, having run traditional water powered mills for 26 years. Steve manages Washington’s Farm, Blacksmith Shop, Distillery and Gristmill. In the water powered Gristmill grain is ground into products for sale and use in restaurants. All the grain for whiskey production is also ground in the mill. At the Distillery spirits are made using 18th century methods, to include running five wood fired pot stills. The spirits Steve produces with his staff include: rye whiskey, single malt whisky, rum, bourbon, apple brandy and peach brandy.Read more..Show less.. Mark Bylok
Judge
Canada
Mark Bylok is a whisky author (The Whisky Cabinet), podcaster (The Whisky Topic), publisher of whisky.buzz, and speaker on the topic of all things whisky. His first book, published in 2013, became a best seller on Amazon and the podcast
.. is a top whisky podcast in the world. Mark loves to geek out about whisky, and has succeeded in bringing in the geeky details of the whisky world in a more approachable manner. In his personal life, Mark is happily married to his wife Nicole, with twin toddler girls, and twin collie dogs.Read more..Show less.. Hans Offringa
Judge
Netherlands
Established author, internationally renowned media expert and whisky connoisseur; studied English and Business Journalism.He started his whisky quest at the age of 18 and has been trained by many whisky experts in the industry, among whom Michael Jackson (†), Charles
.. MacLean and Jim Rutledge (Four Roses). Hans has written and translated many books and articles on this subject over the years, as well as visited hundreds of distilleries worldwide. He is also the European Contributing Editor of Whisky Magazine and proud to be a Kentucky Colonel, Lifetime Ambassador of the Spirit of Speyside Festival and a Keeper of the Quaich.Read more..Show less.. Becky Offringa
Judge
Netherlands
Becky is Hans’ muse and editor but also a qualified female whisky professional and taster in her own right. She takes care of the editing and layout of her husband’s books and regularly provides photography for books and
.. articles. Holding a university degree in marine biology, she is a licensed real estate agent and former Vice President of a commerical real estate company. Under the name The Whisky Couple, Hans and Becky conduct whisky nosing & tasting sessions for corporate events, restaurants, hotels, business clubs and whisky festivals. The Whisky Couple works as translators/editors and photographers for the whisky industry at large.Read more..Show less.. Chris Goodrum
Judge
United Kingdom
I started at wine and spirits retailer Gauntleys of Nottingham in 2000. Since then I have grown our spirits selection into a unique and eclectic collection. Since 2007 I have been a judge for the Independent Bottlers Challenge and the
.. World Whisky/ Drinks Awards since 2012. I also have a weekly YouTube channel called the Good Dram Show.Read more..Show less.. Robin Laing
Judge
United Kingdom
Robin Laing is a whisky writer/musician/entertainer (5 whisky books; 5 whisky CDs). He is also a tasting panel chair and note writer for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. www.robinlaing.com Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. Julie Christie
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Having worked in the Scottish whisky industry for four years and a further two years with Irish whiskey, my experience ranges from being a tour guide of Deanston Distillery to Marketing Manager of the Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin. I
.. have hosted many tastings, written about whisk(e)y and also organised Whiskey Live Dublin and the Irish Whiskey Awards.Read more..Show less.. Tomer Goren
Judge
Israel
Tomer Goren has a distilling experience of more than 14 years and is the Head Distiller of The Milk & Honey Distillery in Israel since its establishment in 2014. He also runs Whisky Live in Israel and holds many
.. lectures and masterclasses about whisky, among consulting to bars and restaurants, and judging in whisky competitions. Tomer also owns and runs an independent-bottling company.
Read more..Show less.. George Keeble
Judge
After several years running Soho Whisky Club in London, George made the switch into whisky production in 2018 and currently works as a distiller at New World Whisky Distillery in Melbourne, Australia. He also runs a whisky cask brokering business. Gal Kalkshtein
Judge
Israel
Gal Kalkshtein is the owner and founder of the M&H distillery, Israel's first whisky distillery.
Gal is a high-tech serial entrepreneur with a great passion for whisky.
Gal turned his whisky vision into reality after opening Israel's first whisky distillery and since
.. then, has become known as the pioneer and leader of Israel's whisky Industry.
Read more..Show less.. Gregory Charles Zetzsche
Judge
France
Jaroslaw Buss
Judge
Poland
Jaroslaw owns Tudor House Ltd, a company that started importing and distributing whisky in 2004. He has been writing about whisky since and organizes presentations, tasting for on, off trade as well as for private clients.
He has one of the
.. biggest Facebook groups of 22k whisky lovers and has been organizing Whisky Live Warsaw since 2015. He travels around the world, visiting distilleries to be up to date with all current happenings in the Whisky Industry.
Read more..Show less.. Simon Roser
Judge
United Kingdom
Simon and Franchi’s love of whisky started in a basement bar in London over 18 years ago, not long after they co-founded Simply Whisky, their whisky tasting events and media business. The ensuing years have seen Simply Whisky travel the
.. globe, focusing on the pure enjoyment of whisk(e)y, its history and lore, all the while extolling the virtues to mind, body and soul that we all know it endows. Hosting tasting events for royalty, politicians, rock stars, movie stars, sport stars and the Basildon Whisky Club to name but a few, their mission remains to convert people to whisky one pair of lips at a time!Read more..Show less.. Hans Martin Hansgaard
Judge
Denmark
Hans is a teacher by profession specializing primarily in students with autism and ADHD. Since 1995 an avid whisky enthusiast and collector. Founded the first Danish whisky distillery “Stauning Whisky” in 2005 together with 8 friends. Stauning Whisky insists on
.. producing whisky using old-school methods: Every single grain is floor malted, dried in their own kiln, mashed, fermented, double distilled on 24 direct-fired pot stills, matured and bottled on-site. Hans has done numerous masterclasses and tastings for Stauning Whisky. Now works full time with whisky focusing on product development, communication and branding of the company.Read more..Show less.. 
Steve Beal
Chair of Judges USA
United States
Described by the American Distilling Institute as one of the most respected whiskey experts in the world, Steve Beal is an industry-recognized consultant, spirits writer and former senior brand ambassador. He is based in San Francisco. As the
.. Sr. Whisky Master , Steve is a very familiar figure to both consumers and sellers of fine spirits and whisky. He provides consulting, technical, editorial, blending, marketing and public relations services to the global whisk(e)y industry. He is the American Chair of the World Whiskies Awards.
Steve is also Chairing Judge for the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, and is also a active in many international spirits competitions (Mumbai, Hong Kong, Australia, London, Cape Town, Washington DC, San Francisco, Louisville, Las Vegas). He also facilitates and occasionally hosts spirits tasting experiences for selected corporate clients and some charities.
Steve was previously the senior brand ambassador/educator for the DIAGEO North America Whisky Portfolio, including Bulleit Bourbon and Rye Whiskies, George Dickel Tennessee whiskies; and Crown Royal Canadian Whisky; Johnnie Walker, Buchanans Blended Scotch Whiskies; Lagavulin, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Oban, Talisker, Glenkenchie, Caol Ila, Mortlach, and Singleton single malt Scotch whiskies, and, Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
He named the named Keeper of the Quaich (Scotland) in 2010 and is a Founding Sponsor of the US Chapter of the Keepers. He was inducted into Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2015 and also received the United States Bartenders Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 during the Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans. He has been described as the second founder of a prominent Bourbon brand and the 411 and 911 of the whisk(e)y world.
Read more..Show less..Steve Beal
Chair of Judges USA
United States
Described by the American Distilling Institute as one of the most respected whiskey experts in the world, Steve Beal is an industry-recognized consultant, spirits writer and former senior brand ambassador. He is based in San Francisco. As the
.. Sr. Whisky Master , Steve is a very familiar figure to both consumers and sellers of fine spirits and whisky. He provides consulting, technical, editorial, blending, marketing and public relations services to the global whisk(e)y industry. He is the American Chair of the World Whiskies Awards.
Steve is also Chairing Judge for the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, and is also a active in many international spirits competitions (Mumbai, Hong Kong, Australia, London, Cape Town, Washington DC, San Francisco, Louisville, Las Vegas). He also facilitates and occasionally hosts spirits tasting experiences for selected corporate clients and some charities.
Steve was previously the senior brand ambassador/educator for the DIAGEO North America Whisky Portfolio, including Bulleit Bourbon and Rye Whiskies, George Dickel Tennessee whiskies; and Crown Royal Canadian Whisky; Johnnie Walker, Buchanans Blended Scotch Whiskies; Lagavulin, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Oban, Talisker, Glenkenchie, Caol Ila, Mortlach, and Singleton single malt Scotch whiskies, and, Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
He named the named Keeper of the Quaich (Scotland) in 2010 and is a Founding Sponsor of the US Chapter of the Keepers. He was inducted into Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2015 and also received the United States Bartenders Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 during the Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans. He has been described as the second founder of a prominent Bourbon brand and the 411 and 911 of the whisk(e)y world.
Read more..Show less.. Jordan Wicker
Judge
United States
Jordan Wicker is the co-creator and host of the home-bartending podcast, Speaking Easy Podcast. Speaking Easy has 107 published episodes on topics as general as “How to stock a homebar,” but his favorites have been the interviews with bourbon and
.. whisky historians, producers, and critics. The show has had more than 8,000 listeners per month before an extended break from recording. Living and working in D.C., he often jokes that Speaking Easy—a hobby—is how he relates back to his family in Kentucky where whiskey conversations are an everyday occurrence. He hopes to have new episodes recorded soon, but has stayed connected to the whiskey world by volunteering at George Washington's Distillery at Mount Vernon during its distilling runs, hunting for "dusties" around D.C., and making rye-cognac Vieux Carré cocktails at home.Read more..Show less.. Kate Packwood
Judge
United Kingdom
Kate Packwood is a freelance food and drinks writer and flavour consultant. She consults on tasting notes for many whisky and gin brands and writes for numerous international publications on particularly on whisky, gin and food pairings. She is a
.. regular contributor to Whisky Magazine and Gin Magazine.Read more..Show less.. Blair Phillips
Judge
Canada
Blair is a lifestyles and spirits writer who specialises in Canadian whisky. In addition to being the Canadian Contributing Editor for Whisky Magazine, he reviews Canadian spirits for Distiller. He also contributes to newspapers and magazines and is on the
.. jury for both the World Whisky Awards and the Canadian Whisky Awards. Blair was the Canadian columnist for DrinkingMadeEasy.com during the TV show’s three year run. He currently lives in Toronto Canada.Read more..Show less.. Bernhard Schäfer
Judge
Germany
Bernhard started his professional spirit career behind a cocktail bar 1985, during his studies of sociology. Some years later he began giving lectures on different spirits, mainly whisky. This is where he received the highest accolades as he became
.. 'Keeper of the Quaich' in 1996, and a 'Master of the Quaich' in 2007. He is a co-founder of ENSE (European Network of Spirit Experts). He became a Member of the Gin Guild in 2016.
Since 1997 Bernhard is a panel Member at different Spirit Competitions in Europe, and since 2010 in the US. He became a proud member of RumXP 2012. His friends say of him,: “I would once like to pass holidays as what you are calling work”Read more..Show less.. James Goggin
Judge
United Kingdom
James Goggin leads UK sales for Empirical Spirits, the category defying flavor company founded by noma alums in Copenhagen.
Prior to joining Empirical, James was the Brand Advocacy Manager for Maverick Drinks where he led the learning and development for the
.. entire Maverick team. James counts 2016 Icons of Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year among his many accolades. Originally from Ireland, James has spent time behind the bar in New Zealand, as head bartender at Happiness Forgets in London, and competed in various cocktail competitions worldwide.
Read more..Show less.. Reid Bechtle
Judge
United States
Reid has had an active interest in whiskey and spirits for the past 35 years. In 2010 he founded 1789b, a private bourbon group modeled after a Havana cigar group he started in the late 1980’s. 1789b was one of
.. the early participants in the acquisition on high quality bourbon when few people were interested in purchasing hand-picked barrels. To date the 1789b group has acquired over 170 barrels of bourbon and over 190 total barrels of spirits including rye whiskey, Armagnac, American brandy and most recently American rum. Reid’s current interest is in single grain Scotch whisky which he feels is under appreciated and undervalued.
Reid has been an independent business consultant for the past 30 years with a focus on business turnarounds. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Read more..Show less.. Jason Hambrey
Judge
Canada
Jason Hambrey has been reviewing whisky for his blog In Search of Elegance since 2013. He has been a judge of multiple international spirits competitions and has contributed to publications such as American Whiskey Magazine. In addition to whisky, Jason
.. has a penchant for cocktails and frequently leads small-scale spirits tastings in Ottawa.Read more..Show less.. Jessica Mason
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Jessica Mason aka Drinks Maven – is a passionate drinks writer and champion for the industry accruing 12 years experience in the trade. Mason writes for a range of magazines, from trade to consumer across all drinks categories (beer, cider,
.. wine, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks & RTDs) traversing styles from business digests and trends reports through to tasting notes, reviews and impassioned thought pieces. She is also an events and conference presenter, consultant, a home brewer as well as a contributing author to beer and whisky books. She is extremely committed to getting good drinks into places in need of range diversity and inspiration and is also very good at maintaining that her glass is half full.Read more..Show less.. Des de Moor
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Des de Moor is one of the UK's leading beer experts and author of award-winning books Cask: The real story of Britain's unique beer culture and London's Best Beer, Pubs and Bars.
He curates tours and tutored tastings and has
.. judged beer in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and the USA as well as the UK.
Des is UK compiler for The Pocket Beer Book and a regular contributor to beer publications and websites.Read more..Show less.. Pete Brown
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Pete Brown is a British author, journalist, broadcaster and consultant specialising in food and drink, especially the fun parts like beer and cider.
He writes for newspapers and magazines around the world and is a regular contributor to BBC Radio
.. 4’s Food Programme. He was named British Beer Writer of the Year in 2009, 2012 and 2016.
