medalla

By Daniel Trivelli, Co-founder of Copa Cervezas de América

Sometimes people ask me if it’s really worth competing. If winning a medal actually changes anything. If it’s just a symbol, another trinket for the shelf. Every time I hear that question, I take a deep breath. Because there are many ways to answer, but none are neutral—and as a founder of Copa Cervezas de América, I have a perspective, and yes, an interest.

A medal at Copa Cervezas de América is not just a shiny object. It’s confirmation that a beer has something to say—and that it says it with force. It’s recognition given by an independent, diverse, experienced, and blind panel—literally and metaphorically. Our judges don’t know whose beer they’re evaluating. All they have in front of them is a freshly served beer and its ID code. And if that beer shines, it does so on its own

I’ve seen transformations. Many. Breweries that used to knock on doors just to get someone to taste their beer, and after winning a medal, those doors opened by themselves. It’s not magic. It’s validation. A business card that says: “this is good, and it’s not just me saying it, it’s an international jury.”

I remember a brewery in the Los Ríos Region. Not large, but they did everything with great care. After winning, they started getting calls from everywhere. They had to learn to say no, to manage success. Because that’s another truth: success must be managed. Yes, you celebrate. But after the celebration, comes composure.

And then there are those who don’t receive a medal. Who take away detailed feedback—a technical, respectful, and useful evaluation. For many, that too is gold. Because there is no evolution without contrast. The judges’ feedback is a roadmap for improvement.

At the Copa, evaluation isn’t random. It’s rigorous, technical, and generous. In the first round, each beer is judged within its style. It doesn’t compete with others—it competes with itself. If it does well, it moves to the final round. There, direct comparison sharpens the decision. At least six judges will have tasted and discussed each awarded beer. That gives weight. That gives meaning.

Winning a medal can increase demand, raise the price, and strengthen the brand. But beyond that, it generates something intimate: pride. The good kind. The kind that brings glassy eyes, racing hearts, and tight throats when someone says your brewery’s name out loud—and the whole team looks at each other knowing: we did it. Because it’s not one person being awarded. It’s a craft. A journey. A shared passion.

If you’re unsure about participating, think about what you need. Visibility? Validation? Technical feedback? All of it? Maybe this is your place—a fair space we’ve built through collaboration, a stage that aims to illuminate the best of the continent. No matter the size, origin, or history. What matters is what’s in the glass.

The Copa can help good beers be seen. And that, in a world saturated with noise, is an act of justice.