Throughout Monday morning the Estrella Galicia Galician Beer Pulling Championship was held at our stand at the Fórum Gastronómico de A Coruña, at Expocoruña. A total of 35 aspirants from different places in Galicia fought through different rounds to win the title of best beer puller.
In these different rounds they had to demonstrate their skill at serving draught and bottled beer and answer numerous questions about the world of beer. Alberto Fuentes, a young catering student from Zas (A Coruña), walked away with the title of Best Beer Puller in Galicia. The runner-up was another catering student, David Pardo, from Cariño (A Coruña). Both will represent Galicia at the National Championship to be held at the Salón de Gourmets de Madrid in April.
Alberto Fuentes, 18, admitted being very nervous during the contest and expressed his happiness with his win, at a championship that he entered thanks to his friends who encouraged him to do so. He stated that to represent Galicia at the National Championship is a great responsibility, but that he will go for it and is determined to finish in the top 5. He is a student at the Paseo de As Pontes Catering College and has always helped in the family business, Restaurante Pizzería Tívoli in Zas. His father didn’t want him to make catering his profession as it is very hard work but Alberto went for it and has hoped to prove to his father that he is good at it.
The runner-up was also a student, David Pardo Lage, from Cariño (A Coruña). He stated that this prize is recognition which makes him feel very proud of the teachers from CIFP Paseo das Pontes who have taught him.
10 aspirants reached the final, of which three received consolation prizes: Fabián Rey from Pazo do Bidueiro (A Coruña), Pablo Romero from Pizza&Music (A Coruña) and Rodrigo Fernández from La Trastienda (Vigo).
The aim of this championship is to promote beer culture and acknowledge the work carried out by bartenders as a fundamental link in the distribution chain of Estrella Galicia products. Professionalism in catering establishments is fundamental to offer end consumers the full range of possibilities our beer has to offer.
The jury was made up of experts from the beer, catering and restaurant sectors, such as Fernando Iglesias and Xabier Cubillo, from the Quality Department of Hijos de Rivera and Xoán Crujeiras, Owner and chef at the restaurant A Estación in Cambre and Xurxo Rivas, Sommelier and owner of O Secreto, A Coruña. All of them have had a difficult task to evaluate the quality, efficacy and speed of service and the aspirants’ knowledge about the characteristics of Estrella Galicia products. Fernando Iglesias, chairman of the jury, stated that it was one of the contests with the highest level of skill that he has seen.
The five finalists won their weight in beer, and the cash prize for the champion was €600, and for the runner-up €400. There were also three consolation prizes of €150. All the finalists received a diploma accrediting their classification, with the champion and the runner-up automatically qualifying for the National Championship, with paid travel and expenses.