Read more..Show less.. Dan Sandy
Judge
United Kingdom
After running Kill The Cat in London for 6 years Dan now resides in Lewes, East Sussex where he operates his beer tours and tastings business: 'That’s The Beer Talking'. An Advanced Cicerone®, Dan also runs sensory training for
.. breweries, pub co’s and industry professionals between scouring the South Coast looking for the perfect pint of Harvey’s.Read more..Show less.. Chris Hall
Judge
United Kingdom
"Chris has been writing about beer for over eight years, and has worked in sales, communications and events for breweries and distributors for over four years. He is the co-author of a number of beer guides for Future Publishing, and
.. contributes to Good Beer Hunting and other beer publications."Read more..Show less.. Fernanda Meybom
Judge
Brazil
Fernanda Meybom is a Chemical Engineer by Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Beer Sommelière, Master of Beer Styles and Evaluation by Siebel Institute of Technology and BJCP Certified Beer Judge.
She works as a sommelière in consultancies, lectures, courses and events
.. of tasting and pairing in Brazil and abroad, also as a Teacher at Escola Superior de Cerveja e Malte and as Columnist for Revista da Cerveja.
Read more..Show less.. Martyn Cornell
Judge
United Kingdom
‘Britain’s leading expert on the history of beer styles and a judge at beer competitions from Brazil to Hong Kong." Will Simmons
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Bill runs a beer consultancy working with small premium craft brewers, after spending many years working for quality regional breweries such as Samuel Smith, Batemans, Caledonian, Ruddles and Fullers.
He is also an international Beer Judge. World Beer
.. Cup, World Beer Awards, GABF, Chinese Craft Beer Awards, IBC, Greek Beer Awards and Brazil Beer Cup are amongst some of the competitions he has judged. Bill has judged for many years at the Quality Food Awards not only on beer but also on the Food side where he is now a judge at the World Steak Challenge held annually.
Bill is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and has written features for the Chinese Craft Beer magazine One More. He also contributes to several trade features.Read more..Show less.. Fabiana Arreguay
Judge
Brazil
Journalist and beer sommelier by Doemns Academy. Co-founder of Academia Sommelier de Cerveja from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Author of " Comidas e Cervejas Mineiras - vamos combinar? Ed. C/Arte Terry Leung
Judge
United Kingdom
Terry Leung is a whisky and beer specialist. He worked at Milroy’s of Soho, one of the oldest whisky shop in London with decades of history. In 2014, he completed the Campaign for Real Ale (the “CAMRA”) tasting training and
.. is currently on the London regional tasting panel and one of the judges at the world beer award. After working as a whisky ambassador for Scotch Malt Whisky Society, hosting various whisky tastings and food paring events, he is currently working for the whisky lounge, hosting their whisky blending workshops and whisky tastings, and supporting at their Whisky Weekenders events. Throughout the years, he built up relationships with whisky distilleries in Scotland to look for rare and interesting whisky.
Read more..Show less.. Rodrigo Sawamura
Judge
Brazil
Graduated in Food Engineering, Beer Sommelier and teacher from Beer Sommelier Courses in Brazil .
1st place in Brazilian Championship for Beer Sommelier in 2016. 4th place in World Championship for Beer Sommelier in 2015 and 3rd place in World
.. Championship for Beer Sommelier in 2017.
Read more..Show less.. Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. John Westlake
Judge
John is an award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and an accredited Beer Sommelier who has visited over 150 countries where beer is brewed and enjoyed.
Steve Williams
Judge
United Kingdom
Steve Williams is a serial beer and travel blogger and is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.
He has been judging at beer competitions for more than 20 years. Rebecca Pate
Judge
United Kingdom
Rebecca Pate (Bex) is an accredited beer sommelier who works as a freelance copywriter and content marketing manager. She's based in East London and has worked with some of London's biggest craft breweries, supporting them with content marketing, digital marketing
.. and events. She was nominated as Best Young Beer Writer in 2018 and for Beer Citizen Communicator in 2017 by the British Guild of Beer Writers for her blog, Brewing East
Read more..Show less.. Martyn Railton
Judge
United Kingdom
“Martyn established Speciality Beer importer, distributor and brand builder Euroboozer back in 2003 when the beer landscape was a baron place in the UK. With over 17 years in the beer industry, visiting breweries and wineries all over the world,
.. working with some of the best brewers and breweries, contributed to many beer books, conducted tastings, food pairings and beer dinners in a couple of languages and judged for 11 years, Martyn is still as passionate today about getting better beer into the hands of the drinker as ever.”Read more..Show less.. Daiane Colla
Judge
Brazil
Daiane Colla is a journalist, beer sommelière, Master of Beer Styles, Evaluation and Pairing by Siebel Institute of Technology and BJCP Certified Beer Judge. She works as a sommelière in consultancies, lectures, courses and events of tasting and pairing in
.. Brazil and abroad. Daiane is Brussels Beer Challenge and The Brewers of Europe Forum ambassador to Brazil, and has experience judging national and international beer competitions. She also writes about beer styles for Revista da Cerveja and about beers and cigars pairings for Casa off Cuba blog.Read more..Show less.. Ian Garrett
Judge
United Kingdom
CAMRA member and volunteer for over 40 years. For several years i was responsible for the International Beer Bar, BSF, at GBBF organising tutored tastings and establishing The Michael Jackson Award for American Cask Beer competition. I have been an
.. active judge at local, regional and national CAMRA events as well as judging at SIBA regional & National competitions.Read more..Show less.. Jules Gray
Table Captain
United Kingdom
An experienced beer trade professional with over ten years in the field. She owns an independent award-winning beer shop and tasting room, Hop Hideout in Sheffield, UK (established 2013). In 2015 she set-up a city-wide beer celebration in her hometown
.. - Sheffield Beer Week. As director she has lead the beer celebration to grow over ten days across 30 plus venues throughout Sheffield; showcasing both local and international breweries. The core strands promote beer and food pairings, community and heritage. In 2018 she launched a new craft beer festival in Sheffield - Indie Beer Feast, attracting over 700 attendees at the one-day event. This grew to two days in 2019 and welcomed over 1,000 beer lovers. She is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, a bookworm, vinyl digger and loving cat owner.
Read more..Show less.. Glyn Roberts
Judge
United Kingdom
Now a professional photographer, I spent 28 years working in the beer industry; my jobs ranged from being a part-time barman to part-owning and operating a brewpub. I have been judging beers for more than decade now and it's always
.. a pleasure to judge the World Beer Awards.Read more..Show less.. Chris Elston
Judge
United Kingdom
Chris Elston is a member of The British Guild of Beer Writers and has been writing a beer blog for the last five years. He won an award for beer and travel writing in 2017 and is also an
.. ambassador for St Austell's Proper Job. Chris lives in Devon with his wife Laura and son Ace.Read more..Show less.. Jethro Holman
Judge
United Kingdom
Jethro is the Beer Sensory Manager at Fourpure Brewing in Bermondsey, specialising in off-flavour identification and the training of tasters to attend Fourpure’s daily acceptance and descriptive profiling tasting sessions which he runs. He has been in the South East
.. London craft beer scene for 8 years and has judged in beer competitions nationally and internationallyRead more..Show less.. Simon Williams
Judge
United Kingdom
Simon began his beer journey in 2011 by accidentally creating a little movement of likeminded modern beer lovers when he started The Campaign For Really Good Beer blog.
He continues to be enthralled by beer and enjoys a good “discussion”.
He is
.. a British Guild of Beer Writers member, an award winning blogger and still manages to make music with various indie ensembles.
Read more..Show less.. Steve Lamond
Judge
United Kingdom
"Steve is a drinks writer based in Northern Ireland with a particular interest in cheese & beer pairings, cider and drinks history. He is cider officer for Beoir, Ireland's beer consumer organisation and blogs at beersiveknown.com" Beatriz Amorim
Judge
Brazil
Bia is the owner of Por Obséquio, Gastronomic Consultancy and Publisher of Farofa Magazine. She has worked in the area of gastronomy for 18 years. She has been a guest teacher at more than 13 institutions and has several projects
.. in the area of artisanal beers. Speaker with more than 60 lectures, has 2 weekly programs on CBN radio. She has been a judge at several events: Eisenbahn Cervejeiro Mestre, World Beer Awards (Brazil), IPA Day Brasil, Mondial de la Biere SP, Festival Brasileiro de Cerveja, Copa de Cerveja POA, Copa de Cervezas de América.Read more..Show less.. John Porter
Judge
United Kingdom
John Porter has more than 30 years’ experience as a food and drink writer and journalist, and is accredited as a Beer Sommelier by the Beer & Cider Academy. He is co-director of PR consultancy ShielPorter Communications. John has hosted
.. beer tastings, seminars and beer & food matching sessions at a wide range of industry, corporate and consumer events. John’s varied food & drink judging experience spans everything from the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the International Beer Challenge to the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year and Britain’s Best Pub Sausage. www.apieandapint.com
Read more..Show less.. Igor Puorro
Judge
Brazil
Brewmaster and consultant for microbreweries and contract brewing.
British Brewing Technology qualification from Brewlab (Sunderland, UK).
BJCP Certified Beer Judge and experience judging national and international beer competitions. Organiser of BJCP sanctioned competitions.
Beer educator on brewing, beer styles and sensory training.
Gary Gillman
Judge
Canada
Gary Gillman is a well-known, Toronto-based blogger on beer, and also covers many topics in spirits and food. He also contributes regularly to the journal Brewery History, based in UK, and other journals.
He established his blog, www.beeretseq.com, in 2015
.. following years of private study and travel. Formerly a business lawyer, he now devotes full-time to writing and speaking on these topics. He recently addressed the Annual Beer Culture Summit of the Chicago Brewseum, speaking on mini-breweries installed on German trans-Atlantic liners in the 1920s.
Gary was recently short-listed in two categories (pubs and self-published) for the 2022 Awards of the British Guild of Beer Writers. Awards are announced November 23.
Gary has judged for many years for World Drinks Awards in beer, gin, and vodka. While interested in all drinks, he focuses on beer, whiskies, and spirits, in general.
He was invited to judge as well in the newly-established Canada Beer Cup (was not able to attend, but hopefully next year).
Apart from the aforesaid Guild, Gary belongs to numerous professional bodies and associations including Canadian Brewerianist, Culinary Historians of Canada, and Rural Women’s Studies Association
Read more..Show less.. Paul Davies
Judge
United Kingdom
After travelling around Belgium's breweries and cafes for 30 years, Paul has recently set up his brewery tours company 'AleHunters.co.uk', specialising in taking thirsty enthusiasts from the UK to Belgium and beyond. He has built up a large network of
.. contacts with key people involved in Belgium's vibrant beer culture. Closer to home Paul takes visitors to London on tours of the city's pubs and also takes tours of the many craft breweries in Bermondsey. A certified Beer Sommelier and formerly a member of the Quality Team at Fuller's, Paul is also available to deliver tutored beer tastings and events, using his thorough knowledge of beer from grain to glass.Read more..Show less.. Daisy Turnell
Judge
United Kingdom
Daisy Turnell is a freelance beer marketing consultant, having worked in the hospitality and brewing industry for the past 20 years.
She currently advises breweries in the UK and beyond on all aspects of marketing and making real connections with
.. beer lovers, and runs the Craft Beer Newcastle website to share information about the craft beer scene in the North East of England.
Read more..Show less.. Tom Pears
Judge
United Kingdom
Tom Pears developed his love for beer whilst at University down in Kent. He has since worked in the beer industry for a number of years. Recently as a contributor to online publications such as Ferment and Euronews. He also
.. runs a dedicated beer Instagram account @tom_tappd.
Read more..Show less.. Justin Hutton
Judge
Australia
After moving from Australia in 2011, Justin quickly set about introducing craft beer into bars in London, first with Antic London then went to Laine Pub Group where is took over their largest London Brew Pub site. Now done
.. with the pub game he is Commercial Director for The Beer Collective and Two Tribes Brewing.
Read more..Show less.. Stephan Hilbrandt
Judge
Germany
Stephan Hilbrandt won the 5th World Championship of Beer Sommeliers in September 2017. He is a passionate home brewer since 2012 and a beer sommelier since 2015. Apart from judging in different international beer competitions he gives tastings, moderates beer-accompanied
.. menus or helps interested people to enter the world of home brewing.Read more..Show less.. Mike Burton
Judge
Canada
Mike is a Toronto local beer enthusiast, educator, and commentator. He is known well among the Ontario craft beer scene for his celebration of small businesses as well as candid social commentary on beer culture. He has been actively studying
.. at the Cicerone Certified Beer Server level for just over 4 years.Read more..Show less.. Tomy Fong
Judge
China
Tomy Fong is from Hong Kong, a renowned BJCP Certified Judge in Asia who endeavours to educate public about beer tasting culture. He is an experienced beer judge internationally, a columnist; author of the Chinese book “Into the Craft BeerWorld”
.. and Co-founder of the first-ever Tasting Trendies Beer Guide 2018 in HK. He provides his secret recipes for Craft MiMi Beer and serves as Local & Overseas Brewing Affairs Director of it. Besides, he is a wine consultant, International Kikisake-shi (sake sommelier) and certified Whisky Ambassador.
Read more..Show less.. Matt Bod
Judge
Canada
Matt is the brewer and beer program manager at Bar Hop & Bar Hop Brewco, two of Toronto, Ontario's busiest beer destinations. He's been involved in the Ontario craft beer community for over a decade, working collaboratively with Ontario brewers
.. to help create memorable experiences for the province's beer enthusiasts. His wide-ranging list of responsibilities includes beer and food pairing, staff education, overseeing strict draught system maintenance and menu selection along with brewing and barrel-aging house-brewed brands.Read more..Show less.. David Lee
Judge
Canada
By day, a picture editor and rights and clearances specialist, but at all other times, a food and drinks enthusiast. Currently a program committee member of the Terroir Symposium (http://www.terroirsymposium.com) and organizer of The Beer Social, a regular gathering of
.. beer industry professionals. Previously a judge for the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance Awards.Read more..Show less.. Torsten Spoerl
Judge
Germany
Torsten Spoerl, a Diplom Biersommelier certificated by Doemens Academy, member of the Austrian Diplom. Biersommelier Associate and Head of the Craft Beer Departement of the Internationale Brau-Manufacturen GmbH. He works for and with breweries for over 25 years. He
.. develops concepts and counsels distributors
and restaurateurs by their beer selections. For him beer is not merely a drink but rather a philosophy.
