Elise Lassard, Greg Reynolds and Glen Galbraith advance to national championships
Belgians may be serious about their beer, but so were British Columbians who vied for the chance to demonstrate their best pint-pouring skills at the Stella Artois B.C. Draught Master Competition, held last Thursday at Ceili’s Irish Pub. In the end, Elise Lassard, Greg Reynolds and Glen Galbraith held the fastest time while expertly demonstrating the Stella Artois Nine-Step Pouring Ritual – the finishing touch on a high-quality brewing process that brings the rich heritage of Stella Artois to life.
“I had an awesome time learning and perfecting the Stella Artois Nine-Step Pouring Ritual!” said Galbraith of Vancouver. “I’ll be practicing between now and the National Finals in Toronto and can’t wait to take on the other competitors from across the country. I can honestly say that while nine steps may seem like a lot, perfection does take time and each step truly serves its purpose.”
Beer experts were on-site at the B.C. competition to judge the technique behind each pint poured along with Stella Artois representatives. Competitors were scored on their ability to complete each of Stella Artois’ nine steps for the perfect pour and received additional points for completing under specified time limits. The judges scored the final product on a scale of 0 (incomplete) to ten (perfect). Glen Galbraith had the highest score of 95.
“The Stella Artois Draught Master Competition is the quest to find Canada’s master of the perfect pour, while educating beer lovers across the country about Stella Artois,” said Steve Da Cruz, one of Vancouver’s top mixologists and competition judge. “We had some fantastic competitors come very close to pouring perfection, so it was difficult to select just three finalists for the nationals. I am excited for Elise, Greg and Glen to put their skills to the test at the national event and wish them the best of luck.”
Elise Lassard, Greg Reynolds and Glen Galbraith will advance to the national championships in Toronto on July 25 where they will compete against 13 other regional champs for the chance to be crowned Stella Artois Canadian Draught Master. From there, the Canadian with best and fastest pint-pouring skills will represent our country at the global competition in New York City this October.
A GLIMPSE INTO BELGIAN BEER CULTURE
This is the ninth year that Stella Artois has held its quest to find Canada’s master of the perfect pour and the first year the competition is open to beer drinkers rather than just bartenders and servers. Regional Draught Master events took place across Canada throughout June and July in B.C., Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax to determine the finalists for the national competition.
“This competition is the perfect opportunity for Canadians to get a glimpse into Belgian beer culture – a culture that demands the highest respect for quality, pouring technique, glassware and beer serving etiquette,” said Da Cruz. “We wanted to share this great experience with beer drinkers from across the country to give them the chance to learn about the nine steps in Stella Artois’ Pouring Ritual – each of which serves a specific purpose in order to achieve the perfect pour.”
The Nine-Step Pouring Ritual includes steps such as ‘The Purification’, where the chalice is rinsed with cold water, allowing the glass to reach the same temperature as the beer; ‘The Beheading’ where the pourer gently cuts the head on a 45-degree angle as it flows over the edge of the glass, eliminating the larger bubbles that burst easily and accelerate the dissipation of the head; and ‘The Bestowal’ – the final step, when the Stella Artois is served on a coaster, accompanied by the drip catcher at the base.
A GLOBAL TRADITION
The Stella Artois Draught Master Global competition is now in its 13th year and is held in more than 30 countries around the world. This year marks the first year that the competition will be held in North America. The Canadian finalist will receive the full Stella Artois experience and in-depth training at the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven, Belgium prior to the Global competition in New York City.
ABOUT STELLA ARTOIS
Stella Artois is one of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s global flagship brands. This premium brand is available in over 80 countries and sold close to 10 million hectolitres in 2008. With roots tracing back to the Den Horen brewery in 1366, in the Belgian city of Leuven, it is now available in over 80 countries. For further information, visit www.stellaartois.com.
