My 2025: judging

I did a bit of judging this year. Mostly in South America, obviously. That's where I prefer to judge.

The Blumenau contest was fun this year. And not in Blumenau. Instead, it was on the coast at Balneario Camboriu. Literally on the coast, as the judging location was on the seafront. Meaning you could have a stroll down the beach at lunchtime. So civilised. And I managed to dodge judging Best of Show. That's always a win.

In Santiago, judging was in the same hotel as we were staying. Which is always good. A couple fewer bus rides every day. And I got the chance to drop by República Independiente del Pisco. One of my favourite bars in the whole world. Come to think of it, that should have appeared in my list of best pubs of 2025.

More intimate was the judging in Buenos Aires. Only downside was that I was rather coughy during judging. Something that later developped into full-blown pneumonia. Leaving me wonderfully ill for the two free days in Buenos Aires I had at the end of the trip.

Weirdly, I did some judging in the Netherlands. For the Dutch Beer Challenge. It was quite a novelty. And I got a new bottle opener for my key ring.

My final stint at the judges' table was in September in Singapore. Probably the most fun of them all. With the judging taking place in the hotel we were staying in. Which also had good food. Plus some well-chosen evening food destinations. Overall, extremely well-organised. Which is sort of what you would expect in Singapore.