Read more..Show less.. Tobias Kullmann
Judge
Germany
Tobias has a background in beer sales and is a certified beer sommelier. He is based in Berlin but also worked in the industry as a buyer in Denmark. As a beer writer and photographer he has worked for
.. the German beer magazine Hopfenhelden and he is a regular judge at the World Beer Awards. You can follow his newest updates on instagram @tobekwankenobek
Read more..Show less.. Mareike Hasenbeck
Judge
Germany
Mareike Hasenbeck is a freelance journalist and one of the first craft beer bloggers in Germany with feinerhopfen.com. As a beer sommelier, sensory expert for beer and member of the Institute of Masters of Beer, she is an international beer
.. judge. She also won the bronze medal at the German Beer Sommelier Championship in November 2021, qualifying her for the World Championship that year.
Read more..Show less.. David Ort
Judge
Canada
David is a Toronto-based beer, food, and travel writer. He regularly contributes to Canadian publications and his first book, The Canadian Craft Beer Cookbook was published in 2013. Outside of beer and writing, his pursuits include perfecting his wood-fired pizza
.. recipe and chasing his Brittany spaniel, Berkeley, through the woods.Read more..Show less.. Roberto Fonseca
Judge
Brazil
Roberto Fonseca is a journalist writing about Brazilian beer since 2006. His work has been published in Paladar Section at O Estado de S. Paulo (one of Brazil's leading newspapers) and Menu magazine. He has also been judging in commercial
.. and homebrewing tournaments since 2007.Read more..Show less.. Douglas Merlo
Judge
Brazil
Douglas Merlo is trained as a Mixologist, Beer Sommelier by the Italian Beertaster Association and Doemens Akademie, BJCP Certified Judge. Professor at the Sommelier course at Doemens - School of Beer and Malt and Bräu Akademie, professor at SENAI in
.. brewing production. He also participates as judge of beer competitions in Brazil and abroad. Founder of the Expedição Cervejeira, company that makes brewing trips around the world.Read more..Show less.. Gustavo Renha
Judge
Brazil
Gustavo Renha is a beer sommelier formed by ABS-SP, in Beer Business Administration by FGV-SP, master in beer styles by Siebel and specialist in beer pairing by ICB-SP.
Consultant of bars and restaurants, he is also speaker of Rádio Globo, columnist
.. of gastronomy guides, manager of beer festivals, judge of national/international competitions and lecturer on the theme.
Read more..Show less.. José Raimundo Padilha
Judge
Brazil
José Padilha is a celebrated beer sommelier in Brazil, master of beer styles, international beer judge, beer educator, expert in beer pairings, founder of www.TheBeerPlanet.com.br and advertising copywriter with more than 30 years of experience on the communication industry. Luis Celso Jr
Judge
Brazil
Luís Celso Jr is a journalist, sommelier and beer consultant. He is the founder of BarDoCelso.com, one of the oldest beer blogs in Brazil, founded in 2006. He also writes for Gazeta do Povo newspaper and has a program on
.. radio CBN Curitiba. He is a professor at the Instituto da Cerveja Brasil and provides consulting services for bars, restaurants and other companies in the Brazilian beer market.Read more..Show less.. Natalya Watson
Judge
United Kingdom
Natalya Watson is a Beer Sommelier and Advanced Cicerone® passionate about sharing her knowledge of beer with others. She regularly teaches at the Beer & Cider Academy, judges at beer competitions, and produces and hosts the podcast Beer with Nat.
.. Her debut book, Beer: Taste the Evolution in 50 Styles was published by Kyle Books in March 2020.Read more..Show less.. Cheryl Cade
Judge
United Kingdom
Cheryl is a Beer Sommelier, a member of the British Guild Of Beer Writers and oversees the World Beer Bar for Norwich Beer Festival. She is a qualified trainer for CAMRA and the Academy of Cheese delivering a range of
.. their courses.
As well as being a highly experienced judge across a range of competitions, Cheryl runs award-winning food and drink tours around Belgium and East Anglia.
Read more..Show less.. Daniel Wolff
Judge
Brazil
Daniel Wolff is a well-known Brazilian beer sommelier, international beer judge, founder and CEO of Mestre-Cervejeiro.com – a chain with more than 60 craft beer stores across Brazil. In 2016, Daniel was “enthroned” honourable knight of the Belgian Knighthood of
.. the Brewers’ Paddle and he received the Beer Personality of the Year Award in Brazil in 2018.Read more..Show less.. Kenneth Ho
Judge
Hong Kong
Kenneth is the co-founder of beer community "Hong Kong Beer Geeks" and board member of "Hong Kong Craft Beer Association", an active member aiming to connect the beer industry with beer drinkers. Dedicated to spreading the craft beer culture, Kenneth
.. has been teaching beer courses, from appreciation, food pairing to Homebrewing. He is also a certified BJCP Judge and co-owner of a local bottleshop "Cave the Beer Point". With his spoiled palate in experience with thousands of good beers, he loves judging which helps connecting all beer lovers around the world.Read more..Show less.. Emma Victory
Judge
United Kingdom
Emma Victory is an award winning homebrewer and co-founder of Junction Brew Club, established in 2015 (which meets at Battersea Brewery). She has been judging homebrew and commercial beer competitions since 2015 and is a BJCP Certified Beer Judge. As
.. a professional scientist Emma particularly enjoys the technical aspects of brewing and the science of flavour. She writes about beer and brewing on her blog (Crema’s Beer Odyssey) and is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. She may be found serving beer at The Hop Locker and the Kernel taproom.
Read more..Show less.. Fabrizio Decastelli
Judge
Italy
Born and raised in Piedmont, the land of wines, Fabrizio Decastelli denies his roots and fall in love with beers at 16. Since then, he has never stopped studying, traveling and, of course, tasting. Between a sip and another, he
.. got some certifications as Certified Beer Server, Doemens Biersommelier, O.n.a.b. taster and so on, and now is studying for the BJCP exam and for the Certified Cicerone one. On August 2019 he volunteered at Bruxelles beer festival and on September he attended in Biersomelier World Championship with the Italian national team.
Over the years he has organized some tasting sessions and events on beer & cider in his small town, trying as much as possible to make as many people fall in love with beer and his history. His official job is account administrative office for a beer distributor, but his real mission is to fill each glass of his city, with a good beer.
Read more..Show less.. Mario De Luca
Judge
Spain
Mario Medina De Luca (aka Treque) is a mexican engineer living in Barcelona with a gastronomic tourism master degree focused on didactic and beer tourism, master in beer styles by Siebel, Beer Sommelier by Doemens-Siebel, certified BJCP judge and Cicerone
.. CBS. 10 years experience Beer entrepreneur and former "youtubeer". Member of The Guild of Beer Sommeliers & Asociación Española de Beer Sommeliers y Catadores de Cerveza.Read more..Show less.. Nicci Peet
Judge
United Kingdom
Nicci is a freelance photographer based in Bristol. Her works looks at issues within the beer industry, primarily diversity and equality. She has worked for national and international publications and breweries. Matt Curtis
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Matthew is a freelance beer writer, photographer and co-founder of Pellicle Magazine. His work has been published by Ferment, Original Gravity, BEER and Good Beer Hunting among others, and he has been awarded for his work by both the British
.. and North American Guild of Beer Writers. He lives in North London with his partner Dianne and his cat Cricket.
Read more..Show less.. Will Hawkes
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Will Hawkes is an award-winning journalist based in London. He writes regularly about beer and travel for publications including Financial Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post and The Melbourne Age. He was named British Beer Writer of the Year in
.. 2013. He is married with three children and lives in south London.Read more..Show less.. Richard Yarnell
Judge
United Kingdom
Richard Yarnell has worked for Mitchells & Butlers for over a decade, helping to guide beer and cider category strategy across all of Mitchells & Butlers retail brands. He qualified as a Beer Sommelier in 2014 and has twice
.. judged at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, making his judging debut at the World Beer Cup in Nashville in 2018.Read more..Show less.. Anthony Gladman
Judge
United Kingdom
Anthony Gladman is an award winning drinks writer from London. He writes about beer, cider and spirits, crafting memorable stories which reveal how drinks can connect us to a particular place, time or person. He is a qualified Beer Sommelier
.. and international competition judge. He has WSET L2 Spirits and is training to become a Cider Pommelier.
Read more..Show less.. Robin LeBlanc
Judge
Canada
Robin LeBlanc is a beer columnist, owner of the award-winning craft beer site The Thirsty Wench, author of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide, and co-host of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide The Podcast. She has appeared on TV, radio, and
.. newspapers preaching the gospel of good beer. She lives in Toronto.Read more..Show less.. Jerry Barlett
Judge
United Kingdom
Jerry is a freelance writer, editor, and author. He co-authored "30-Second Beer", published in March 2019 with five of the UK's best-known beer writers. Awarded for his blog at maltjerry.com by the British Guild of Beer Writers, Jerry writes about
.. beer, food, and whisky.Read more..Show less.. Jeff Evans
Judge
United Kingdom
Jeff has been writing professionally about beer for more than 30 years, with books including the Good Bottled Beer Guide and So You Want to Be a Beer Expert?, as well as eight years as Editor of CAMRA's national Good
.. Beer Guide.
Read more..Show less.. Cyril Hubert
Judge
Switzerland
Christian Leibig
Judge
Germany
Christian is the sales manager for Müllerbräu. He has been a beer sommelier since 2011 and hasalready been a judge at the World Beer Award, Meininger Beer Award and Selection. Diego Pompele
Judge
Italy
Diego is an importer and supplier of beers. He received his beer somelier diploma in 2004 at theDoemens Akadiemie in Germany. Over the years he has judged at a number of national and international competitions.
Stuart Howe
Judge
United Kingdom
Stuart has 25 years’ brewing experience and has degrees in Brewing and Distilling and Quality Management. His beers have won World's Best Lager, World's Best Pale Ale, World's Best Abbey Ale and World's Best Spiced Beer along with many other
.. international awards. Stuart is a professionally trained sensory panel leader and analyst and has judged the World Beer Awards for the last 14 years. He is currently Technical Development Manager for the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and is responsible for the institute’s educational material on technical brewing and sensory analysis.Read more..Show less.. Markus Raupach
Germany Chair of Judges
Germany
Markus Raupach began working as a photographer, journalist and media professional for breweries, hotels and restaurants soon after founding his media agency in 1998. His career in the drinks and hospitality industry lead him to becoming a judge for multiple
.. beer compeitions around the world.
Since 2005, he has published over 50 books, including brewery guides for Franconia, Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia and Berlin, as well as the chronicle of the German Brewers' Association for its 150th anniversary in 2021.
He received multiple industry awards and honours such as the Golden Beer Idea 2015 after founding the German Beer Academy, made an honorary knight in the Brotherhood of Belgian Brewers and was named one of the 50 most important beer personalities by representatives in the German beer industry. He has also been lecturing at the Genussakademie Bayern since 2018.
Read more..Show less.. Katrien Bruyland
Judge
Belgium
Malin Norman
Judge
United Kingdom
Malin Norman is a Certified Cicerone®, a certified beer sommelier, and an international beer judge.
She is a freelance writer and editor, a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers as well as the North American Guild of Beer
.. Writers.Read more..Show less.. Paulo Schiaveto
Judge
Brazil
Paulo is a Brewmaster with 25 years experience, Brewing consultant and co-owner of NKA-Schiaveto Ltd, a Brewery Equipment and Engineering Company. He is also a professor at ESCM (Escola Superior de Cerveja e Malte)
Joan Villar-I-Marti (aka 'Birraire')
Table Captain
Spain
Joan Villar-i-Martí (aka 'Birraire') is a Catalan beer writer, consultant and judge. He writes mainly in specialised media, is the author of Birraire's Newsletter on Substack, co-author of Guía de Cerveses de Catalunya (2013) and part of the Barcelona Beer
.. Festival crew.Read more..Show less.. Christoph Flaskamp
Chile Chair of Judges
Chile
Founder and Director of Tübinger Craft Beer in Chile since 2007. University Speaker and Professor for courses on Brewing and Beer History, Culture and Market.
Organiser of Beer Culture Trips around the world. International Beer Judge since 2014, having judged at
.. World Beer Cup (US), European Beer Star (Germany), Brussels Beer Challenge, Brazil Beer Festival, Copa Cervezas de América (Chile), South Beer Cup (Brazil and Argentina),
Uruguay Beer Cup and others.
Executive Director of ACI, Chile's Craft Brewers Association since 2019.
Author of the Book, Cerveza: Cultura y Placer Milenario (2021).
Read more..Show less.. Joyce Oliveira
Judge
Brazil
Sensory Trainer in Beverages: Beer, Wine, Coffee and Spirits at FlavorActiV Limited. Owner of Gastrobar Música no Palato in São Paulo. Co-founder of the Gastronomic Education and Culture Project Saberes da Gula. Teacher at the Superior School of Beer and
.. Malte in the course Beer Sommelier/Doemens. In his educational background: Post-graduation in Administration and Organization of Events and Educational Design, bachelors in Business Administration, Gastronomic. Wine Sommelière, Senac SP and WSET and Beer Sommelière/Doemens. She has been working for more 20 years in the area of Food and Beverage education.Read more..Show less.. Reinhold Alles
Judge
Germany
Reinhold is a certified Doemens beer sommelier working at the Elbphilharmonie and member of Germany's leading craft beer podcast "Männerabend" Kai Zakrzewski
Judge
Germany
Three years ago, I decided to move to Berlin from Dortmund and I applied as a beer server at Stone Brewing Berlin (now Brewdog). At this time, I also made my Cicerone Certified Beer Server and I succeeded in the
.. tasting part of the Certified Cicerone. My goal was to connect my academical background as a biologist with my interest in brewing and so I got my own brewing equipment and began to brew (I already brewed beer at Stone Brewing). The creation of new recipes is something beautiful and it makes me real fun to be creative and inventive. As I was deep into trying out new beers, I also started at a craft beer bar called the Muted Horn in Berlin, which is one of the best beer bars in the world. Until now I've tried over thousands of different beers.
