Ep. 1 — Steve Luke (Cloudburst), Judging Classic American IPA

How I Won This Medal — Episode 1 — Sept 16, 2026

Cloudburst Brewing founder and brewmaster Steve Luke joins Tim to share his perspective on judging the Classic IPA final table at the 2026 World Beer Cup. They discuss how the judging process differs between the early rounds and the final medal round before exploring the nuanced distinction between the Classic American IPA and West Coast IPA styles. With Shred Beer Co., North Park Beer Co., and ISM Brewing taking the top three spots in American IPA, Steve and Tim consider what those beers reveal about the direction of the style.