Jim Sawitzke

​Jim has been a homebrewer for 24 years and counting since attending graduate school at the University of Oregon during the craft beer explosion. He has won numerous awards for his beer, especially his hefeweizen. He started judging in 2008 and quickly moved up the ranks to BJCP National in 2011. Jim was a long time vice-president of FOAM (Frederick Original Ale Makers) homebrewing club in Frederick, MD where he trained other judges and taught beginning beer-judging courses to the general public. By day, he engineers DNA. Jim enjoys quality beer of every style and seeks them out wherever he goes, preferably with his wife Julie at his side. Having recently moved to Italy, they intend to trek around Europe in search of great beer.