Read more..Show less.. Kate Hempsall
Judge
United Kingdom
Kate has over 20 years’ experience working in PR & Communications within the hospitality industry. She has championed and promoted many beer brands, focusing on all stages of the brewing process from ingredients to perfect serve. A member of
.. the British Guild of Beer Writers, Kate works extensively with clients across the beer and pub industry through her work as a PR and Communications consultant and contributes to a range of beer tasting and judging events.
Read more..Show less.. Daniel Stenglein
Judge
Germany
Daniel Stenglein is a passionate beer enthusiast grown up in Bamberg. As homebrewer and administrator of the biggest homebrewer facebook group of Germany ('hobbybrauer') he is always active on several levels in the beer scene.
Besides his main job as
.. engineer he is a freelance seminar leader for brewing courses and sensory tastings.Read more..Show less.. Meinhard Wicht
Judge
Germany
Meinhard Wicht has been working with beer and in the beer industry for many years.
For him beer is not a job, but a passion. He started his professional career at the VLB Berlin studying brew technology, continued as a salesman
.. for different beer brew companies and completed his passion by graduating as Diplom Biersommelier at Doemens. 2011 he started his own business „ProBierKult“ and is hosting beer tastings and consulting business partners.
Read more..Show less.. Tim Hampson
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Hampson is an award-wining journalist and broadcaster. He is author of many books including the Haynes Whisky Manual. Emma Inch
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Emma Inch is a former British Beer Writer of the Year. She's a writer and audio creator based in Brighton on the south coast of England. Emma writes about beer for the the national and international beer press and is
.. the producer and presenter of the award-winning podcast, Fermentation Beer & Brewing Radio. Emma gained her General Certificate in Brewing from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in 2015. She is a prize-winning home-brewer and has also brewed one-off collaborations with commercial breweries. She is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.Read more..Show less.. Mariano Balbarrey
Judge
Argentina
Mariano Balbarrey is a crazily young Industrial Engineer. With only 26 years of age, he has graduated from the Master Brewer Program at UC Davis, California, he is a BJCP Judge and Grader, and he has worked in some big
.. breweries in Argentina, and also as a brewer in Ireland.
Mariano has been home-brewing since he was 15 years old, and he has travelled all over the world seeking to understand the beer history and culture in every single town he visits.
Mariano works as a beer consultant and beer professor, and he is currently working on a new project in South America, which he says is going to make a big change.
Read more..Show less.. Jonny Tyson
Judge
United Kingdom
Jonny Tyson, AKA The Beer Wrangler, is a Beer Educator and beer sommelier with a hospitality industry background.
Having run specialist beer and wine stores and a craft beer bar and restaurant in Vancouver, Canada, Jonny returned to the UK
.. to become a full time beer educator, developing the BPET (Beer Professional Education & Training) program. He now teaches at and co-owns The South London Wine School, where beer is given the same love and respect as wine!
Jonny was the first Advanced Cicerone in Europe and develops training, hosts beer events and writes about beer. Jonny co-founded and runs the Guild of Beer Sommeliers - highlighting the importance of trained beer professionals in the wider industry. Jonny is also a sommelier and WSET wine educator and uses his experience to showcase beer at a fine-dining table alongside wine.
Read more..Show less.. Marco Gonçalves
Judge
Brazil
Beer Sommelier; Senac Doemens Akademie
Docente substituto e convidado do Senac Penha
Sócio e Sommelier na Roots Art Burger Craft Beer
Ministra workshops, degustações e harmonizações
Peter Alexander
Judge
United Kingdom
Peter is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and Chairman for over 20 years, of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA. He edits the branch magazine More Beer and has written about beer for several trade publications. He
.. has judged beer for CAMRA, SIBA and the International Beer Challenge. Since 2007, Peter has also written the popular Tandleman’s Beer Blog.Read more..Show less.. Kim Lentjes
Judge
Netherlands
Kim has been working in the wonderful world of beer for a little over 9 years now. It started as something part-time, doing beer tastings, writing about beer and doing staff trainings, besides being a high school history teacher. She
.. became an international beer sommelier (for both Siebel/Doemens and the Institute for brewing and Distilling) and now she is working in beer fulltime. She runs the Dutch Beer Academy, which she founded 9 years ago, but she also has the pleasure now to work for a small, exclusively on wild fermentation focused, brewery in the Netherlands called Nevel (www.nevel.org) as their sales/export manager. She travels for beer every chance she gets, to judge at competitions, go to festivals, promote Nevel and to meet fellow beer enthusiasts.Read more..Show less.. Thomas Vogel
Judge
Germany
Thomas Vogel, founder and CEO of the »Das Bier!« Brausysteme GmbH since 2003, has developed the brands „Dein Bier selbstgebraut“, „Braukoenig“ and „One2Clean“ and their products. (www.das-bier.com) He also has established a platform for selling and distributing craft beer (www.bier-spezialitaeten.de).
..
Since 2010 he maintains the „Grafschafter Brauschule“ (www.brauschule.de)
Since 2007 he is certified Beer Sommelier and has been the first Beer Sommelier in North Germany, During 2008 and 2012 he was member of the managing board of the International Association of Certified Beer Sommeliers.
For 14 years now, he took part in more than 28 national, European and international beer competitions as a Judge as well as a Table Captain.
He is co-author of the well-known and official „Beer Color Chart“ (www.bierfarbkarte.eu), which is used as the official reference in several European and international beer competitions in the meanwhile.Read more..Show less.. Frank Christian
Judge
Germany
Frank Christian is a PhD biochemist by training and an avid homebrewer, with a passion for researching beer styles and developing recipes. He is the first National rank BJCP-certified beer judge in Germany.
Frank got into brewing his own beer in
.. 2012 while living in Glasgow, Scotland, and went on to win multiple awards with his beers (e.g. overall winner of the IBD Scottish homebrew competition 2013). He now lives and brews in Aachen, Germany, is the co-founder and organiser of the monthly homebrew meetup of Aachener Hobbybrauer as well as an active member of Kölner Bierhistoriker e.V. homebrew clubs. He also organises and runs BJCP exams, off-flavour trainings and homebrewing workshops.
Read more..Show less.. Katie Mather
Judge
United Kingdom
Katie Mather (formerly Taylor) is an award-winning food and drink writer from the Ribble Valley in Lancashire. She writes for Ferment Magazine, Original Gravity and Pellicle and is LancsLive's restaurant critic. Fergal Murray
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Fergal Murray's career as the Guinness Master Brewer has been extraordinary. It has taken him across the globe and secured his reputation as a leader in the brewing industry. His contribution had a significant impact on the growth of the
.. Guinness brand across multiple platforms. There is no real comparison in the world of brewing to the experience of learning the science, art, and craft of brewing, which has been handed down over the generations, at St James's Gate Brewery. Fergal, as a custodian of the immense brewing knowledge and craft, brought these skills to his role as Guinness Global Brand Ambassador to drive growth in the Guinness brand.Read more..Show less.. Steve Chroscicki
Judge
United Kingdom
Steve Chroscicki was born in London, and has spent more than 20 years in the brewing industry.
Working both for others as head Brewer, and for more than ten years successfully ran his own brewery. Whilst in that role Steve
.. became Regional Director for SIBA ( Society of Independent Brewers). He has judged numerous times for SIBA and at local and regional arenas.
Steve is currently acting as Head Brewer for The City Pub Group”
Read more..Show less.. Artur Napiórkowski
Judge
Poland
"Artur Napiórkowski - one of the most experienced beer judges in Poland, certified by Polish Homebrewers Association and BJCP. He writes to Piwowar Magazine and as a freelancer works mainly for Maryensztadt Brewery and Bevie LTD. He is also a
.. co-owner of newly founded creative agency focused on craft breweries - thirst.pl"Read more..Show less.. Jessica Malteza
Judge
Mexico
FOUNDER AND HEAD BREWER OF MALTEZA BREWERY, BEER SOMMELIÈRE, INTERNATIONAL BEER AND MEAD JUDGE, BEER SEEVER. SHE HAS GIVEN LECTURES, CONSULTANCIES AND CRAFT BEER COURSES. SHE HAS JUDGED SINCE 2014 IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BEER COMPETITIONS (USA, MEXICO, SOUTHAMERICA,
.. JAPAN). FOUNDER AND COORDINATOR OF 'ADELITAS' THE FIRST FEMALE GROUP FOR MEXICAN WOMEN IN BEER INDUSTRY. SHE HAS WON THE MEXICAN AWARD FOR FEMALE BREWER 2019.Read more..Show less.. Andreas Fält
Judge
United Kingdom
Andreas Fält has been working in the beer industry since 2000. He was importing beers in Sweden from 2000 to 2006, then from 2006 to present he is been living in the UK promoting beer across the globe. Over the
.. last 19 years he has hosted numerous beer tastings, beer & food dinners and master classes. He has several times been a speaker at the CBC (USA), the Great American Beer Festival, Brussels Beer Challenge 2012 and Russian Brew World 2017. He is also a judge in competitions like the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, Great British Beer Festival, Mondial de la Biere (Canada), European Beer Star, Brussels Beer Challenge, Dutch Beer Challenge, Brazilian Beer Contest, King of Brews (Russia), Copa Cervezas de America (Chile), Kraft Ruko (Poland) and many more. In 2013 he was made an honorary knight of the Knighthood of the Brewers Paddle in Belgium.Read more..Show less.. Brad Kraus
Judge
Panama
Brad Kraus is a professional brewer of 30 years experience and is currently master brewer for Cerveceria La Rana Dorada in Panama.
He is a brewery consultant for 25 years, and worked on projects in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Chile,
.. Ecuador, and Peru. Brad first judged the Great American Beer Festival in 1992 and has 25 years on the Professional Panel. He also judged the World Beer Cup, the International Beer Cup, Yokohama, Japan, the Copa Cervezas de las Americas, Santiago, Chile, the Ibeerian Awards, Aveiro, Portugal, the KPR Kraft Roku, Poznan, Poland, Concurso Brasileiro de Cervejas, Blumenau, Brazil, and Copa Quetzal, Guatemala. He won six Great American Beer Festival medals, and over 100 medals in regional, national and international competition.
Read more..Show less.. Eleanor Walsh
Judge
United Kingdom
Ellie Walsh is currently training with the Institute of Brewing and Distilling for her Beer Sommelier qualification & is on the road to Certified Cicerone. She has worked across a variety of roles within the industry, including General Manager and
.. Sales Account Management. You can follow her beer related/induced ramblings @ellie_beoir.
Read more..Show less.. Patricia Diniz Fischer
Judge
Germany
Patrícia Diniz Fischer, graduated as a Master in Chemical Engineering at the Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal. Joined the VLB in 2010 to lead the Project Laboratory of the department for Brewing and Beverage Science and Applications, responsible for quality
.. control analysis for research purposes. After adding more and more sensory related questions, she took over the leadership of the Sensory Team of the VLB, centralizing all the sensory related work and the teaching activities at the institute.
Sensory expert for Beer and Beer-mix beverages, certified by the DLG (German Agricultural Society) e.V.. Participated as a beer judge in international competitions, including the „VII Brazilian Beer Contest”, organized by Science of Beer Institute in Brasil, “World Beer Awards 2019“ in Germany and “Concurso Internacional de Cervezas Artesanas (CICA) 2021” in Spain.Read more..Show less.. Stephen Beaumont
Chair of Judges Canada
Canada
Stephen Beaumont has been covering beer internationally for over thirty years from his base in Toronto, Canada. He has authored and co-authored 15 works, including three editions of The World Atlas of Beer and three editions of The Pocket Beer
.. Book, both with Tim Webb, as well as his own Beer & Food Companion.
He contributes regularly to a number of publications in Canada, the United States and Great Britain, and travels widely researching beer breweries around the world, judging in international competitions and speaking about beer to audiences both small and large.
Read more..Show less.. Jesse Vallins
Judge
Canada
Scarborough native Jesse Vallins is the executive chef at Barberian’s Steak House in Toronto and has spent over 25 years cooking in some of the city’s best restaurants. Not just a chef, but also a lifetime student of the beverage
.. world, Jesse is an Advanced Cicerone, a BJCP certified beer and mead judge, and a certified sommelier.
When he’s not working at the restaurant or dorking out on drinks, Jesse teaches and develops curriculum at Toronto’s George Brown College and contributes content to Food & Drink Magazine.Read more..Show less.. Rene Aduan Junior
Brazil Chair of Judges
Brazil
Educated in beer, enology and gastronomy, Rene Adaun Jr began his education in 2000, studying the culinary arts before achieving a masters in pairing wine and food.
He has acted as a sommelier and a beer and gastronomy consultant for
.. more than 20 years as well as a judge for several international beer competitions such as World Beer Cup, World Beer Awards and the South American Beer Cup.
Rene is also a Biologist, holds an MSc in Biotechnology and works on molecular system diagnoses for the quality sector of the food and beverage industry. Since 2012 he has taught sensorial analysis, beer technology and pairing at Doemens Brazil and ESCM.
Read more..Show less.. Frances Brace
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Consultant with extensive experience in the pub, beer and ingredient industries. Her company, Red Flame Communications, specialises in these vibrant sectors.
Director of the British Guild of Beer Writers; first head of communications for Greene King; only female director of
.. Cask Marque in its 20 years; beer judge; intricately involved with Cask Ale Week, Cask Report, City of Ale. Has played a key role in helping save historic village pubs. Creator of brewery visitor centre and numerous events to position beer as natural, flavoursome, exciting – and relevant.
A marketing and PR strategist with a love of beer and creator of beer stories through words, pictures, presentations and experiences.
