Léon Rodenburg from the Netherlands has been named the new World Champion of Beer Sommeliers after a thrilling finale held on September 14, 2025, in Munich. With his outstanding stage presence, deep beer knowledge, and refined sensory skills, Rodenburg impressed both the jury and the audience by presenting a La Trappe Tripel. He becomes the eighth world champion since the competition was first held in 2009 by the Doemens Akademie.
The 2025 championship attracted 93 beer sommeliers from 18 nations across four continents. After two preliminary rounds at Doemens, the top ten moved into the knockout semifinals, and six finalists reached the grand final at the Munich trade fair grounds. Each finalist had to present a blind-tasted beer to the jury, highlighting its sensory qualities, history, and food pairings.
Rodenburg secured victory with a compelling mix of storytelling and emotion, while fellow Dutchman Dennis Kort, a hospitality entrepreneur from Eindhoven and brewer at Drinkers Pub Eindhoven/Oldskool Brewer, took second place. Kort presented Rochefort 6, describing it as mahogany-colored with a balance between dryness and light sweetness. He paired the beer with a Dutch “kletskop” cookie, explaining how the caramel notes in both enhance each other. Third place went to Oliver Klamminger from Austria.
The final was judged by a panel of former world champions, who evaluated beer knowledge, presentation skills, and food pairing suggestions. According to Jens Luckart, head of the Doemens Genussakademie and organizer of the competition, the 2025 edition once again showcased “beer sommeliers of the highest class.”
The next championship will be held in Austria in 2027.
