The Most Prestigious Beer Competition in the World
About World Beer Cup
The Brewers Association developed the World Beer Cup Competition in 1996 to celebrate the art and science of brewing. Often referred to as “The Olympics of Beer Competitions,” the World Beer Cup is the most prestigious beer competition in the world.
Awards Ceremony
The Venetian Las Vegas
April 24, 2024
Meet Our World Class Judges
Diego Setti
Florida, United States
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
I started homebrwing in 2010 in Buenos Aires, and became a Beer Judge Certification Program judge in 2012. Between 2012 and 2017, I gave many talks and trainings for the Asociación Civil Somos Cerveceros, which is the Argentine equivalent of the American Homebrewers Association.
In 2016, after a 6 months stay in Germany, I started doing some beer styles consultancies. In 2017, I quit my IT job to focus 100% on beer. I started a beer education institute called Zeta Atelier de Cervezas, offering a wide range of trainings and courses for beer enthusiasts and professionals. During that time I also became a Certified Cicerone and a Doemens Academie Biersommelier.
All that called the attention of many investors and entrepreneurs, so I accepted an offer to join the team of Prison Pals Brewing Company at the end of 2019 and I moved to Florida in 2020 to start that project, where I designed the layout and all the technical specs of the brewery. Now I’m working as brewmaster.
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
The World Beer Cup is one of the most prestigious beer competitions around the world and for sure is the biggest of all of them. It takes a lot of effort to become a part of the tasting panel: I applied for the first time in 2017 for the 2018 edition and for different reasons I’ve been able to have the honor of judging here for the first time in 2023. It’s a unique experience, where you taste world-class beers with a top notch tasting panel from every corner of the world.
Ai Tani
Osaka-shi Kitaku Oyodonaka, Japan
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
“Almost 30 years ago, small-scale brewing began in Japan. At that time, imported German and Belgian beers were occasionally available in Japan. Small-scale brewing had begun, but there were few high-quality beers and few good brewers. I decided that I would grow as a professional and spread the word about the existence of high-quality beer in Japan. This is why I entered this industry.
Twelve years ago, I decided just acting as a judge was not enough to advance quality standards, so I started running my own bottle shop and beer pub, selecting good quality beer, and providing it to consumers while maintaining quality. Since five years ago, I have also owned a brewery, and while deepening my awareness of beer, I also improve brewing, sipping and serving skills, and support the management of breweries and restaurants.
Beer has a long history and has recently evolved from technological developments and scientific advances. From the current situation, where Japanese historical food and liquor culture is evolving through beer, we believe that we can find an opportunity to build a new beer culture in Japan.
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
Being able to judge at the World Beer Cup, the world’s premier competition, is a source of pride. It is a good opportunity to measure my judging skills.
It was also a great experience how the judges are organized at the World Beer Cup. I believe it is the best competition in the world. The fact that many Japanese have won awards has become a guideline for quality improvement for Japanese brewers. It is also a great place where you can exchange information with beer judges from all over the world.
I was able to talk about my role as a judge and my thinking about evaluation at a high level. I would like to take it back to Japan and use it to educate beer judges and give advice on the growth of the market.
What else would you like the world to know?
If you ever come to Osaka, Japan, please visit our brewery, Craft Beer Base.
Amaey Mundkur
Connecticut, United States
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
I fell backwards into beer. I ran out of money while living in Australia and starting home brewing so I could continue to enjoy beer as a 21-year-old. I made a lot of bad alcoholic ginger beer before I learned to brew proper beer. People started buying my homebrew that I made out of my dorm room on the 11th floor of Howitt Hall at Monash University.
After I graduated, I didn’t want to move to Christmas Island in the South Pacific to study predatory ants that feasted on the migrating red crabs.So I picked beer.
Beer matters because it is art and love. It is an expression that is worthy of sharing. It matters to me because it engages with the very core of me, the scientist, the pedant, and the creative. Beer is about community — and as an immigrant from India (and the only Indian World Beer Cup beer judge — yes, out of almost two billion humans) who loves personal expression, it is where I belong.
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
I judge beer for a couple of reasons. It’s extremely important to positively impact beer quality. I have been in this industry for almost twenty years and have made beer on four continents. In that time, beer has grown, changed, and become what it is today. It is important to give positive feedback to all those brewers who aspire to be great, and I hope I can be part of that journey.
Judging at the World Beer Cup literally means the world to me. It is an affirmation of my achievements in the industry, as recognized by my peers who have kindly allowed me to judge with them, and to be part of an esteemed group of people that I can learn from. Hoarding information is selfish, while sharing it is selfless. And I hope to learn more.
What else would you like the world to know?
Besides beer, I love all the time I can spend with my wife and dog. I like hitting a little white ball around a large field (golf) and into a tiny hole. I love cooking and my family!
Rick Kempen
Noord Holland, Netherlands
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
For well over thirty years, my life has been all about beer. Flunking out of university because of my side job as a waiter in De Pilsener Club turned out to be one of the best things to happen to me. In 1998, I joined Bier&cO, one of Europe’s leading beer import and distribution companies, dedicated to bringing craft beer from all over the globe to the people.
Having held various positions within Bier&cO, I eventually shaped its export department by representing a handful of American craft breweries. Together with a handful of others we pioneered the European market which helped start a European ‘beer revolution.’
Today, I am beer ambassador at Bier&cO, traveling around the globe, promoting and educating about a portfolio of special, exciting, and one-of-a-kind craft beers. I am a certified beer sommelier (Doemens Diplom-Biersommelier) and co-founded Dutch Beer Week as well as the Dutch Beer Challenge, a competition for Dutch beers. I like to see myself as a professional beer connoisseur who has had the pleasure of making a hobby out of his work. Beer, consequently, means everything to me!
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
Judging at World Beer Cup means you get to learn from fellow judges from all over the world, all bringing their specific expertise. Talking with your peers is a rare opportunity to better yourself in beer. Also, it gives you the opportunity to taste beers from breweries who take their business and craftmanship seriously. They dare to have their beers evaluated by professionals, using their feedback to improve their creations. Contributing to that, and doing that by tasting some of the best beers in the world without knowing what they are, is a huge honor, privilege, and pleasure.
What else would you like the world to know?
Participating as a brewery, you not only compete for awards, but you get valuable feedback from a professional and skilled group of tasters. Do it!
Competition News
Taste the Victory: World Beer Cup 2024 Winners Announced
The World Beer Cup, the largest beer competition in the world, honored the best beers in 110 categories covering 172 different beer styles.
Registration for the 2024 World Beer Cup Commences November 7, 2023
Registration for the biggest battle of the beers, the World Beer Cup, is open from Nov. 7 through Dec. 7, 2023.