Read more..Show less.. Lily Waite
Judge
United Kingdom
Lily Waite is a beer writer, blogger, and member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. She is the Head of Content for We Are Beer and contributes to Good Beer Hunting, and writes the blog Craft Queer. Lauren Richard
Judge
Canada
Lauren Richard is an Advanced Cicerone® and Certified BJCP judge. She curates beer programs, provides staff education, conducts food pairing events and beer dinners, as well as works with festivals to elevate the on and off-site drinking experience. Lauren is
.. also a proficient vocalist and voice actor, singing in a country western band and lending her voice to children's animation and videogames around the world.
Read more..Show less.. Cherry Constable
Judge
United Kingdom
Cherry Constable is an independent drinks writer, specialising in wine and spirits. She actively engages with consumers on social media, promoting new product launches and sharing her enthusiasm. She writes regular product reviews focusing on the stories behind the brands
.. and contributes to numerous external publications. Cherry hosts a range of talks and masterclasses for both wine and spirits. She holds a Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma and is a Plumpton College alumna. Cherry judges wine and spirits for multiple international competitions.Read more..Show less.. Aaron Knoll
Judge
United States
Aaron Knoll is a gin author and historian. His book GIN: The Art and Craft of the Artisan Revival was named one of the "Best Drinks Books of 2015" by The Guardian and has since been translated into four languages.
.. His work has also appeared in Artisan Spirit Magazine, on The GIN is IN.com and in the forthcoming Gin Magazine from Paragraph Publishing.Read more..Show less.. Bernadette Pamplin
Judge
United Kingdom
After working in a gin bar, I began writing www.undertheginfluence.com back in April 2015. I fell deeply in love with gin, particularly its history and the stories associated with each bottle, although I quickly developed and interest in the incredible
.. complexities of botanicals, distilling processes and serves. Having worked previously as a Brand Ambassador, I still take great pleasure in writing Under the Ginfluence, and regularly for Gin Magazine, Gin and Rum Festival and soon the Craft Distilling Expo. I love judging too. Judging Gin of the Year, the World Gin Awards, Spirits Business Masters, American Distilling Institutes Judging of Craft Spirits 19 in San Francisco and most recently IWSC. I thrive on what is a constantly evolving and very friendly industry. There is always something new to learn, and gin to enjoy.Read more..Show less.. Clayton Hartley
Judge
United Kingdom
Clayton Hartley runs The Candlelight Club, a pop-up Prohibition-themed speakeasy club, and has a drinks blog, The Institute for Alcoholic Experimentation. Keli Rivers
Judge
United States
It would be humble to say that Keli Rivers has been very lucky in her career- working at San Francisco's Whitechapel as their ginnoisseur- featuring the largest gin selection in the Americas, but honestly she has worked her butt off
.. to get to where she is. With 26 years under her belt in the hospitality industry all over the world, including Germany, Japan, Hong Kong. She spends her time spreading the gospel of juniper driven beverages with a perfectly crafted gibson in hand. One might call Keli's fascination with the botanically guided an unhealthy fixation, however in the words of the infamous icon- John Waters, "Without obsession, life is nothing" "Read more..Show less.. Natasha Bahrami
Judge
United States
Natasha Bahrami is the owner of The Gin Room, a gin centric bar in Saint Louis, MO. She is dedicated to teaching and creating robust education platforms through The Gin World, a company created to help elevate the category of
.. gin in cities domestically and abroad.Read more..Show less.. Sarah Miller
Judge
United Kingdom
Acclaimed as one of the UK's top gin bloggers, Sarah Miller is the founder of Gin A Ding Ding which launched in 2016. Having joined the panels for Craft Distilling Expo’s Gin of the Year, The Gin Guide Awards and
.. the International Wine and Spirit Competition, in addition to the World Gin Awards, Sarah is an experienced and enthusiastic spirits judge. Sarah also hosts the popular social media challenge #GinADayMay, which aims to promote the gin industry and unite the gin community, and writes for The Gin Magazine.
Read more..Show less.. Mark Gander
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark has worked in drinks media for three years and successfully project managed Think Gin before moving to Imbibe, where he sources gin brands from all over the world to showcase to the UK trade at Imbibe Live. Johnssen Li
Judge
Philippines
Johnssen Li is a second generation wines & spirits importer & distributor in Philippines. His father, the late Carlos Li, was a well-respected veteran in the spirits industry before opening Soler Wine Merchant in 1973. Johnssen is the second of
.. the three siblings who inherited & expanded the family owned business. Whisky has always been his spirits of choice since his college days, and so it was no surprise at all that he caught the single malt bug too when the trend towards single malt started surfacing in the late 1990s. Johnssen is one of the few genuine whisky guy in the country who is not only an experienced taster but also well informed & trained, well-read, and well traveled. As part of Grand Cru Wine & Spirits, Johnssen initiated the staging of the annual Whisky Live Manila in 2016, putting the Philippines into the international whisky hub.Read more..Show less.. Christopher Coates
Judge
United Kingdom
Possessing a long-standing passion for whisky, Christopher Coates has been working for Paragraph Ltd, publisher of Whisky Magazine, since 2013 and in 2016 was appointed as Scotch editor. He is also managing editor of the travel and history publication Scotland
.. Magazine, and a publishing manager on the Paragraph leadership team.Read more..Show less.. Gavin D Smith
Judge
United Kingdom
The author and co-author of nearly 30 whisky-related titles, Gavin contributes to many specialist publications around the world and is Contributing Editor Scotland for Whisky Magazine and a Keeper of the Quaich. He has been a full-time writer for more
.. than 20 years and currently lives in the Scottish Borders. His most recent publication is as co-author of The World of Whisky (2019).Read more..Show less.. Jazz Jia
Judge
China
Jazz Jia is a publisher of Whisky Magazine China. He also obtained his “Keeper of The Quaich” in 2017. He has run an international trade company that imports high quality spirits especially whisky to Chinese over 10 years. Meanwhile, he
.. owns an on-line whisky trading platform called “YiKou” which is very popular in China.Read more..Show less.. Rupert Wheeler
Judge
United Kingdom
Rupert was managing editor of Whisky Magazine from 2014-2017. He has now moved to Orkney where he works part time as a tour guide and running tasting events at Highland Park Distillery. He also continues to run a small publishing
.. company specialising in drink related books.Read more..Show less.. Steve Bashore
Judge
United States
Steve Bashore is the Director of Historic Trades at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and is a traditional miller and distiller. He oversees a staff of historic interpreters that tell the story of George Washington’s farming and entrepreneurial endeavours.
.. Steve comes to spirits through grain milling, having run traditional water powered mills for 26 years. Steve manages Washington’s Farm, Blacksmith Shop, Distillery and Gristmill. In the water powered Gristmill grain is ground into products for sale and use in restaurants. All the grain for whiskey production is also ground in the mill. At the Distillery spirits are made using 18th century methods, to include running five wood fired pot stills. The spirits Steve produces with his staff include: rye whiskey, single malt whisky, rum, bourbon, apple brandy and peach brandy.Read more..Show less.. Franchi Ferla
Judges
United Kingdom
Simon and Franchi’s love of whisky started in a basement bar in London over 18 years ago, not long after they co-founded Simply Whisky, their whisky tasting events and media business. The ensuing years have seen Simply Whisky travel the
.. globe, focusing on the pure enjoyment of whisk(e)y, its history and lore, all the while extolling the virtues to mind, body and soul that we all know it endows. Hosting tasting events for royalty, politicians, rock stars, movie stars, sport stars and the Basildon Whisky Club to name but a few, their mission remains to convert people to whisky one pair of lips at a time!Read more..Show less.. Robin Laing
Judge
United Kingdom
Robin Laing is a whisky writer/musician/entertainer (5 whisky books; 5 whisky CDs). He is also a tasting panel chair and note writer for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. www.robinlaing.com Mark Bylok
Judge
Canada
Mark Bylok is a whisky author (The Whisky Cabinet), podcaster (The Whisky Topic), publisher of whisky.buzz, and speaker on the topic of all things whisky. His first book, published in 2013, became a best seller on Amazon and the podcast
.. is a top whisky podcast in the world. Mark loves to geek out about whisky, and has succeeded in bringing in the geeky details of the whisky world in a more approachable manner. In his personal life, Mark is happily married to his wife Nicole, with twin toddler girls, and twin collie dogs.Read more..Show less.. Chris Goodrum
Judge
United Kingdom
I started at wine and spirits retailer Gauntleys of Nottingham in 2000. Since then I have grown our spirits selection into a unique and eclectic collection. Since 2007 I have been a judge for the Independent Bottlers Challenge and the
.. World Whisky/ Drinks Awards since 2012. I also have a weekly YouTube channel called the Good Dram Show.Read more..Show less.. George Keeble
Judge
After several years running Soho Whisky Club in London, George made the switch into whisky production in 2018 and currently works as a distiller at New World Whisky Distillery in Melbourne, Australia. He also runs a whisky cask brokering business. Nicola Young
Judge
One half of WhiskyBoys.com and ambassador for SMWS my passion for Whisky comes from my Dad. Based just outside Glasgow, as a whisky duo we are involved in various Whisky tastings, festivals, writings and reviews. We tirelessly spread
.. love and knowledge of our national drink to anyone and everyone who'll listen.Read more..Show less.. Tom Morton
Judge
United Kingdom
Tom Morton has been writing, talking and occasionally singing about whisky for 30 years, since the publication of his seminal whisky travelogue (later a radio and TV series) Spirit of Adventure. He has since published the acclaimed 'single malt thriller'
.. A Whisky in Monsterville and co-authored (with Rob Allanson and Ken Hamilton) the 'ultimate blending pilgrimage' book Journey's Blend. He contributes to whisky publications around the world. Recently published to widespread acclaim is the best-selling ‘Shetland - Cooking on the Edge of the World’ written with Tom’s son James.Read more..Show less.. Anne-Sophie Bigot
Judge
France
Anne-Sophie, better known as The Whisky Lady, is a whisky influencer (blogger, consultant & writer). She also runs her own specialist whisky bar in Toulouse (France), The Hopscotch Pub & Brewery. Costas Sariyiannis
Judge
Cyprus
Costas works for the Cyprus Police and is placed at the European Union and International Police Cooperation Directorate.
He is the co-founder and co-president of The Cyprus Whisky Association established in 2014 and a whisky connoisseur, enthusiast and
.. collector since 1998. He has held and participated in hundreds of whisky tasting events around the world.
Read more..Show less.. Charles MacLean
Judge
United Kingdom
Charles MacLean has been writing about Scotch whisky for thirty-six years, and has published seventeen books on the subject. He was described by The Times as “Scotland’s leading whisky expert” in 2014 – which he denies, but hey…
He sits on
.. several judging panels, including that of the International Wine & Spirits Competition, has chaired the nosing panel of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society since 1992, and advises many whisky companies on cask selection and flavour profiling.
He was the founding editor of Whisky Magazine and foreign editor of Whisky (Russia); writes regularly for several international magazines and websites and is a frequent commentator on TV and radio. He was chief presenter of the TV channel www.singlemalt.tv and starred in Ken Loach’s film The Angels Share, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012.
In 2009 he was elected Master of the Quaich, in 2012 won the I.W.S.C.’s ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ and in 2016 was inducted into the Whisky Hall of Fame.
Read more..Show less.. Rob Allanson
Chair of Judges
United Kingdom
Donna & David Wolff
Judges
Canada
Donna and David Wolff opened The Caledonian Whisky Bar in Toronto in 2010.Donna hails from Huntly Aberdeenshire and Davis from Toronto. The Caledonian boast about over 350 Single Malts and hosts numerous Tasting events.Both have been judges for The Workd
.. Whisky Awards for the past 3 years.Read more..Show less.. Jason Hambrey
Judge
Canada
Jason Hambrey has been reviewing whisky for his blog In Search of Elegance since 2013. He has been a judge of multiple international spirits competitions and has contributed to publications such as American Whiskey Magazine. In addition to whisky, Jason
.. has a penchant for cocktails and frequently leads small-scale spirits tastings in Ottawa.Read more..Show less.. Tomer Goren
Judge
Israel
Tomer Goren has a distilling experience of more than 14 years and is the Head Distiller of The Milk & Honey Distillery in Israel since its establishment in 2014. He also runs Whisky Live in Israel and holds many
.. lectures and masterclasses about whisky, among consulting to bars and restaurants, and judging in whisky competitions. Tomer also owns and runs an independent-bottling company.
Read more..Show less.. Simon Roser
Judge
United Kingdom
Simon and Franchi’s love of whisky started in a basement bar in London over 18 years ago, not long after they co-founded Simply Whisky, their whisky tasting events and media business. The ensuing years have seen Simply Whisky travel the
.. globe, focusing on the pure enjoyment of whisk(e)y, its history and lore, all the while extolling the virtues to mind, body and soul that we all know it endows. Hosting tasting events for royalty, politicians, rock stars, movie stars, sport stars and the Basildon Whisky Club to name but a few, their mission remains to convert people to whisky one pair of lips at a time!Read more..Show less.. Jaroslaw Buss
Judge
Poland
Jaroslaw owns Tudor House Ltd, a company that started importing and distributing whisky in 2004. He has been writing about whisky since and organizes presentations, tasting for on, off trade as well as for private clients.
He has one of the
.. biggest Facebook groups of 22k whisky lovers and has been organizing Whisky Live Warsaw since 2015. He travels around the world, visiting distilleries to be up to date with all current happenings in the Whisky Industry.
Read more..Show less.. Hans Martin Hansgaard
Judge
Denmark
Hans is a teacher by profession specializing primarily in students with autism and ADHD. Since 1995 an avid whisky enthusiast and collector. Founded the first Danish whisky distillery “Stauning Whisky” in 2005 together with 8 friends. Stauning Whisky insists on
.. producing whisky using old-school methods: Every single grain is floor malted, dried in their own kiln, mashed, fermented, double distilled on 24 direct-fired pot stills, matured and bottled on-site. Hans has done numerous masterclasses and tastings for Stauning Whisky. Now works full time with whisky focusing on product development, communication and branding of the company.Read more..Show less.. Steve Beal
Chair of Judges USA
United States
Described by the American Distilling Institute as one of the most respected whiskey experts in the world, Steve Beal is an industry-recognized consultant, spirits writer and former senior brand ambassador. He is based in San Francisco. As the
.. Sr. Whisky Master , Steve is a very familiar figure to both consumers and sellers of fine spirits and whisky. He provides consulting, technical, editorial, blending, marketing and public relations services to the global whisk(e)y industry. He is the American Chair of the World Whiskies Awards.
Steve is also Chairing Judge for the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, and is also a active in many international spirits competitions (Mumbai, Hong Kong, Australia, London, Cape Town, Washington DC, San Francisco, Louisville, Las Vegas). He also facilitates and occasionally hosts spirits tasting experiences for selected corporate clients and some charities.
Steve was previously the senior brand ambassador/educator for the DIAGEO North America Whisky Portfolio, including Bulleit Bourbon and Rye Whiskies, George Dickel Tennessee whiskies; and Crown Royal Canadian Whisky; Johnnie Walker, Buchanans Blended Scotch Whiskies; Lagavulin, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Oban, Talisker, Glenkenchie, Caol Ila, Mortlach, and Singleton single malt Scotch whiskies, and, Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
He named the named Keeper of the Quaich (Scotland) in 2010 and is a Founding Sponsor of the US Chapter of the Keepers. He was inducted into Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2015 and also received the United States Bartenders Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 during the Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans. He has been described as the second founder of a prominent Bourbon brand and the 411 and 911 of the whisk(e)y world.
Read more..Show less.. Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. Blair Phillips
Judge
Canada
Blair is a lifestyles and spirits writer who specialises in Canadian whisky. In addition to being the Canadian Contributing Editor for Whisky Magazine, he reviews Canadian spirits for Distiller. He also contributes to newspapers and magazines and is on the
.. jury for both the World Whisky Awards and the Canadian Whisky Awards. Blair was the Canadian columnist for DrinkingMadeEasy.com during the TV show’s three year run. He currently lives in Toronto Canada.Read more..Show less.. Demetris Vrontis
Judge
Cyprus
Dr Demetris Vrontis, is a University Professor in Business Management. He is the co-founder and co-president of The Cyprus Whisky Association established in 2014. He is a whisky connoisseur, enthusiast and collector since 1995 and participated in hundreds of whisky
.. tasting events around the world. Further information regarding Prof. Vrontis can be found at: http://unic.academia.edu/DemetrisVrontisRead more..Show less.. Eddie Chui
Judge
China
Eddie Chui is the Executive Editor of Whisky Magazine HK & Macau Edition. A wine and spirits journalist based in Hong Kong and the co-founder of Cru Magazine established in Hong Kong for 8 years now. He travels to different
.. regions looking for new discoveries of great wine and spirits. He also participates as moderators, speakers, judges in various local and international wine & spirits events.
Read more..Show less.. Edward Bates
Judge
United Kingdom
Edward runs Distilled London, a spirits industry consultancy. He has a wealth of experience built up over more than three decades. His interest in spirits stems from a school visit to Cognac, which has turned into a passion for
.. all distilled products. His acknowledged expertise is utilised by a number of brands, also working as a spirits writer and educator.Read more..Show less.. Greg Dillon
Judge
United Kingdom
Greg, as well as undertaking NPD projects with whisky brands is a brand strategy consultant working with brands big and small within the spirits industry to define, fix, build and grown their brands. He also authors GreatDrams.com and has recently
.. released a series of single cask limited edition independently bottled whiskies under the GreatDrams brand.Read more..Show less.. JP Fetherstone
Judge
United States
JP is the Head Bartender at Columbia Room and oversees all of Drink Company’s training and educational programs. He was recently named in Food & Wine Magazine's "2016 Best New Mixologists in America" and included in Thrillist’s list of “America’s
.. 21 Greatest Bartenders of 2015.” Previously, he was the Bar Manager at Southern Efficiency and won Eater D.C.'s 2014 "Bartender of the Year." Under his leadership, Southern Efficiency garnered such accolades as Food & Wine Magazine's 2014 "People's Best Bar in the Northeast" and Bon Appetit Magazine's 2014 "Top 50 Best New Restaurants in America."
Read more..Show less.. Mark Newton
Judge
United Kingdom
Mark is a co-editor of Malt, one of the most popular whisky websites in the world. He is Head of Communications for Waterford Distillery in Ireland, and Renegade Rum Distillery in Grenada. Previously he was a taster for Whisky Magazine. Mike Lord
Judge
United Kingdom
Mike is genuinely passionate about whisky. That is why he owns and runs The Whisky Shop Dufftown. Like his shop, Mike is truly independent and is focused on bringing out the fun and excitement of enjoying whisky.
.. He has always loved whisky but it was a visit to Speyside for Hogmanay that created a real passion for single malt and the Speyside region. In 2008 Mike gave up a career in the city to pursue his love of whisky full-time and bought his shop. He has been involved in whisky a lot longer than that though and has been sharing his passion for whisky through hosting tastings and whisky events for over fifteen years. Mike is a Keeper of the Quaich and an ambassador for The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.Read more..Show less.. Šarunas Cesna
Judge
Lithuania
Sarunas studied to become a librarian and a journalist, yet ended up managing two bars and co-owning a third one. Six years ago the ‘Piano Man’ bar sparked his love for whisky, a few years later ‘Cocktail bar Alchemikas’ became
.. his mixing playground. His bar is his library.Read more..Show less.. Tim Hampson
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Hampson is an award-wining journalist and broadcaster. He is author of many books including the Haynes Whisky Manual. Maggie Kimberl
Taste Judge
United States
Maggie Kimberl is a columnist at American Whiskey Magazine who considers herself geographically blessed to be living in the epicentre of Bourbon, Louisville, Kentucky. When she’s not digging up Bourbon stories old and new, you can find her browsing the
.. record store with her kids, or tending to her home-grown tomatoes. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @LouGirl502.Read more..Show less.. Jason B. Standing
Judge
United Kingdom
Since starting Whisky Squad in London 8 years ago and launching the Dramboree whisky weekend, Jason's frequented and worked at whisky festivals, tastings, and bars across the UK and Europe, spreading his enthusiasm for helping people find whiskies they love.
.. Jason is not a whisky blogger, however he does have a collection of distinctive hats and trousers.
Read more..Show less.. Shane McDonagh
Judge
Shane has worked in the drinks industry for the last 10 years and always had a passion for whiskey. He is part of the Sale Team in the Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin. Tom Morton
Judge
United Kingdom
Tom Morton has been writing, talking and occasionally singing about whisky for 30 years, since the publication of his seminal whisky travelogue (later a radio and TV series) Spirit of Adventure. He has since published the acclaimed 'single malt thriller'
.. A Whisky in Monsterville and co-authored (with Rob Allanson and Ken Hamilton) the 'ultimate blending pilgrimage' book Journey's Blend. He contributes to whisky publications around the world. Recently published to widespread acclaim is the best-selling ‘Shetland - Cooking on the Edge of the World’ written with Tom’s son James.Read more..Show less.. Tim Forbes
Judge
United Kingdom
Tim Forbes is a freelance drinks writer based in Tuscany. Tim has been in the drinks trade since 1998, working for Oddbins, The Whisky Exchange, Waitrose and Majestic Wines. He has been writing and judging for numerous publications
.. and international spirits competitions since 2008.Read more..Show less.. Amelie Serif
Judge
Germany
Amelie Serif is a German craft beer blogger. Calling herself "Bierfee" - "beer fairy" she writes critical beer reviews and reports on beer-related events. Both as a blogger and as a bartender in a craft beer bar she campaigns for
.. a more positive perception of beer.
Read more..Show less.. Bjarke Bertelsen
Judge
Denmark
Bjarke Bertelsen is a Brewmaster and employed in the Carlsberg Group as Liquid Innovation Manager for Craft and Specialty and a dedicated part of the Carlsberg Sensory Panel. Bjarke conducts beer tastings and lectures and also educates in the brewhouse
.. module at the Scandinavian School of Brewing. When times allows he is an enthusiastic homebrewer.Read more..Show less.. Dennis Fix
Judge
Germany
My sister, who was a beer brewer trainee at the time, taught me in 2010 that beer can do more than what I always thought. Since 2015, I regularly perform Beer Tastings to share this enthusiasm for beer with others.
.. And now, 2018: the first own brewery is not far away.Read more..Show less.. Chris Harper
Judge
United States
Chris Harper is the owner of Hops and Crafts, a specialty beer shop in Exeter. Chris, an American, developed his appreciation for beer in earnest when he moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 2004. After moving to Devon and finding
.. his beer choices more limited, Chris opened his shop in 2015 with the simple goal of bringing Exeter a better selection of beer.Read more..Show less.. Paul Davies
Judge
Paul is the founder of AleHunters, a beer event business based in London. He is also a certified Cicerone®, accredited Beer Sommelier and international beer judge.
He hosts training courses for pub companies in the UK and writes regularly for
.. the Brewers Journal in the UK and Canada.Read more..Show less.. Paul Newton
Judge
United Kingdom
Paul is an Event Manager by day and a keen beer enthusiast by, well, by any remaining moments! He runs a fledgling YouTube beer channel called Beer Prime and enjoys sampling new and different beers from across the world.
Richard Taylor
Judge
United Kingdom
Richard founded an award-winning beer website a decade ago and now works as the beat writer for the UK's largest craft brewery BrewDog. He lives just outside Edinburgh with his wife, son, spaniel and too many beers in odd cupboards. Roger Protz
Judge
Roger Protz is a leading international beer writer. He is the former editor of the Good Beer Guide and the author of more than 20 books on the subject. He travels widely in the search for good beer and has
.. given talks in many countries, including Friends of the Smithsonian in Washington DC and Beer Expo in Melbourne, Australia. His website is www.protzonbeer.co.ukRead more..Show less.. Terry Leung
Judge
United Kingdom
Terry Leung is a whisky and beer specialist. He worked at Milroy’s of Soho, one of the oldest whisky shop in London with decades of history. In 2014, he completed the Campaign for Real Ale (the “CAMRA”) tasting training and
.. is currently on the London regional tasting panel and one of the judges at the world beer award. After working as a whisky ambassador for Scotch Malt Whisky Society, hosting various whisky tastings and food paring events, he is currently working for the whisky lounge, hosting their whisky blending workshops and whisky tastings, and supporting at their Whisky Weekenders events. Throughout the years, he built up relationships with whisky distilleries in Scotland to look for rare and interesting whisky.
Read more..Show less.. Tom Ross
Judge
Tom Ross graduated from Olds College, Alberta, Canada with a ‘Brewmaster & Brewery Operations Management’ diploma. Whilst attending College he judged in multiple BJCP sanctioned events as well as working in production for Troubled Monk Brewery. Tom has recently returned
.. home to Berkshire and founded Trale Brewing Company which is currently in its planning stages.Read more..Show less.. Kai Zakrzewski
Judge
Germany
Three years ago, I decided to move to Berlin from Dortmund and I applied as a beer server at Stone Brewing Berlin (now Brewdog). At this time, I also made my Cicerone Certified Beer Server and I succeeded in the
.. tasting part of the Certified Cicerone. My goal was to connect my academical background as a biologist with my interest in brewing and so I got my own brewing equipment and began to brew (I already brewed beer at Stone Brewing). The creation of new recipes is something beautiful and it makes me real fun to be creative and inventive. As I was deep into trying out new beers, I also started at a craft beer bar called the Muted Horn in Berlin, which is one of the best beer bars in the world. Until now I've tried over thousands of different beers.
Read more..Show less.. John Brexon
Judge
United Kingdom
John has completed 40 years in the Brewing industry, 30 of those as a Master Brewer working in international, regional and small breweries. His passion for beer remains strong and is sustained by the huge variety of beer styles, flavours
.. & novel liquid concepts that exist around the world. He gains inspiration from the new generation of talented brewers that are innovative, brave and passionate in this exciting and growing global beer market. John says, the opportunity to judge at the World Beer Awards, to sample the ‘fruits of other brewers labours’ with like-minded people, is extremely rewarding and an eye opening experience.Read more..Show less.. Lily Waite
Judge
United Kingdom
Lily Waite is a beer writer, blogger, and member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. She is the Head of Content for We Are Beer and contributes to Good Beer Hunting, and writes the blog Craft Queer. Dipak Nayar
Judge
Dipak Nayar joined Carlsberg UK in 2017 to relaunch London Fields Brewery as a joint venture with Brooklyn Brewery. He owns a craft beer distributor firm in Colombia, and has worked with startup food and drinks brands in the UK
.. and Europe. He sits on the sensory panel of Carlsberg, and is a Grand Juror at the International Chocolate awards.
Read more..Show less.. Jay Brooks
US Chair of Judges
United States
Jessica Mason
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Jessica Mason aka Drinks Maven – is a passionate drinks writer and champion for the industry accruing 12 years experience in the trade. Mason writes for a range of magazines, from trade to consumer across all drinks categories (beer, cider,
.. wine, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks & RTDs) traversing styles from business digests and trends reports through to tasting notes, reviews and impassioned thought pieces. She is also an events and conference presenter, consultant, a home brewer as well as a contributing author to beer and whisky books. She is extremely committed to getting good drinks into places in need of range diversity and inspiration and is also very good at maintaining that her glass is half full.Read more..Show less.. Paulo Schiaveto
Judge
Brazil
Paulo is a Brewmaster with 25 years experience, Brewing consultant and co-owner of NKA-Schiaveto Ltd, a Brewery Equipment and Engineering Company. He is also a professor at ESCM (Escola Superior de Cerveja e Malte)
Markus Raupach
Judge
Germany
Markus Raupach began working as a photographer, journalist and media professional for breweries, hotels and restaurants soon after founding his media agency in 1998. His career in the drinks and hospitality industry lead him to becoming a judge for multiple
.. beer compeitions around the world.
Since 2005, he has published over 50 books, including brewery guides for Franconia, Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia and Berlin, as well as the chronicle of the German Brewers' Association for its 150th anniversary in 2021.
He received multiple industry awards and honours such as the Golden Beer Idea 2015 after founding the German Beer Academy, made an honorary knight in the Brotherhood of Belgian Brewers and was named one of the 50 most important beer personalities by representatives in the German beer industry. He has also been lecturing at the Genussakademie Bayern since 2018.
Read more..Show less.. Katrien Bruyland
Judge
Belgium
Robin LeBlanc
Judge
Canada
Robin LeBlanc is a beer columnist, owner of the award-winning craft beer site The Thirsty Wench, author of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide, and co-host of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide The Podcast. She has appeared on TV, radio, and
.. newspapers preaching the gospel of good beer. She lives in Toronto.Read more..Show less.. Rene Aduan Junior
Brazil Chair of Judges
Brazil
Educated in beer, enology and gastronomy, Rene Adaun Jr began his education in 2000, studying the culinary arts before achieving a masters in pairing wine and food.
He has acted as a sommelier and a beer and gastronomy consultant for
.. more than 20 years as well as a judge for several international beer competitions such as World Beer Cup, World Beer Awards and the South American Beer Cup.
Rene is also a Biologist, holds an MSc in Biotechnology and works on molecular system diagnoses for the quality sector of the food and beverage industry. Since 2012 he has taught sensorial analysis, beer technology and pairing at Doemens Brazil and ESCM.
Read more..Show less.. Anja Braun
Judge
Germany
Originally I studied gastronomy, then studied law and since 2015 dipl. Beer sommelier. As the owner of the Craftbeerbar „Labyrinth“, I taste exciting beers every day and I co-own the Craftbeer Brewery Labieratorium. My absolute favorite beers are hoppy, especially
.. brewed with herbs or sour beer.Read more..Show less.. Daisy Turnell
Judge
United Kingdom
Daisy Turnell is a freelance beer marketing consultant, having worked in the hospitality and brewing industry for the past 20 years.
She currently advises breweries in the UK and beyond on all aspects of marketing and making real connections with
.. beer lovers, and runs the Craft Beer Newcastle website to share information about the craft beer scene in the North East of England.
Read more..Show less.. John Westlake
Judge
John is an award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and an accredited Beer Sommelier who has visited over 150 countries where beer is brewed and enjoyed.
Juliana Laureano
Judge
Brazil
Juliana Koerich Laureano, born in Florianópolis. Sommelière de Cervejas (2014) and Master in Styles (2017) by Instituto da Cerveja Brasil.
Came in Tenth place in the IV Brazilian Beer Sommelier Championship and participant of the V World Championship of Beer Sommeliers
.. in 2017.
She is the Regional coordinator of the Institute of Beer in Santa Catarina. Founder of Barley's Angels Santa Catarina, entity that promotes exclusive brewing education events for women.Read more..Show less.. Tara Luxmore
Judge
Canada
Tara Luxmore is a Certified Cicerone, Certified Beer Judge and freelance writer for publications like Toronto Life and Food & Drink. Together with her real-life sis Crystal, Tara runs the Beer Sisters, where they lead corporate and private tastings, speak
.. at festivals across North America, and consult with brands. Follow the sisters on @beersisters on Instagram & facebook, and www.beersisters.com
Read more..Show less.. Thomas Redders
Judge
Germany
I finally made it to Berlin via Freiburg and Hamburg. To finance my studies in economics in Freiburg I started working in the gastronomy business, where I first came in contact with more than just industrial beer. I was able
.. to deepen my knowledge in several well known bars and restaurants in Hamburg. Now I'm turning my passion into profession as I started studying brewery- and beverage technologies at the Technical University of Berlin. Malicious gossip says I'm just doing it because I like drinking beer so much.Read more..Show less.. Torsten Spoerl
Judge
Germany
Torsten Spoerl, a Diplom Biersommelier certificated by Doemens Academy, member of the Austrian Diplom. Biersommelier Associate and Head of the Craft Beer Departement of the Internationale Brau-Manufacturen GmbH. He works for and with breweries for over 25 years. He
.. develops concepts and counsels distributors
and restaurateurs by their beer selections. For him beer is not merely a drink but rather a philosophy.
Read more..Show less.. Justin Hutton
Judge
Australia
After moving from Australia in 2011, Justin quickly set about introducing craft beer into bars in London, first with Antic London then went to Laine Pub Group where is took over their largest London Brew Pub site. Now done
.. with the pub game he is Commercial Director for The Beer Collective and Two Tribes Brewing.
Read more..Show less.. Kate Hempsall
Judge
United Kingdom
Kate has over 20 years’ experience working in PR & Communications within the hospitality industry. She has championed and promoted many beer brands, focusing on all stages of the brewing process from ingredients to perfect serve. A member of
.. the British Guild of Beer Writers, Kate works extensively with clients across the beer and pub industry through her work as a PR and Communications consultant and contributes to a range of beer tasting and judging events.
Read more..Show less.. Matthew Henney
Judge
United Kingdom
Mathew Henney is an experienced brewer having spent 10 years in production before transitioning to technical sales with Murphy and Son. He is on the cusp of completing the Master Brewer qualification.
Natalya Watson
Judge
United Kingdom
Natalya Watson is a Beer Sommelier and Advanced Cicerone® passionate about sharing her knowledge of beer with others. She regularly teaches at the Beer & Cider Academy, judges at beer competitions, and produces and hosts the podcast Beer with Nat.
.. Her debut book, Beer: Taste the Evolution in 50 Styles was published by Kyle Books in March 2020.Read more..Show less.. Nigel Tarn
Judge
A freelance journalist, beer writer and full time marketeer working in sales and marketing roles for micro brewers and global giants.
Rebecca Pate
Judge
United Kingdom
Rebecca Pate (Bex) is an accredited beer sommelier who works as a freelance copywriter and content marketing manager. She's based in East London and has worked with some of London's biggest craft breweries, supporting them with content marketing, digital marketing
.. and events. She was nominated as Best Young Beer Writer in 2018 and for Beer Citizen Communicator in 2017 by the British Guild of Beer Writers for her blog, Brewing East
Read more..Show less.. Richard Yarnell
Judge
United Kingdom
Richard Yarnell has worked for Mitchells & Butlers for over a decade, helping to guide beer and cider category strategy across all of Mitchells & Butlers retail brands. He qualified as a Beer Sommelier in 2014 and has twice
.. judged at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, making his judging debut at the World Beer Cup in Nashville in 2018.Read more..Show less.. Sam Tait
Judge
United Kingdom
I've has been an active member of the BCJP since 2012, reaching the rank of National Judge last year, one of only 3 in the UK. I have trained upwards of 2 dozen BJCP judges, taking tasting sessions and
.. administering BJCP exams in the UK and Europe. I’ve judged at CAMRA and SIBA, and now help run the UK National Homebrew Competition.
Read more..Show less.. Tomy Fong
Judge
China
Tomy Fong is from Hong Kong, a renowned BJCP Certified Judge in Asia who endeavours to educate public about beer tasting culture. He is an experienced beer judge internationally, a columnist; author of the Chinese book “Into the Craft BeerWorld”
.. and Co-founder of the first-ever Tasting Trendies Beer Guide 2018 in HK. He provides his secret recipes for Craft MiMi Beer and serves as Local & Overseas Brewing Affairs Director of it. Besides, he is a wine consultant, International Kikisake-shi (sake sommelier) and certified Whisky Ambassador.
Read more..Show less.. Carl Heron
Judge
United Kingdom
Carl has been in the brewing industry since 1989, starting in QA and qualifying as a Master Brewer in 2000, just prior to joining AB InBev. Formally taste trained in the early years, he used and grew this knowledge on
.. many tasting panels across Europe. As Craft Brewing Malt Sales Manager for Crisp Malting Group he regularly judges CAMRA and SIBA competitions across the UK and has visited over 400 breweries in the last 3 years.Read more..Show less.. Billy Abbott
Judge
United Kingdom
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and judge specialising in whisky. He judges for a number of competitions around the world across whisky, rum, Asian spirits and beer. His first book – The Philosophy of Whisky – was published
.. in 2021 by the British Library.Read more..Show less.. Douglas Merlo
Judge
Brazil
Douglas Merlo is trained as a Mixologist, Beer Sommelier by the Italian Beertaster Association and Doemens Akademie, BJCP Certified Judge. Professor at the Sommelier course at Doemens - School of Beer and Malt and Bräu Akademie, professor at SENAI in
.. brewing production. He also participates as judge of beer competitions in Brazil and abroad. Founder of the Expedição Cervejeira, company that makes brewing trips around the world.Read more..Show less.. Gary Gillman
Judge
Canada
Gary Gillman is a well-known, Toronto-based blogger on beer, and also covers many topics in spirits and food. He also contributes regularly to the journal Brewery History, based in UK, and other journals.
He established his blog, www.beeretseq.com, in 2015
.. following years of private study and travel. Formerly a business lawyer, he now devotes full-time to writing and speaking on these topics. He recently addressed the Annual Beer Culture Summit of the Chicago Brewseum, speaking on mini-breweries installed on German trans-Atlantic liners in the 1920s.
Gary was recently short-listed in two categories (pubs and self-published) for the 2022 Awards of the British Guild of Beer Writers. Awards are announced November 23.
Gary has judged for many years for World Drinks Awards in beer, gin, and vodka. While interested in all drinks, he focuses on beer, whiskies, and spirits, in general.
He was invited to judge as well in the newly-established Canada Beer Cup (was not able to attend, but hopefully next year).
Apart from the aforesaid Guild, Gary belongs to numerous professional bodies and associations including Canadian Brewerianist, Culinary Historians of Canada, and Rural Women’s Studies Association
Read more..Show less.. Carl Kins
Table Captain
Belgium
European Beer Consumers Union Executive member, long time beer judge at many international and national beer competitions, beer writer for Belgian and Italian beer magazines, ad hoc consultant for various breweries, frequent guest speaker about beer styles, history, production process and
.. ingredients.
Read more..Show less.. 
Carsten Berthelsens
Table Captain
Denmark
Author, broadcaster and professional beer writer for more than 25 years in Denmark. Born 1951. Author of ten books about the world’s favorite drink. Among them Ølrejsen (The Beer Travel, 2003, new version 2015) - a travel through Germany, The
.. Czech Republic and Belgium searching for the finest breweries and pubs.
50 øl (50 beers you must try before dying, 2007) and Juleøl (Christmas Ale, 2004). Godt bryg, god mad was published in 2012 - a cookbook with over 40 recipes with beer. Carsten Berthelsen frequently arranges beer tasting for companies - more than 100 a year. Judging in national and international competitions (among them Brussels Beer Challenge, Nordic Beer Challenge and Austrian Beer Challenge). Awarded for his effort by The Danish Beer Enthusiasts (part of The European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU)) in 2007 and in 2013 appointed honorary member of the same association. In May 2015 granted the honorary distinction Chevalier de L'ordre de la Couronne by H.M. King Philip of Belgium. Frequently on Danish Television to recommend beers for a good meal. If you are searching for a guide through the very exciting and innovative new Danish Beer Scene, do not hesitate to write or call.
"
Read more..Show less.. Joan Villar-I-Marti (aka 'Birraire')
Table Captain
Spain
Joan Villar-i-Martí (aka 'Birraire') is a Catalan beer writer, consultant and judge. He writes mainly in specialised media, is the author of Birraire's Newsletter on Substack, co-author of Guía de Cerveses de Catalunya (2013) and part of the Barcelona Beer
.. Festival crew.Read more..Show less.. Matt Curtis
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Matthew is a freelance beer writer, photographer and co-founder of Pellicle Magazine. His work has been published by Ferment, Original Gravity, BEER and Good Beer Hunting among others, and he has been awarded for his work by both the British
.. and North American Guild of Beer Writers. He lives in North London with his partner Dianne and his cat Cricket.
Read more..Show less.. Pete Brown
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Pete Brown is a British author, journalist, broadcaster and consultant specialising in food and drink, especially the fun parts like beer and cider.
He writes for newspapers and magazines around the world and is a regular contributor to BBC Radio
.. 4’s Food Programme. He was named British Beer Writer of the Year in 2009, 2012 and 2016.
Read more..Show less.. Sophie Atherton
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Sophie Atherton was the first woman in the UK to be accredited as a beer sommelier and is also a freelance journalist. Her work appears regularly in the UK national press and various magazines, including trade publication The Morning Advertiser,
.. in which she writes a monthly column.
Read more..Show less.. Susan Boyle
Table Captain
Republic of Ireland
Susan Boyle is a drinks consultant, researcher, and performer. An award-winning member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, Susan presents beers on TV and radio and has hosted tastings at Imbibe Live London, the Oxford Symposium on Food and
.. Cookery and a host of music, arts and food festivals. Currently pursuing a PhD, Susan has worked with the British Museum to brew a beer supported by ancient Egyptian archaeological evidence and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Susan has recently developed an education programme to promote Irish spirits internationally for Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board)Read more..Show less.. José Raimundo Padilha
Judge
Brazil
José Padilha is a celebrated beer sommelier in Brazil, master of beer styles, international beer judge, beer educator, expert in beer pairings, founder of www.TheBeerPlanet.com.br and advertising copywriter with more than 30 years of experience on the communication industry. Des de Moor
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Des de Moor is one of the UK's leading beer experts and author of award-winning books Cask: The real story of Britain's unique beer culture and London's Best Beer, Pubs and Bars.
He curates tours and tutored tastings and has
.. judged beer in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and the USA as well as the UK.
Des is UK compiler for The Pocket Beer Book and a regular contributor to beer publications and websites.Read more..Show less.. Jules Gray
Table Captain
United Kingdom
An experienced beer trade professional with over ten years in the field. She owns an independent award-winning beer shop and tasting room, Hop Hideout in Sheffield, UK (established 2013). In 2015 she set-up a city-wide beer celebration in her hometown
.. - Sheffield Beer Week. As director she has lead the beer celebration to grow over ten days across 30 plus venues throughout Sheffield; showcasing both local and international breweries. The core strands promote beer and food pairings, community and heritage. In 2018 she launched a new craft beer festival in Sheffield - Indie Beer Feast, attracting over 700 attendees at the one-day event. This grew to two days in 2019 and welcomed over 1,000 beer lovers. She is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, a bookworm, vinyl digger and loving cat owner.
Read more..Show less.. Pavel Borowiec
Table Captain
Pavel Borowiec is the publisher and editor in chief of the magazine Pivo, Bier & Ale, which was founded in January 2011. As a judge he takes part in the international beer competitions – European Beer Star, Brussels Beer
.. Challenge, International Beer Challenge in London or Birra dell'Anno. Together with Marcela Titzlova he wrote the comprehensive, fully illustrated book Kniha o pivu (The Book of Beer) which was published in 2017.
In February 2017 he founded the national tasting competition of breweries called the Czech and Moravian Beer Crown and also Golden Bohemia with the international panel of judges. Both competitions assesses not only bottled, but also draft beer.
Read more..Show less.. Colin Johnston
Judge
United Kingdom
Colin currently works as a sales manager in craft brewing and distilling for Crisp Malt. His career spans nearly 10 years across breweries of all sizes and varying roles mostly concentrating on engineering and technical brewing. His passion is seeing
.. small businesses grow and is delighted to join the panel for the first time this year. Colin also judges the business and taste categories for the Scottish Beer Awards.
Read more..Show less.. Christian Finz
Judge
Austria
For the past 15 years, Christian has been working in the beer industry all over the planet. In 2016 Christian graduated with the Beer sommelier Diploma from Doemens in Munich. Since early 2019, Christian is the mastermind behind Craft Beer
.. International.
Read more..Show less.. Dan Sandy
Judge
United Kingdom
After running Kill The Cat in London for 6 years Dan now resides in Lewes, East Sussex where he operates his beer tours and tastings business: 'That’s The Beer Talking'. An Advanced Cicerone®, Dan also runs sensory training for
.. breweries, pub co’s and industry professionals between scouring the South Coast looking for the perfect pint of Harvey’s.Read more..Show less.. Eleanor Walsh
Judge
United Kingdom
Ellie Walsh is currently training with the Institute of Brewing and Distilling for her Beer Sommelier qualification & is on the road to Certified Cicerone. She has worked across a variety of roles within the industry, including General Manager and
.. Sales Account Management. You can follow her beer related/induced ramblings @ellie_beoir.
Read more..Show less.. Emma Victory
Judge
United Kingdom
Emma Victory is an award winning homebrewer and co-founder of Junction Brew Club, established in 2015 (which meets at Battersea Brewery). She has been judging homebrew and commercial beer competitions since 2015 and is a BJCP Certified Beer Judge. As
.. a professional scientist Emma particularly enjoys the technical aspects of brewing and the science of flavour. She writes about beer and brewing on her blog (Crema’s Beer Odyssey) and is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. She may be found serving beer at The Hop Locker and the Kernel taproom.
Read more..Show less.. Judith Boyle
Judge
Republic of Ireland
Judith Boyle is an accredited Beer Sommelier with the Institute of Brewers and Distillers, beer journalist and award winning member of the British Guild of Beer writers. She is a beverage lecture in the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
.. and is passionate about all aspects of beer and beer education.
Read more..Show less.. Cherry Constable
Judge
United Kingdom
Cherry Constable is an independent drinks writer, specialising in wine and spirits. She actively engages with consumers on social media, promoting new product launches and sharing her enthusiasm. She writes regular product reviews focusing on the stories behind the brands
.. and contributes to numerous external publications. Cherry hosts a range of talks and masterclasses for both wine and spirits. She holds a Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma and is a Plumpton College alumna. Cherry judges wine and spirits for multiple international competitions.Read more..Show less.. Stephen Beaumont
Chair of Judges
Canada
Stephen Beaumont has been covering beer internationally for over thirty years from his base in Toronto, Canada. He has authored and co-authored 15 works, including three editions of The World Atlas of Beer and three editions of The Pocket Beer
.. Book, both with Tim Webb, as well as his own Beer & Food Companion.
He contributes regularly to a number of publications in Canada, the United States and Great Britain, and travels widely researching beer breweries around the world, judging in international competitions and speaking about beer to audiences both small and large.
Read more..Show less.. Patrick Thomson
Judge
Canada
Toronto native and leading beer sommelier, Pat Thomson is Beverage Manager at WVRST, one of the city's most respected craft beer bars. Pat's passion, expertise, and detailed knowledge of beer has led him to judge annual brewing competitions. Known for
.. his international palate, Pat regularly consults with breweries and is also a partner in Communal Merchants, an agency dedicated to importing the world’s best ciders to Ontario.Read more..Show less.. Josh Rubin
Judge
Canada
Josh Rubin has been writing about beer since 2006, and was the beer columnist for Canada’s biggest newspaper, the Toronto Star, for 12 years.
He has judged at regional beer competitions and contributed several entries to the award-winning Oxford Companion to
.. Beer, including the Canadian national entry. He has also been a judge at the World Whiskies, the World Cider Awards and has made numerous broadcast appearances to speak about beer and spirits.
Josh has written extensively about the changing alcohol retailing landscape in Canada. When he's not sipping beer, he's been known to enjoy a well-made Sazerac.
Read more..Show less.. David Ort
Judge
Canada
David is a Toronto-based beer, food, and travel writer. He regularly contributes to Canadian publications and his first book, The Canadian Craft Beer Cookbook was published in 2013. Outside of beer and writing, his pursuits include perfecting his wood-fired pizza
.. recipe and chasing his Brittany spaniel, Berkeley, through the woods.Read more..Show less.. Lauren Richard
Judge
Canada
Lauren Richard is an Advanced Cicerone® and Certified BJCP judge. She curates beer programs, provides staff education, conducts food pairing events and beer dinners, as well as works with festivals to elevate the on and off-site drinking experience. Lauren is
.. also a proficient vocalist and voice actor, singing in a country western band and lending her voice to children's animation and videogames around the world.
Read more..Show less.. Eduardo Passarelli
Judge
Brazil
Eduardo Passarelli is a beer expert and entrepreneur from Brazil. Since 2006, working with craft beer he has played an important role disseminating and developing the market. He owns two bars in São Paulo – Jiló do Periquito and Goela
.. – both with respectable selections of craft beer. Eduardo also work as a teacher at Instituto da Cerveja Brasil and keeps a column at Prazeres da Mesa magazine, the most important Brazilian gastronomy magazine.Read more..Show less.. Fabiana Arreguay
Judge
Brazil
Journalist and beer sommelier by Doemns Academy. Co-founder of Academia Sommelier de Cerveja from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Author of " Comidas e Cervejas Mineiras - vamos combinar? Ed. C/Arte Gustavo Renha
Judge
Brazil
Gustavo Renha is a beer sommelier formed by ABS-SP, in Beer Business Administration by FGV-SP, master in beer styles by Siebel and specialist in beer pairing by ICB-SP.
Consultant of bars and restaurants, he is also speaker of Rádio Globo, columnist
.. of gastronomy guides, manager of beer festivals, judge of national/international competitions and lecturer on the theme.
Read more..Show less.. Daniel Wolff
Judge
Brazil
Daniel Wolff is a well-known Brazilian beer sommelier, international beer judge, founder and CEO of Mestre-Cervejeiro.com – a chain with more than 60 craft beer stores across Brazil. In 2016, Daniel was “enthroned” honourable knight of the Belgian Knighthood of
.. the Brewers’ Paddle and he received the Beer Personality of the Year Award in Brazil in 2018.Read more..Show less.. Luis Celso Jr
Judge
Brazil
Luís Celso Jr is a journalist, sommelier and beer consultant. He is the founder of BarDoCelso.com, one of the oldest beer blogs in Brazil, founded in 2006. He also writes for Gazeta do Povo newspaper and has a program on
.. radio CBN Curitiba. He is a professor at the Instituto da Cerveja Brasil and provides consulting services for bars, restaurants and other companies in the Brazilian beer market.Read more..Show less.. Roberto Fonseca
Judge
Brazil
Roberto Fonseca is a journalist writing about Brazilian beer since 2006. His work has been published in Paladar Section at O Estado de S. Paulo (one of Brazil's leading newspapers) and Menu magazine. He has also been judging in commercial
.. and homebrewing tournaments since 2007.Read more..Show less.. Cheryl Cade
Judge
United Kingdom
Cheryl is a Beer Sommelier, a member of the British Guild Of Beer Writers and oversees the World Beer Bar for Norwich Beer Festival. She is a qualified trainer for CAMRA and the Academy of Cheese delivering a range of
.. their courses.
As well as being a highly experienced judge across a range of competitions, Cheryl runs award-winning food and drink tours around Belgium and East Anglia.
Read more..Show less.. Crystal Luxmore
Judge
Canada
Crystal Luxmore is a certified Cicerone, professional beer and cider judge, and a seasoned journalist. Together with her sister, Tara, she runs The Beer Sisters where the duo lead tutored tastings and create stellar events for corporate clients and major
.. festivals in Canada and the US Crystal writes about libations for The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, LCBO’s Food & Drink, Beer Advocate and MASH magazines. She has appeared as a beer expert on CTV, Global TV, CBC radio, and on Good Morning Texas. There is nothing she likes more than talking about beer — except drinking it.Read more..Show less.. Matt Bod
Judge
Canada
Matt is the brewer and beer program manager at Bar Hop & Bar Hop Brewco, two of Toronto, Ontario's busiest beer destinations. He's been involved in the Ontario craft beer community for over a decade, working collaboratively with Ontario brewers
.. to help create memorable experiences for the province's beer enthusiasts. His wide-ranging list of responsibilities includes beer and food pairing, staff education, overseeing strict draught system maintenance and menu selection along with brewing and barrel-aging house-brewed brands.Read more..Show less.. Jesse Vallins
Judge
Canada
Scarborough native Jesse Vallins is the executive chef at Barberian’s Steak House in Toronto and has spent over 25 years cooking in some of the city’s best restaurants. Not just a chef, but also a lifetime student of the beverage
.. world, Jesse is an Advanced Cicerone, a BJCP certified beer and mead judge, and a certified sommelier.
When he’s not working at the restaurant or dorking out on drinks, Jesse teaches and develops curriculum at Toronto’s George Brown College and contributes content to Food & Drink Magazine.Read more..Show less.. John Tyler
Judge
Canada
John Tyler is an award-winning home brewer and National level BJCP judge. Recently retired from the LCBO, John held responsibility for the Imported and Out of Province beer and cider purchases for the retail store network.
Prior to joining
.. the LCBO John worked in multiple roles in the food sector of the CPG industry. John has been home brewing for 25 years and enjoys teaching how-to-brew classes and style discovery tasting sessions in the local home brew community. He enjoys experimenting with cheese and beer to discover the next great pairing match.
Read more..Show less.. Sarah Parniak
Judge
Canada
Sarah Parniak is a freelance writer and liquid consultant with a bottomless curiosity when it comes to anything with an ABV. When she’s not writing about good things to drink and eat for NOW Magazine, Toronto Life and Foodism, she’s
.. managing the spirits portfolio for Sovereign Canada in Ontario and nerding-out over what’s new in the universe of beer, wine, spirits and cocktails. In a former life, she spent most of her time behind bars and has represented Canada in international bartending competitions. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @s_parns.Read more..Show less.. Will Hawkes
Table Captain
United Kingdom
Will Hawkes is an award-winning journalist based in London. He writes regularly about beer and travel for publications including Financial Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post and The Melbourne Age. He was named British Beer Writer of the Year in
.. 2013. He is married with three children and lives in south London.Read more..Show less.. Anthony Gladman
Judge
United Kingdom
Anthony Gladman is an award winning drinks writer from London. He writes about beer, cider and spirits, crafting memorable stories which reveal how drinks can connect us to a particular place, time or person. He is a qualified Beer Sommelier
.. and international competition judge. He has WSET L2 Spirits and is training to become a Cider Pommelier.
Read more..Show less.. Christian Finz
Judge
Austria
For the past 15 years, Christian has been working in the beer industry all over the planet. In 2016 Christian graduated with the Beer sommelier Diploma from Doemens in Munich. Since early 2019, Christian is the mastermind behind Craft Beer
.. International.
Read more..Show less.. Glyn Roberts
Judge
United Kingdom
Now a professional photographer, I spent 28 years working in the beer industry; my jobs ranged from being a part-time barman to part-owning and operating a brewpub. I have been judging beers for more than decade now and it's always
.. a pleasure to judge the World Beer Awards.Read more..Show less.. Malin Norman
Judge
United Kingdom
Malin Norman is a Certified Cicerone®, a certified beer sommelier, and an international beer judge.
She is a freelance writer and editor, a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers as well as the North American Guild of Beer
.. Writers.Read more..Show less.. Nick Moyle
Judge
United Kingdom
Nick Moyle is a drinks writer, blogger and home brewer based in Somerset, England. He writes for the Independent, Reader’s Digest and Esquire along with several specialist and regional magazines. As one half of the Two Thirsty Gardeners he runs
.. booze-making demos, tasting sessions and judging at various events and is co-author of the books Brew it Yourself and Wild Tea.Read more..Show less.. Pete Brissden
Judge
Pete has woked in both production as a brewer at several breweries including Lovibonds and Camden, and in sales and trade quality. He is currently in charge of purchasing, sales and logististics at London based wholesaler The BottleShop.
Shane McNamara
Judge
Australia
Shane is a Master Cicerone and also holds a Master's degree in Brewing Science from the University of Nottingham. He has previously worked as a brewer and was formerly the Senior Technical Officer at the Institute of Brewing & Distilling
.. (IBD). Shane now helps drive innovation and quality for AB InBev - the world's largest brewer. With a passion for beer and food, Shane is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and regularly contributes to publications around the world and judging in beer competitions.
Read more..Show less.. Tom Pears
Judge
United Kingdom
Tom Pears developed his love for beer whilst at University down in Kent. He has since worked in the beer industry for a number of years. Recently as a contributor to online publications such as Ferment and Euronews. He also
.. runs a dedicated beer Instagram account @tom_tappd.
Read more..Show less..